Fear of taking the motorway, anxiety attack while driving, fear of passing the license … You may be amaxophobic. This fear of driving affects many people. Decryption of a more widespread phobia than you might think with Alexandra Lecart, clinical psychologist and psychotherapist.
Amaxophobia, or fear of driving, results in peak stress or anxiety attacks when driving, or even in anticipation. How to explain it? What are the symptoms of this phobia? What solutions to overcome amaxophobia? Alexandra Lecart, clinical psychologist and psychotherapist enlightens us on the subject.
What is amaxophobia?
"Amaxophobia is the irrational fear of driving or using a car", tells us Alexandra Lecart. This word is made up of the Greek term "amaxo" which means "vehicle" and "phobia" which means fear. "This is a still unknown phobia, about which little is said, which affects people who are affected at different levels, from mild or medium to severe fear, that is to say the total inability to take the wheel ", specifies the psychotherapist. However, according to the study carried out by the MAPFRE Institute for Road Safety in 2005, 33% of the population suffers from amaxophobia. 64% are women and 36% are men.
According to Alexandra Lecart, amaxophobia is often linked to agoraphobia, the phobia of being in spaces, places from which it would be difficult to escape. “The amaxophobic person is often afraid of the freeway and the main lines. Because there is no escape, you have to move forward at all costs and it is much more difficult to stop in the event of problems or anxieties ", she explains. This is the case of Murielle, 45, who has always been afraid of the motorway, without knowing that a word describes her phobia. “I haven't used the motorway for ten years. I told myself it would pass over time, but I was paralyzed every time I had to venture there ", she tells us. A phobia not always understood by those around him. “People always tell me But there is nothing quieter than the highway! You just have to follow a "" line. But to choose, I much prefer to take ten roundabouts than a single highway ", continues Murielle.
What are the symptoms of amaxophobia?
Amaxophobia manifests itself as anxiety when the person is confronted with the situation, or upstream. “The symptoms are physical and resemble an anxiety attack: dry throat, palpitations, tremors, tightness in the chest, sweaty hands, visual disturbances, excessive sweating, loss of confidence in one's body ('' will can I brake? '') ", lists the psychologist. They can occur when you are behind the wheel, in the passenger seat, or even when approaching a car. In addition, the person develops distressing ideas: fear of other users, fear of not knowing how to drive, fear of falling asleep at the wheel, fear of having an anxiety attack… These anxieties, Mathilde *, 26 years old, knows them good. “It started with my first driving lessons. I was like ‘OK, this is not for me’ ’’. 90 hours of driving and a failed exam later, the young woman finally gets her license, but retains a traumatic memory. “Every time I had a driving lesson, I would fall asleep the night before with a lump in my stomach, I canceled lessons at the last minute several times. My instructor kept telling me that I would never get my license, that I was a disaster. The first time I passed my license my legs were shaking so much I could barely step on the pedals " she remembers. “For 6 years, my license has been in my wallet. I hardly touched the steering wheel. ", resigns herself the young woman who left to live in Paris, once the Holy Grail in pocket.
Where does the fear of driving come from?
The origin of this fear differs depending on the person, their experience and their personal history. "The causes can be multiple", specifies Alexandra Lecart. “Amaxophobia can be caused by trauma related to driving. An accident, a risk of an accident, a loved one who died in a car … This can be distanced: the simple story of an accident experienced by a family member can be enough to generate a panic fear of driving ", explains the expert.
Other psychological causes can come into play. "There are several hypotheses such as the fear of confinement, insecurity, or infinity", she develops. In addition, the fear of feeling unwell or having a panic attack can create avoidance behavior. In some cases, these are people for whom driving has never been a problem until they have a panic attack.“Having a panic attack or feeling unwell while driving can lead to trauma. The person subconsciously registers that they could do it again and the fear is ultimately linked with the anxiety attack more than the driving ", explains Alexandra Lecart. The fear of repeating a new attack while driving leads her to avoid this activity.
How to overcome amaxophobia?
For psychologist Alexandra Lecart, there are two solutions available to driving phobias: behavioral and cognitive therapy (CBT) and virtual reality therapy (VRT). Cognitive behavioral therapy helps identify and understand your fear by working on emotions, associated thoughts and behaviors. This type of treatment changes the dysfunctional mental representations that cause the phobia. "CBTs are very effective and have shown many notable results on phobias", explains the specialist. The goal is to very gradually expose the patient to their fear through prepared, repeated exercises. "It's very gradual and respectful of the patient's anxiety. He is also taught relaxation techniques to learn to control his fear: relaxation based on the contraction and relaxation of muscles, abdominal breathing, mindfulness, acceptance of emotions and sensations that come and go… ”, says the psychotherapist.
Virtual Reality Therapy (VRT) can also be a solution to get back behind the wheel. Equipped with a 3D helmet, a steering wheel and pedals, the patient lives a virtual situation, therefore in safety with the psychologist and in a prepared and progressive manner, before being able to apprehend it in reality. “There are several possible exposure situations (day, night, fog, rain, etc.). The shrink is nearby to frame the patient and help him ". The psychologist also recommends other complementary approaches such as existential psychotherapy, based on psycho-philosophy and allowing to question oneself, one's existence, the meaning of life, and analytical therapy to understand the origin of phobia. "We mix several therapies to suit the patient and not the other way around", concludes Alexandra Lecart. With a holistic approach and integrative therapy, amaxophobia is likely to go away.
Thanks to Alexandra Lecart, clinical psychologist and psychotherapist, psychologue-riviere.com
* The first name has been changed