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High-functioning Werewolf
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 Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2007 12:48 pm
Hey, all. I know I don't really post here much, but I've got a question I don't think anybody else advise me on.
I've got a kind of strange phobia....I'm terrified of driving a car. I'm fine with riding in the car, but if I'm behind the wheel, I can't explain it. I just KNOW that the second I am on the open road, I'll become involved in a crash and kill somebody.
I'm nearly 20 now, so my being licenseless is really starting to affect my daily life. I wish I could change it, I really do, because the only way I'm going to be able to function normally as an adult is by learning to drive. Which is a terrifying prospect, but it's something I feel I need to do.
So my question to you all: How does one take steps in overcoming a phobia?
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Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2007 6:40 pm
This past month I've been terrified of cars, but I've slowly started driving again. At the beginning of November I was in a really bad car accident, basically I totaled my car. I got back behind the wheel by having someone with me. My mom's been living with me since the accident, and a week afterwards we'd go driving everyday. It started by finding a country road in the middle of nowhere, where there'd be no traffic. I'd drive for a little bit, and when I became uncomfortable my mom took over for me. So, it's been about a month and the accident and I'm finally driving to school by myself again! But, some things still make me really nervous. So, start off slowly and work yourself up.
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Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2007 8:28 pm
Ever hear of past life regression?
It's a new metaphysical/psychology phenomenon.
Google it.. there are some great books on case studies.
Anyway, one of the books I was reading on it had the case of a girl with many phobias. She went through the therapy (which consists of hypnosis to find out about past lives) and she was almost completely cured!
Here is an example of a situation...
Let's say you have that car phobia. It could be because in your past life, you died in a car crash.
Something like that.
It's really neat and I recommend looking into it.
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Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2007 10:32 pm
Thank you for the kind replies. ^_^
I'm going to talk to my mom about this very soon, but I really don't think I'll be comfortable driving until the weather clears up. Which may be next week, it may not be until March. Stupid Alberta clipper waking winter all early. rolleyes
Anywho. I've actually been reading a little bit about past life regression. We have sort of a "family hypnotist/psychic" I guess you could call her. She's worked on my mom and my brother, both with good results, but I haven't gone to see her yet. When I talk to my mom about it, I'll ask her about that.
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High-functioning Werewolf
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Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 7:28 am
i dont drive because of my dissabilitys , im afraid of haveing a tic (tourettes) while driving, and i have and got in a wreck that way about 5 yrs ago now, havent driven since, im way to nervouse riding in a car much less driving it. if you can over come this thats good but dont put yourself in unessary danger. if you really feel unsafe dont drive . or when you atart dont drive alone. it will affect your life though not driving, its kinda ruining my marriage right now. so it's good you want to fight off the phobia, i wish my driving paranoia were less so i could work through it but even my hubby who wants me to drive agrees it just isnt safe for me. good luck.
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Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 7:44 am
Well I tried talking to my mom about it, and the first thing she brought up was my ADD. She went on this big long monologue about how if I ever want to get that under control there's always medicine blah blah blah.
By the way, I have ADD. Real bad. And I refuse to medicate myself for a number of reasons. One because I think the medications put major blockage in my creative thought and two because my dad has ADD and his medications made him a maniac. So....no.
I mentioned to her that pretty much me being behind the wheel of a moving car was terrifying, and I started sobbing, at which point she got a little more concerned, but she didn't seem to know how to handle it, so she just sort of calmed me down and changed the subject.
Seeing as there's NO WAY I'm going to even attempt driving in Ohio during the winter, I'll try bringing it up again in the spring, maybe. sweatdrop
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High-functioning Werewolf
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Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2007 4:09 pm
It took me a long time to get my license too, I didn't get it until I was 22. If it hadn't been for the pushing from my parents, I wouldn't have gotten it at all, I don't think.
Like others have said, start slow. If you feel like you'll have a panic attack if you try to drive, then don't start out by driving, but start out by sitting in the driver's seat, perhaps. And from there, maybe sit in the driver's seat and imagine yourself driving. Once you're comfortable with that, then maybe you can drive a bit on your own street if it is a small street, or in an empty parking lot to start out.
If you feel like this isn't something you can handle on your own, you should probably see a therapist about it. Exposure therapy (which is basically what I've described- exposing yourself to your fear in small steps in a safe environment) is a popular method of overcoming phobias now, but if it is extremely severe you may need further assistance.
Also- if you think your ADD is going to cause too many problems while driving, then don't drive. Not everyone drives, and it's better for you to take public transportation or get rides from other people than it would be for you to drive unsafely because of perceptual or attention problems that will cause an accident.
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