Anyone involved in a traumatic event, such as a car accident, can suffer lifelong effects. Many develop post-traumatic stress disorders, such as vehophobia, or the fear of driving. After a car crash, victims who experience anxiety disorders and panic attacks should get a case evaluation from a personal injury lawyer.
Overcoming the Fear of Driving After a Car Crash
It is possible to overcome driving anxiety, but it needs patience and progressive exposure therapy. During this phase, treat the accident victims with kindness and seek professional help.
Vehophobia Is a Form of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Vehophobia, or the fear of driving, is a disorder that affects a significant number of people globally. An extreme dread of operating a vehicle or riding in one is the defining feature of this condition, which results in avoidance behavior.
Common Causes of Vehophobia
There is no single cause of vehophobia, which can differ from person to person. Here are some of its common causes.
- A traumatic driving experience, such as a terrible and serious car accident
- Witnessing a car crash
- Negative image painted by the media about driving or driving-related experiences
- Lack of confidence in driving abilities or lack of driving experience
- Existing mental health conditions (i.e., anxiety or PTSD)
- Being with aggressive drivers
- Taking lessons with overly strict driving instructors
- Having traveled in dangerous conditions, such as intense snow, rain, or wind
- Growing up with adults or family members who feel anxious when riding motor vehicles
Symptoms of Vehophobia
The following are some of the signs that a person has vehophobia:
- Extreme anxiety or panic attacks when thinking about driving a car or being in a car;
- The person will do anything to avoid driving or getting behind the wheel, even when necessary. He may choose to use public transportation instead;
- Excessive fear or worry about possible accidents when driving.
- Experiencing tense muscles, feeling jumpy, or having difficulty concentrating when driving;
- Physical symptoms, such as increased heart rate, sweating, trembling, nausea, and difficulty breathing;
Each person’s experience with vehophobia is unique. While some people may only have minor symptoms, others may have more severe and incapacitating symptoms. These may require mental health services. Getting expert assistance from a mental health professional who can offer treatment options is critical.
How Does PTSD Affect Driving?
There are numerous different types of post-traumatic stress disorder, and no two people who have it will exhibit the same symptoms or respond to stimuli in the same manner. Someone who led a convoy through a conflict zone, for instance, might not be negatively affected by traffic when driving. But someone who was in a collision that claimed a loved one might experience severe anxiety each time a truck honks.
Treatment Options for Vehophobia and PTSD
People who suffer from vehophobia frequently use ride-sharing services or public transportation as a means of avoiding having to face their fear of driving. That is one approach to handle it, but there are other things that one can do to safeguard their mental well-being, get over their worries, and resume driving. Among the most widely used treatment options are:
Psychotherapy
The most popular method for treating anxiety disorders is psychotherapy. Cognitive and behavioral therapy are two common types of psychotherapy. Behavioral therapy addresses the influence of feelings on conduct to reduce harmful or problematic behaviors. Through cognitive therapy, individuals can change their uncontrollably anxious thought patterns into more reasonable ones.
The following are the types of therapy used to treat vehophobia:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
To help patients overcome their trauma and anxiety, this type of therapy tries to help them become more in control of their actions and cognitive patterns. Put differently, patients acquire the ability to identify and modify factors that fuel their anxiety.
Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE)
A type of cognitive-behavioral treatment called exposure therapy is used to treat anxiety disorders, PTSD, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. In PE, a patient faces their fear by going through the experience of the fear-inducing event.
In dealing with vehophobia, the victims might recount details of the accident or work toward driving on their own by driving in an empty parking lot. Then, they may progress to traveling on a back road and eventually working their way to driving on busier roads and highways.
Hypnotherapy
Hypnosis is a technique used to assist patients in processing particular ideas and tasks using guided relaxation and intense concentration. Because it puts patients in a more relaxed state to explore a painful memory, feelings, and thoughts, hypnotherapy is particularly useful when used with psychotherapy.
Medication
Medication helps in lowering driving anxiety’s severity and effects. While it can be helpful on its own, the effects are more enduring and advantageous when combined with cognitive behavioral therapy. Therapists typically advise trying alternative approaches before turning to medicine, but it is sometimes necessary when anxiety is severe, persistent, or crippling.
Beta-blockers and sedatives are two of the most common drugs used for vehophobia.
Defensive Driving Courses
By mastering defensive driving techniques, many people overcome their anxiety related to driving and deal with post-accident depression. The driving instructor in defensive driving classes gives students the knowledge and abilities to anticipate and respond to various roadside situations. Students believe they have more confidence and control as a result.
Support Groups
Those who join a vehophobia support group can connect with like-minded people who will assist and encourage them in their efforts to conquer their fear head-on. Support groups can meet online or in person.
What Damages Can I Recover in a Car Accident Claim?
Whatever the cause of a person’s driving phobia following a bad accident, the effects can be extremely disruptive and crippling. Anyone who experiences anxiety or has ever had a panic attack understands how terrifying the entire scenario can be. Apart from the overall unease caused by the phobia, it severely restricts their daily life activities.
Car accident victims who develop vehophobia may suffer economic and non-economic consequences. They have the right to fair compensation and damages for the following:
- Medical bills for their recovery and therapy
- Emotional distress
- Medication
- Transportation costs
How a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help
People who develop post-accident vehophobia should seek the counsel of an experienced personal injury lawyer. A car accident lawyer can help the car crash victim get the compensation for their pain and suffering. Victims can then focus on moving forward and on their recovery, physically and emotionally.
Contact The Clark Law Office Today.
We are a trusted personal injury law firm in Michigan with office in Okemos, Lansing, and Eaton Rapids. We are dedicated to helping you get your rightful damages after that traumatic motor vehicle accident. Call us now and let us know how our team can assist you.
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