Anxiety affects many drivers, and it can appear even in the most experienced ones. Luckily, this post by Marlo Enterprises in Newark delves deeper into this feeling to help drivers overcome it.

A Dilemma That Affects Many

It's pretty normal to feel nervous when getting behind the wheel of a vehicle, both in the first practical classes and when debuting as a new driver. However, when the fear of driving is intense, irrational, and persistent, even leading to panic and blockage, the driver may be experiencing amaxophobia.

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What's Amaxophobia?

The term comes from the Greek "Amaxos" (carriage) and "Phobos," which means terrible fear. It's a definition used to describe the irrational fear of driving. It occurs when the anxiety levels exceed the typical response, leaving the driver feeling helpless and unable to start or keep moving the car due to different personal and external factors.

Symptoms of Amaxophobia

Among the symptoms experienced are sweating, dizziness, accelerated heartbeat, the urge to cry and scream, muscle stiffness, anxiety, panic, and depression. Still, there are three separated blocks of symptoms in this phobia:

• Cognitive
• Observable
• Physiological

Cognitive Symptoms

Emotional distress, self-doubt, fear, apprehension, negative thoughts, anticipation for potential danger, and trouble focusing and making decisions.

Observable Symptoms

A driver with amaxophobia may experience hypersensitivity, nervousness, clumsy and disorganized movements while driving.

Physiological Symptoms

Accelerated pulse, feeling of suffocation, asphyxia, chest tightness, stomach discomfort, muscle tension, tremors, excessive tiredness, sweating, and dizziness.

Take Fear as a Sign to Remain Cautious

Fear is one of the basic emotions that helps humans detect and face situations after recognizing them as dangerous. It mobilizes people to act, fight or flee in the face of imminent danger, real or imagined. On the other hand, amaxophobia is an intense, irrational, and persistent fear that some people experience when driving or thinking about doing it. However, it usually isn't proportional to the possible danger detected. A person who suffers from fear of driving overestimates the danger and underestimates their ability to cope. A phobia can limit, cancel, and condition the driver as it causes panic and triggers a false lack of control that can be more intense than the actual danger they could face in reality.

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Techniques to Overcome This Fear

Virtual Reality and Simulators

Amaxophobia requires psychological intervention in tandem with training and awareness actions. Currently, immersive virtual reality and driving simulators are used to overcome this type of phobia. Once the patients have their fears analyzed, they can experience diverse virtual environments where those situations that generate anxiety are recreated. The goal of this approach is to work specifically on relaxation and self-control. Eventually, the patients will face an actual circuit with specialized teachers to help them practice everything they have learned in a safe space.

Practice Mindfulness

Mindfulness is a philosophy of life in which attention aligns with intention, compassion, and without judgment towards the present moment. There are studies in which its continued practice has produced changes in the brain that have reduced stress. In the present moment, there's no fear, but this emotion appears when remembering past experiences or anticipating what could happen in the future. Making the most of this step will help drivers clear their minds and reduce their anxiety to deal with this situation with a cold head.

Cultivate Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence is vital, and it must be established as a priority and model for decision-making, especially while driving. If you consider "the human factor" responsible for everything that happens while driving a car, you'll understand the importance of this skill regarding road safety. Remember, emotional intelligence is fundamental for road safety.

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