anyone else suffer from a phobia about driving on motorways? I have to overcome this. Help needed please

[cruisemum1]

anyone?

cammelia - so what changed for you to stop driving on mw's?

I went to Oxford to get my degree(Polytechnic) and only had a bicycle for 5 years and then when I moved to Brighton after that I got a car but was too nervous to drive on m/ways and never have since

flipping annoying innit!?

When I last drove on the M4 the M25 hadn't even been built. I'm not that keen on going on it now even as a passenger.

I actually had a panic attack in the fast lane which was very scary. I hadn't realised that i was nervous of motorway driving until this happened. I don't have a car at the moment but when I do, I plan to stay in the slow lane and just overtake when I need to. It is the openess of the road that phases me, in the slow lane I feel safely cocooned.

What bothers me is the sheer volume of traffic

I actually prefer it when there is a lot of traffic which is a bit weird

Actually I don't mind lots of traffic around towns etc, living in the crowded SE one has got used to it , what I find frighteneing is that volume hurtling along at 70 mph

I used to be terrified of motorway driving but I don't mind it now. (Well, other than the tedium.) I went on a local motorway one summer evening when it was really quiet and that really helped overcome my fear of the sliproad. Not long afterwards i got a job which required commuting on the m56 every day which cured my fears. Familiarity breeds contempt, keep doing it til it's normal.

you are all so encouraging - thanks! nogoes - my [panic attack was on hte fast lane too. totally terrifying. I thought i was going to faint at the wheel . it has scarred me for life . I had to do the return journey the following day and i was a nervous wreck all day. it is not the sliproad thing which several of you are referring to it is the fear of fear

oh crap - i am doing my journeyon thursday and the inlaws are really looking forward to it. i have just looked up teh A3 as it is the longest stretch of A road that i havfe to do and it is classed as a motorway . my palms are sweaty, my heart is racing. F*k this! I know i have to do it as i really really want to overcome this stupid phobia/fear but i feel so scared.

i also looked up its image on google and it looks awful! I reiterate it is not an actual fear of the motorway itself, it is a fear of what might happen to me when i am on it. i used to frequently drive on teh blasted things. Grrrrrrr

My brother developed panic attacks while driving after a drive on a dual carriage way in really bad rain. He had been a good driver for years but suddenly started having to pull over. He had some sort of CBT or hypnosis to help him - to control the panic rather than improve his driving skills since there was nothing really wrong with them. He may have had some lessons afterwards, but he definately worked on the panic attacks first.

I was fine until I had an accident when some b*stard ran me off the road then drove off. Since then I've got more and more scared and I just don't trust any other driver. This was made worse by a couple of near misses with lorries that didn't indicate. Now I won't drive on motorways at all and I'm even nervous on them as a passenger. I can't see it ever changing now.

I drove alone on the M5 for the first time ever and I'm 35 so I really really understand where the OP and others are coming from. I was lucky as it was a quiet Sunday morning but I certainly think it was fear of fear itself because I was panicking beforehand and surprisingly calm when I was on the motorway and ridiculously proud of myself! In fact, I found it boring rather than frightening. And without sounding too cliched, honestly, if I can do it anyone can. And I agree that motorway lessons could help. All the best xx

I was overtaking (in the middle lane) on the m/way when, as a culmination of several things that I was peripherally aware of, a car in the RH lane swerved towards me. There was nowhere for me to go, sandwiched as I was between the car that I was overtaking (and I was only just ahead of it) and the cars immediately to my right and behind me.

(BTW, it was alright in the end, no crash.)

I flinched massively, and must have twitched the wheel to my left, because all of a sudden the car was swerving and dipping wildly from side to side. It's a long car, and boy did the suspension get a workout as I tried to get it back under control. Losing control at 70mph is no joke. Bloody terrifying.

Immediately afterwards, as I drove along, I could feel the panic mounting. I was starting to hyperventilate again. I considered pulling over onto the hard shoulder until I got myself together again, but decided not to, as I knew that there was a good chance I would be too frightened to come back out onto the motorwary. So I got a grip of myself and continued my journey.

The return journey was really worrying. I had no choice - I had to go home - and that was the only thing that forced me onto the motorway. I drove slowly and conservatively, sticking to the LH lane and pootling along. It took me nearly twice as long as usual to complete the m/way section of the journey. But I did it.

You have to get back in the saddle. You have to master your fear, and not let fear be your master. (Sorry for the cliche ).

pcandles - sounds horrific! i know you are right but it is so daunting atm. it would be so easy to cop out and get the train but it is such a hassle with buggies, suitcases, travel cot etc. I have to get over this.....

Im with you Cruisemum1. I've been driving for 8 years and never driven on a big motorway. I use the local M54, but thats more of a dual carriageway.

I always hated them because of the big lorries, but most of my family live in Birmingham so i really needed to get over it and get onto driving on the M6.

What actually fixed it (sort of) for me, was getting a new car, i'd only had a little 1.25 Fiesta all the years i'd been driving, then this year, i upgraded to a Ford Focus, having the slightly bigger car made me feel more confident and feel safer.
I drive on the M6/M42 for the first time ever and made it all the way to Birmingham Aiport.

Really, the only thing i can suggest is you stick in the slow lane the first time you do it, you don't have to brave the other two lanes until you feel ready.

I still don't like driving on the Mway, and prefer to let DH drive if we're going anywhere that requires it, but i know now that i can do it if i have to.

Another one here cruisemum. In the eighties I suffered head injuries in an accident and couldn't drive for years afterwards because of disorientation and panic attacks.
I am now ok on normal roads but can't face a journey on motorways or long straight dual-carriageways. I start getting anxious and my vision goes weird looking at the road snaking ahead. I'm not too bad if there's lots of traffic and I have to concentrate it's when there's nothing except me and the road!

well I love motorways - it's driving in a straightline. I keep an eye out for the idiots and keep aware of what's coming up from behind as well as in front!!

You need to take some motorway lessons and practise at a quiet time of day, go one junction or maybe two and off. Don't overdo it or attempt the m25, m1 or m6 (the only motorways I really know are horrendous - sorry) on bank holidays and you'll be fine. If you have to, leave very early or late to get to where it is you want to go. One bf I had used to leave his house at 5am to visit his mum who was living in Hampshire at the time - about 1.5 hours drive away. Now he'd probably laugh at his earlier self leaving at silly o'clock but he had a small slow car then and not too many years driving behind him. It's like everything else - you have to practise it before it comes to you.

Are you fearful of dual carriage ways. It might help your confidence to practice on duel carriage ways first. A motorway is essentially a duel carriage way with an extra lane.

I think getting motorway lessons is a great idea. Prehaps its worth getting up at 6am on a sunday morning to drive on a motorway.

thakns again all. i am fearful of dual carriageways but have managed them despite rushes of adrenalin and blurry vision. I hate them witha passion but ihave to do them sometimes otherwise dd and i would go nowhere fun at all! it isthe long straightness of it all adn the thing that even if i want to stop i can't and even if i do ihave to carry on. i get so angry with myself for being so stupid

If its the having to carry on even if you want to stop driving, is it possible to take your DP or a good friend with you so they can take over driving if it gets too much for you? You might find that having an adult passenger gives you confidence and you won't end up needing their help after all . Could your family meet you at half-way point so you don't have to tackle as many motorways by yourself?

bookworm - unfortunately, i have no opportunities to go with anyone else before i am scheduled to take the lo's out on thursday. i know it is totally irrational that i am so dreading it as i am only fearful of another panic attack not driving itself. in fact, i love whizzing around town etc. just this frigging anxiety (which seems very common) is making me dread my visit/s