The definitions listed below clarify the characteristics of various conditions that result in driving problems. This may help you decide upon the severity of your condition.

Fear of driving Driving anxiety Nervous driving	Panic attacks driving Driving phobia Driving related ptsd

Do you have a fear of driving?

A fear of driving may be a rational concern, especially if the driver has a low level of driving skills. Even highly skilled drivers can experience a fear of driving due to lack of knowledge and adequate experience. Confident driving results from skill, knowledge and experience.

At its best, fear helps us protect ourselves. A fear of driving can be described as an unpleasant emotion caused by the threat of danger, pain, or harm when driving. This is usually due to certain deficiencies in our skill, knowledge or experience. These deficiencies can now be addressed by completing our course.

Fear of driving can also remind us that we don't have control over everything in our lives. Just as a pedestrian must accept that certain real dangers exist when walking down a street, a driver must accept that there are certain real dangers in driving that are caused entirely by other road users.

Fortunately, the defensive driving skills we teach can make danger more easily avoidable and when unavoidable, the consequences less severe.

Fearful drivers often think that other drivers are angry or annoyed at them although they are unable to specify why this should be. When the perceived likelihood of something dangerous happening reduces due to a relaxed manner and mastering greater skills, then the fear of driving will reduce or vanish.

Top of this page

Are you affected by driving anxiety?

Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress and it can be useful in helping individuals deal with difficult situations. If for example anxiety prompts you to learn more about driving then being an anxious driver has helped you deal with that issue.

However, when anxiety becomes excessive it can be debilitating. Anxiety is a feeling that develops without a specific trigger and can develop into a full phobia.

An anxious driver experiences worry and unease about driving and is often very eager and concerned not to inconvenience other road users but often to a degree that is counter productive.

Anxious drivers often feel that they should go faster and perceive that they are being 'pushed on' to a greater speed by the driver behind. Also, anxious drivers may drive too close to the curb to let others pass unnecessarily.

Anxiety is provoked by perceived uncontrollable or unavoidable events but driving situations can be at least avoidable with the correct training. Anxiety also results from a tension caused by conflicting ideas such as ‘I am in danger’ and ‘I am safe’. Hypnotherapy deals specifically with this subconscious conflict.

Also, the defensive driving techniques used to overcome anxious driving on the course eliminates conflicting ideas by creating a constant ‘I am safe’ mindset. This results in clients driving at their own pace and not driving too close to the curb needlessly.

Top of this page

Are you a nervous driver?

A nervous driver is easily agitated or alarmed which may lead to making incorrect decisions that actually cause danger. Their driving is often hesitant, which agitates other road users and they frequently do not make progress when it is safe to do so.

Nervous driving can also be viewed as driving in a mentally disturbed state, characterized by a state of unconscious conflict usually accompanied by anxiety and obsessive fears. Drivers suffering from this condition often still drive regularly but avoid busy or unfamiliar places.

The nervous driver is often fully aware of the cause of the nervousness (e.g. motorway driving etc) but still suffers physical symptoms such as heart palpitations, nausea and a sense of dread. This condition normally stops short of a panic attack.

The practical driver training develops clients observation skills so that they can frequently decide on approach to a junction if they need to stop. This tends to make clients less hesitant which boosts their confidence to make more progress when it is safe avoiding undue hesitancy.

The hypnotherapy element helps nervous drivers develops a more relaxed mindset resulting in more forward planning on approach to hazards. This process leaves the driver feeling more in control with a reduced level of nervousness.

Top of this page

Do you have panic attacks while driving?

A panic disorder is a condition in which a person feels sudden over-whelming fright, with or without any reasonable cause.

A panic attack is generally accompanied by physical symptoms such as a pounding heart, sweating and rapid breathing. A sufferer may be in constant fear of the next panic attack.

