Driving anxiety can happen to anyone at any time, for instance, someone who has just past their driving test may feel anxiety symptoms before getting in the car as it is all new to them, and others might feel anxious if they are driving a new car for the first time and are not used to it yet.
Whilst driving anxiety is normal for people to experience, it can also be triggered by a traumatic event such as a car accident, which can cause them more issues when they try and get back into the car again.
Today we are going to talk about why people may have a fear of driving after a motor vehicle accident, as well as what it is called when they experience these symptoms before they take to the road.
What is Vehophobia?
If you have not heard of this particular term before, then you are not alone.
It is one of the most common anxiety disorders out there, and people may experience this phobia after being in a car accident, whether it is a serious car accident or a mild/moderate one. Anxiety disorders can be extremely debilitating and induce intense fear in an individual. This can have serious implications for their lifestyle and damage their well-being.
Given how traumatic and life altering a car accident can be, if you were in a car accident because of someone else’s carelessness, remember you did not deserve any of its consequences. Whether it is the emotional distress, painful physical injury, or financial strain, you weren’t the culprit but rather the victim. So, you have all the right in the world to hire a car accident lawyer and seek justice for your loss.
How it Affects Their Mental Health
This normally occurs because of the PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) they struggle with after being in their accident.
Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental health disorder that can cause flashbacks to the event in which panic attacks can arise and cause them to feel like they are back at their car accident reliving the encounter all over again.
Who Can Get Vehophobia
It is common for people who have been in car accidents to have this phobia, but it can also affect those who have witnessed a car crash whether that be in person or through news events/films.
The Symptoms of Vehophobia
Before you get in the car to drive or you are driving, you may experience anxiety symptoms that mean you have Vehophobia, these are –
- Trembling
- Sweating
- Tense Muscles
- Nausea
- Intense Fear
- Chest Pain
- Shallow Breathing
If you are going through these symptoms, you may find yourself having a panic attack each time you try and drive, or you avoid driving altogether because you may have convinced yourself that you will get into a bad accident.
What Should You do After Car Accidents?
If you have been in a car crash and you have sustained physical injuries that have caused you to seek physical therapy and be put on a course of medication to help you manage your pain, then you could have a case against the person that caused the accident (if it wasn’t you).
To start with, you should consult a personal injury lawyer like those at Tom Fowler Law. A professional in the field of personal injury can help you with your options for the case. This should be the next step after getting treated.
It is advisable to discuss in-depth regarding the case to find the next best avenue for you. But just know that there are options out there if needed.
How Can Someone Get Over Their Fear of Driving?
Being aware that you have an issue is the first step to getting over the painful memory of a car accident, as well as helping support your daily life so you can get back in the driver’s seat and work through any mental health issues that have come up.
Below are some ways that you can overcome Vehophobia and any other type of driving anxiety disorders to keep you and other drivers safe on the roads.
Take a Defensive Driving Course
Aggressive drivers are not going to get good results on the road, this type of driving can cause accidents and can be extremely disruptive to other drivers.
What Can a Defensive Driving Course do?
You can gain confidence by going on defensive driving courses as they will be able to give you the best tips to evade future accidents and make you more aware of what is going on when you are behind the wheel.
These defensive driving classes will make you get in the car more so you can build your confidence back up to the way it used to be, so when you need to get into the car again, that intense fear and emotional distress you felt before, no longer plagues you as it did.
Speak to a Mental Health Professional
You feel afraid to go back behind the wheel and even get out of your street, of course that is understandable from what you have experienced, this is why getting professional help is important in getting you to face your problems.
How Can They Help You?
When you speak to a therapist or a doctor, they will assess you on what you are feeling and offer the best course of treatment that suits you at the time.
This may mean doing counseling, either with support groups, individually, or through CBT like prolonged exposure therapy.
They may give you prescription medications to help manage your anxiety levels if they are particularly high and causing you knock-on issues in daily life.
