Discover The Biggest Mistakes While Overcoming Driving Anxiety
While it is true that you can overcome driving fear only by facing it, you need to take it step by step to avoid worsening your fear. One more incident that scares your wits out will put an end to your driving aspirations forever. Avoid the following most common mistakes.
First Mistake: Testing Yourself Instead of Practicing: If you test your driving on freeways, fast lanes or bridges ahead of your practice schedule, you could be making a big mistake. Avoid it. Practice will eventually take you to your final destination in a safe manner.
Testing could be counterproductive because it causes stress and anxiety. Chances of failure are high and that will only make your driving phobia worse. Practice your way up to avoid any chance of failure.
Second Mistake: Practicing in Heavy Traffic: Even moderate traffic can be intimidating for many people. If you practice in traffic, chances are you will retreat into your phobia because of stress, anxiety or even a panic attack. Your time will come, but not now.
Practice in no traffic or light traffic. There is no reason why you would want to make it more difficult for you by practicing on busy roads. Pick a quiet road to practice on every day. If there is no such place, pick a good time to practice when the traffic is minimal.
Third Mistake: Not Relaxing Physically: You cannot hope to relax mentally while your body is tensed up. A relaxed body almost certainly ensures a relaxed mind. As soon as you feel some amount of driving anxiety creeping in, consciously relax parts of your body one at a time.
You need to relax from time to time while you drive to prevent a panic attack. Dig a well before you get thirsty. Practice relaxation techniques both at home as well as while driving. This will equip you with the ability to relax each part of your body within a few seconds.
If you avoid these mistakes there is no reason why you shouldn’t drive away to freedom from fear and anxiety. Take it in sessions and pat yourself after each one. This will reprogram your subconscious mind and make you feel peaceful and happy about driving.
To find out more about how to overcome fear of driving, check out Cecil Kelly’s articles on driving anxiety on his website.
