Driving anxiety - do you get it- is it curable?

[PhyllisDietrichson]

I've very recently developed driving anxiety. It's whenever I'm on a motorway and needing to go fast. I become aware of the speed and have a very sudden feeling of terror and I have to apply the breaks, then it passes and 10 minutes later it'll happen again and again. I can now only travel at about 60mph max which makes long journeys very slow; yet still unnerving and stressful. Have you had this and Is it curable?

Yes; CBT helped me enormously. I'm sorry you're going through this, it's really scary to feel panciked while driving.

Can you talk to your GP?

Ok I'll ask and try to get some CBT thanks macbookhair

What is CBT? I don't suffer from driving, but parking anxiety, I can drive through cities but have a panic attack worrying about where I will park and spend ages looking for a "drive-through" space as I'm terrified I won't be able to reverse out of a space.

I think people at work think I'm odd because I never offer to take my car to anything.

Anxiety when driving is not abnormal - driving is a dangerous activity. We cannot pretend otherwise. On motorways especially we are totally dependent on the sanity, intelligence, judgment, sobriety etc. of those around us - none of which can be guaranteed.

Most of us find a way to come to terms with the danger, but sometimes need to drive in ways that we find tolerable. If 60 on a motorway helps you to cope, then there is no reason why you should not stick in the inside lane and do this. Getting somewhere fast is not a necessity - it is just something that we have got used to.

Wise words Blossomdeary

Blossomdeary is right. There's no rush. :)

I hope you can get some CBT as it really helped me change the way I thought. My driving anxiety came from being stuck in traffic- feeling trapped- i've learned now to control my breathing, and ground myself- nothing bad is happening/I am safe/I have everything I need around me etc.

It can help to remind yourself of things- I have 6 key sentences that I repeat over and over and over when I'm panicking- this sounds very cheesy but it REALLY helps me as I stay focused on remembering the sentences and reminding myself.

i.e

my name is macbookhair
I have driving anxiety
i am safe and a good driver
I am getting where i need to go
I am doing all that I can

etc etc

This "drive in the way you feel tolerable" is nonsense. In some circumstances, driving at a lower speed then the flow of traffic on a motorway is downright dangerous - crawling along on the inside lane while HGVs overtake you. If you're that nervous, you shouldn't be on the bloody motorway! Yes get CBT and sort out the anxiety, but don't put the rest of us in danger because of it.

Totally selfish and stupid.

Love a bit of good ol fashioned trolling Poppy you go girl.

No trolling - but telling people who are anxious about driving to drive in a manner which could our other road users at risk is incredibly irresponsible.

Far more useful to advise sticking to a roads and pulling over in lay-bys when anxious, or travelling at quiet times than telling people just to drive well below the speed limit and that's fine. Because it's not fine. You have to keep up with the flow of traffic and if you can't do that, don't use motorways.

60 mph is ok Poppy it's only 10 below the max! It's when I go above 60 there's a problem!

Dont you worry, 45mph is legal too on motorways and I never go that slowly! I don't drive dangerously, I just feel scared sometimes and slow down a little to 58 or 60mph for a few miles. Anyone contributing to mental health pages should have their telling people-off filter set to zero.

Lets just ignore her.

:)

Well I think some HGVs aren't allowed to go over 60 so you shouldn't be holding anyone up.

Did this follow any incident?

I had an almost head on collision (I was on the correct side!) last year and even though no one was hurt my car was written off and I really lost confidence in driving for several months. I've always been a confident driver. I was thinking of having help for PTSD though it seemed ridiculous. I set myself a date to feel ok by and actually I did get better though I am a more nervous passenger than before.

I'm sure CBT is a good plan. And 60mph on a motorway is fine. Better than tailgating and weaving or being a middle land hog.

Yes its really common, cbt helped as did exposure therapy, short bursts which got longer over a period of time. A great deal of driving instructers will give lessons/support specifically for this issue with great success x

I've been surprised by how many people do have driving anxiety I've spoken with, but as was said, it's not natural to hurtle along at speed (or up in the clouds at 37k ft like those with fear of flying).

I developed mine after I saw a man attacked on a street and then got into the car as a passenger and was scared witless by some pretty out- of-control / fast driving. The next time I drove at speed it happened. As lazycrazy said, it seems to happen after an incident.

It's dangerous to break on the motorway for no good reason other than you're feeling anxious!

I would get defensive driving lessons as they help you drive in a safer way and you'll feel more in control.

I get anxious driving and defensive driving really helps.

Ha I wasn't in a 'get-away' car btw like it sounds! LOL

What's defensive driving? Sound interesting?

I had it after an accident. It made me very nervous and not a good driver. I eventually got over it after having to drive on the motorway to work every day. But another way could be to take some extra lessons with a motorway teacher- build up confidence again .

I'm impressed you overcame it Sqeegle, that's why I keep getting back on the horse, and drive at a speed where I dont' have to use the breaks unnecessarily.

I had a friend follow me home on Sunday from a trip to the coast and said she'd not noticed a thing. I had applied the break gently a couple of times too but not in a way to make me drive dangerously, so I'm pleased I'm not doing anything random or extreme, even if I feel terrified at the time. I will seek help of the CBT kind and then get some lessons.

60 mph on a motorway is fine on the inside lane and perfectly safe - no lorries should overtake as that is their speed limit. If they do, they are breaking the law.

Chugging along at 60 in the overtaking lane and holding folk up is dangerous. I do not think that is what the OP is planning to do.

I've slowly developed this as other road users seemed to have got more aggressive over time. You can't make a silly mistake like being in the wrong lane and indicating to get over or hesitating for a millisecond at a green light without someone leaning on their horn. I am not perfect but there seem to be more bad drivers out there too, not knowing how to use islands properly or bullying into merges. I used to love driving and now I feel too tense, I choose to be the passenger as much as I can get away with.