Focus on Self-Care
After being in an accident, you are going to go through a lot of emotions that can make you feel like you don’t know which way to turn.
It can stop you from caring for yourself as all you are focused on is what you have gone through and replaying it over and over again in your head without you being able to stop thinking about it.
Prioritizing self-care is crucial when dealing with driving anxiety. It’s vital to acknowledge your emotions, focus on your well-being, and cultivate self-compassion. Devoting time to your mental and physical health is essential for managing stress effectively.
Incorporating physical activities can reduce stress while fostering mindfulness, allowing you to gain clarity of thought. You can also opt for a massage to release muscular tension, inducing a profound sense of calm and relaxation. This deep relaxation can be instrumental in reducing stress and anxiety, helping your mind refocus and gain clarity.
It’s important to recognize that engaging in activities that promote mental well-being is key. For instance, you might want to explore stress-relief options like cannabis, which is available at reputable dispensaries like westcoast cannabis. These products are a common choice for individuals dealing with high stress levels, known for its relaxation properties. However, it’s of utmost importance to never operate a vehicle under the influence of cannabis. Alternatively, practicing yoga and meditation can help restore the internal balance needed for a healthy state of mind.
Why is it Important?
It is essential that you take care of your mind at this moment and go through all your basic needs to make sure that you are meeting them to maintain your health, from physical to mental.
What Should You do?
Recovering from a traumatic car accident is difficult, especially if you’re now fearful of driving again. While hiring a Dubo Law Personal Injury Lawyer (or a similar legal professional) can help lessen the financial burden by pursuing compensation for your injuries and property damage, overcoming the emotional trauma can be a longer process. It’s understandable to feel anxious about driving after a bad crash. But with time, therapy, and baby steps back behind the wheel, that unease and hesitation will likely fade. Don’t rush yourself. Take it slow, seek counseling if needed, and know that your fears are normal after experiencing something so frightening.
Ensure that you get enough sleep and that you are eating healthy and moving around as much as you can. Keep in contact with your friends and family and let them know how you are doing. If you aren’t able to go out, get them to come to you so they can see how you are holding up so you can put their minds at ease as well. Pick up a hobby to do, or carry on with the hobbies you enjoy. This will help you keep busy and distract you from overthinking too much and causing you even more distress.
Join a Support Network
Speaking to people who have been through something as similar as you can help you out greatly when you are trying to move through what has happened.
Whilst you may want to only talk to your friends and family, you need to branch out and get support from legitimate support groups that can aid you in developing coping strategies to get you through the day.
It can be a good form of therapy, and you may be able to find them online or in your local area.
Just go online and search for support groups to see if there are any available where you are or if you can join a group online.
Get Back Behind The Wheel
This may sound scary to start with, but if you can focus on getting back behind the wheel after your accident, then you can look toward the future and see how you can tackle this issue without completely giving in.
Bring Someone With You
Going out for the first time will be a shock, so you can ask a family member to sit in the passenger seat with you and just be there as a support if you feel yourself getting panicky.
This can also help you if you are unable to drive back as you feel like you can’t do anymore.
This is understandable and may happen, so bringing someone else along with you can stop you from worrying about having to leave your car where it is as you can’t drive it back.
Don’t go Far
To stop yourself from feeling like it is too much all at once, you may want to only go near your house or a friend’s house to start with.
You can map out the route in your head and see how you get on by going somewhere that isn’t too far away from your safe space.
Each time you go out after that you can get further and further away from your home and see how far you can get.
Setting yourself goals on where you go can inch you closer to feeling a lot more free-er and getting you out of your head.
Conclusion
Knowing how to deal with driving anxiety after an accident can assist you in setting out your plan and goals for being ‘you’ again.
Just remember to not push yourself too hard and be aware that you may take two steps forward and one step back at points, this happens, and it is nothing to be upset about.
We all have blocks when we are trying to recover from something, it’s natural.