What is driving anxiety?

Driving anxiety is the fear of driving or being a passenger in a vehicle. There are different severities of driving anxiety, ranging from general anxiety about driving to a phobia of being inside a vehicle.

Driving anxiety is a recognized condition and, in medical terms, is called amaxophobia. Studies note that the condition can negatively impact a person’s life due to the inability to get to and from work, social events, or appointments due to the fear of being inside a vehicle.

Driving phobia vs. driving anxiety

Driving anxiety refers to a general feeling of discomfort or apprehension related to driving or being a passenger in a vehicle. Fear can range from mild to severe, and some people can even experience panic attacks before driving or while driving. This condition can be triggered by specific situations, such as getting onto a highway, heavy traffic, or parallel parking, but it does not necessarily involve complete avoidance of driving.

On the other hand, driving phobia is an irrational fear of driving, being in a car, or even being around cars. People with driving phobia often experience overwhelming panic attacks or extreme anxiety when faced with the prospect of driving or being a passenger. This can be so overwhelming that people refuse to enter a vehicle even as passengers.

Although driving anxiety encompasses a range of fears and discomfort, driving phobia refers explicitly to the extreme and debilitating fear that negatively impacts a person’s life.

Symptoms of driving anxiety

Driving anxiety can manifest in several ways and be different for each individual.

Some common symptoms of driving anxiety include the following:

• Dizziness

• Quick, shallow breaths

• Heart palpitations

• Nausea

• Shortness of breath

• Tightness in the chest

• Trembling or shaking

• Digestive issues

It is common for those with driving anxiety to experience different forms of driving anxiety symptoms. They can range from mild to severe; some people may even have a combination of symptoms or different levels of symptoms depending on the driving activity.

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