Amaxophobia: What it Is, Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Amaxophobia is the irrational fear of driving vehicles, which may originate from previous traumatic experiences or anxiety. Symptoms include avoidance of driving, sweating, and tachycardia. Driving any vehicle is usually a common occurrence for a large part of the world’s population, however, it is possible to develop an intense fear of driving.

Although this represents a large and notorious problem in everyday life, it is possible to solve it. In this PsychologyFor article, we will provide you with information about the amaxophobia (fear of driving): what it is, causes, symptoms and treatment.

What is amaxophobia?

Amaxophobia is the irrational fear of driving vehicles which can manifest itself at different levels of severity. This phobia affects you to the point of completely avoiding driving or experiencing significant stress when faced with the idea of ​​having to drive.

In this sense, people who suffer from this diagnosis usually experience high levels of anxiety during those times when they must travel by bus, car and/or any other means of transportation. However, amaxophobia is used in people who have an intense fear of driving.

This fear can severely limit independence and quality of life especially in situations where driving is necessary. However, amaxophobia, or fear of driving, is treatable with different therapeutic approaches.

Causes of fear of driving

Fear of driving, or amaxophobia, can have various causes, and is often the result of a combination of psychological factors and environmental factors. The main causes are usually:

• Previous traumatic experiences: having suffered or witnessed a traffic accident can leave a deep emotional mark, generating an intense fear of driving. Even a minor incident or witnessing a serious accident can trigger a fear of driving.
• Generalized anxiety: People with generalized anxiety may be more likely to develop a fear of driving due to their tendency to overestimate dangers and feel overwhelmed in situations they perceive as challenging or dangerous.
• Lack of confidence in driving skills: A perceived lack of skill or experience behind the wheel can increase the fear of making mistakes, losing control of the vehicle or causing an accident, especially in complicated situations such as driving on congested roads or in adverse weather conditions.
• Social pressure or expectations: Feeling judged by other drivers or passengers, or experiencing pressure to drive in uncomfortable situations, such as on highways or at night, can contribute to the development of fear of driving.
• Biological or hereditary factors: Some people may have a biological predisposition to anxiety or fear, which could make them more susceptible to developing amaxophobia in response to certain triggers. In this sense, there is a high probability that a person suffers from the same traits if their parents are very afraid of driving.

Symptoms of amaxophobia

The symptoms of amaxophobia can vary in intensity, but generally manifest themselves on both a physical and psychological level. We show them to you below:

Physical symptoms

The physical symptoms of fear of driving are:

• Tachycardia: increased heart rate when thinking about driving or while behind the wheel.
• Sweating: excessive perspiration, especially on the hands.
• Tremors: tremor in the hands, legs, or entire body.
• Difficulty breathing: feeling of lack of air or rapid breathing.
• Nausea or dizziness: feeling of stomach discomfort or vertigo.
• muscle tension: stiffness in the muscles, especially in the hands and neck.
• Headaches: headaches caused by tension and stress.

Psychological symptoms

The psychological symptoms of amaxophobia are:

• extreme anxiety: feeling of fear or panic when thinking about driving or while driving. Precisely, in this article you will see how Anticipatory Anxiety is activated: what it is, causes, symptoms and treatment.
• Avoid driving: develop an aversion to or actively avoid situations where you must drive.
• Catastrophic thoughts: imagining negative or dangerous scenarios while driving, such as serious accidents.
• Lack of concentration: Difficulty focusing on driving due to anxiety.
• Feelings of helplessness or loss of control: feeling of not being able to handle the situation or of losing control of the vehicle.

These symptoms can appear at any time related to driving, from the simple thought of having to drive to the act of being behind the wheel, and can seriously interfere with a person’s ability to drive safely and confidently.

Treatment of fear of driving

Treatment for fear of driving, or amaxophobia, focuses on addressing both the symptoms of anxiety and the underlying causes of the fear. The most common approaches are the following:

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

This is one of the most effective therapies to treat amaxophobia. CBT helps people identify and change negative or irrational thought patterns that contribute to your fear of driving. Through cognitive restructuring, the therapist works with the patient to replace catastrophic thoughts with more realistic and positive ones.

Exposure therapy

This approach involves gradually facing fear in a controlled environment. The patient begins by exposing themselves to driving situations that generate a lower level of anxiety and, over time, progresses to more challenging situations. The exhibition graduatesl allows the person to get used to the driving experience reducing the fear response.

Relaxation and stress management techniques

Methods like deep breathing, meditation and progressive muscle relaxation can help control the physical symptoms of anxiety when thinking about driving or while behind the wheel. These techniques reduce tension and anxiety, making driving easier.

Driving skills training

In some cases, a lack of confidence in one’s own driving skills can be a major cause of fear. Taking additional lessons with a professional driving instructor can help improve competition and safety which in turn reduces driving anxiety.

This article is merely informative, at PsychologyFor we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

If you want to read more articles similar to Amaxophobia (fear of driving): what it is, causes, symptoms and treatment we recommend that you enter our Clinical Psychology category.

References

• American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th edition). Arlington: Panamericana Medical Publishing.
• Orejudo Hernández, S., Froján Parga, MX (1996). Treatment of a phobia of driving. Behavior Analysis and Modification Magazine, 22 (84), 463-480.