Fear of driving on a freeway with bustling traffic and high speeds is more common than you might think. A phobia is described as an irrational fear of an object or situation, but it feels far more real and dangerous to the individual experiencing it.
A person with a phobia will go to great lengths to avoid the subject of the phobia, including crazy redirected routes and even refusing to talk about it. Trying to push straight through this fear is a quick way to need the aid of this San Francisco Bay Area car accident attorney. So, here’s how to conquer your freeway phobia safely.
1. Exposure Therapy
The root cause of freeway phobia is that you’ll be trapped in the situation and have no way to escape or get out. Fear of driving on a freeway is actually a manifestation of agoraphobia or the fear that you will be stuck in a situation or there won’t be any help available if there’s a problem or something goes wrong.
Therapy for freeway phobia would include, with the help of a therapist, gradually increasing the amount of time you spend on a freeway. As you spend time in the situation and expose yourself to your fear, you will hopefully get to a place where your fear subsides. You’ll realize that you’re not trapped with no way out and you will maintain control in the situation.
2. Cognitive Behavior Therapy
CBT or Cognitive behavioral therapy is a form of psychotherapy treatment that helps a person recognize and conquer negative or detrimental thoughts and behavior patterns. This very common and coveted form of therapy helps you to identify harmful and unhelpful patterns in your thoughts and explore how they may affect your actions and irrational fears.
The same approach is often used for alcohol abuse, and it isn’t uncommon for someone with a phobia to pick up drinking as a coping mechanism. Of course, this can lead to the need for a felony DUI lawyer in Boulder. One thing you should know for sure that won’t help you conquer your fear is alcohol.
3. Take a Defensive Driving Course
These courses help you learn to improve your driving skills by learning to anticipate situations and be able to react appropriately. There are books, DVD courses, and online classes available that will help you improve your driving skills and become more confident in worrisome situations. Plus, most insurance companies offer a discount to those that take a defensive driving course.
4. Hire a Driving Coach
Most often, driving coaches are hired by new drivers to help them learn and improve their driving skills. However, they can be excellent for helping people with freeway phobias conquer the new skill of driving comfortably and without fear on the freeway. The driving coach will be in the car with you and guide you every step of the way to conquer your fears.
5. Learn to Love Driving on the Freeway
Even the most experienced driver might be nervous about driving on a busy freeway. Sometimes, if you get in an uncomfortable situation once, you might be afraid to try it again. However, one of the best ways to overcome a fear is to try it again. Start by driving during daylight hours when there’s less traffic for short amounts of time to build up your confidence.