Panic attacks typically occur in disaster situations when a person is attacked or threatened in some way. These types of panic attacks can be useful as it prepares the body for the primitive (fight or flight) response which may help the individual escape or defeat the imminent danger.

However, panic attacks when driving are without rational cause and often follow on from anxiety and nervousness about driving. Obviously it is important to retain full control while driving and not panic.

The brief but strong loss of composure that occurs during a panic attack must be avoided. Individuals suffering from this condition often feel that they are going to swerve off a road or bridge etc and in response pull over until they regain their composure.

The hypnotherapy aspect of our course deals specifically with this subconscious over-reaction. Also, the relaxed atmosphere of the practical driving aspect invariably instils a sense of confidence in participants.

Top of this page

Do you have a driving phobia?

A driving phobia is an extreme or irrational fear of driving beyond reason despite the reassurance that it is not dangerous. The unfortunate sufferer experiences worry about driving and are very concerned about the impending dangers therein.

Some if not all of the disabling aspects of the earlier conditions are normally apparent but to such a significant degree that a client finds driving at best difficult and at worst impossible. Clients report that they feel they are going to swerve off the road and into other traffic.

Clients also report that fast speeds, open roads and downhill gradients make them feel more nervous. The onset of a driving phobia may be gradual until it manifests itself as a full blown phobia, or sudden especially following an accident or situation that the client perceived as dangerous.

The hypnotherapy and general driver confidence building on the course is designed return drivers to their previous standards and exceed those standards where possible. Our aim is to make driving not only possible but also pleasurable.

An important aspect of the Nervous Driver Nationwide course is ensuring that the client enjoys the experience as research shows that students who enjoy the learning process remember what they have learned.

Clients suffering from a driving phobia now have a realistic opportunity to overcome the problem and can expect to achieve life changing results.

Top of this page

Do you have driving related post traumatic stress disorder?

If you have been involved in a motoring accident, you may find yourself unable (or less able) to drive. This could be a condition known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Post traumatic stress disorder or PTSD is an emotional illness that develops as a result of a traumatic experience. Sufferers tend to think constantly about the event and avoid places, people; or other activities that remind them of the event.

Sufferers are also very sensitive to normal life experiences. The condition has probably always existed but has been more frequently recorded in recent times with many accident and trauma victims now reporting its effects.

The hypnotherapy element of our course alongside patient driving tuition is designed to help sufferers recover their former driving ability and live a more normal life.

Top of this page

Quiz

OFTEN............................... score 2
SOMETIMES....................... score 1
HARDLY EVER.................... score 0


1.   Do you dread driving?
2.   Do you avoid driving when you can?
3.   Do other drivers make you feel anxious?
4.   Do you think other drivers get impatient with you?
5.   Is your speed usually 10% or more below the limit?
6.   Do other drivers go far too fast?
7.   Do you feel other drivers try to push you to go faster?
8.   Is the distance you drive from the curb inconsistent?
9.   Do you stop at junctions only to find you didn't need to?
10. Do you have panic attacks when driving?
11. Do you feel nervous about joining motorways on slip roads?
12. Do you feel nervous about leaving motorways on slip roads?
13. Do you worry about turning right across a dual-carriageway?
14. Do other driver seem to queue-up to overtake you?
15. Do you feel nervous about overtaking heavy goods vehicles?
16. Do you feel nervous when heavy goods vehicles overtake?
17. Do high volumes of traffic make you worry?
18. Do you avoid driving in unfamiliar places & towns?
19. Do you fail to notice many traffic signs and road markings?
20. Do you often find yourself in the wrong lane at junctions?

Score between 20-40 You are a nervous driver, our course is likely to restore your driving ability and confidence.

Score between 10-19 You show the signs of becoming a nervous driver. Nip the problem in the bud and develop you skills with the nervous driver course or some advanced driver training.

Score between 0-9 You do not seem to have a fear or phobia of driving but your interest in improved driving skills indicates that you may benefit from advanced driver training.

Top of this page