For many drivers, once they get behind the wheel, they are totally calm and the act of driving is so natural, it becomes second nature.
There are, however, those who get anxious about driving and every time they are behind the wheel, they experience different levels of anxiety.
There are many ways to define anxiety and panic attacks.
Most people define them as feelings of tension, fear or dread, in the absence of a direct threat or any clear justification.
Those who get driving anxiety can not explain why they feel the way the do.
Psychologists describe anxiety as irrational fear.
While it is common for most people to feel nervous or stressed when driving in heavy traffic, this is not the same as having anxiety.
In some driving situations, some degree of fear or anxiety may even be justified.
With driving anxiety, the physical and emotional symptoms are severe and go beyond nervousness.
Those who experience the fear get physical as well as an emotional reaction, and the tension is often very high.
This condition has left a number of people too scared to drive.
A number of people who get the driving anxiety often find that getting off the road and stopping, will often help to calm them down.
The minute they feel an attack coming on, they can pull over and calm down which often takes a few minutes.
Once they are off the road, the obsessive thinking that comes with the anxiety attacks is diminished.
It is, however, important to get back on the road after the attack has passed.
Like with most fears, the best way to deal with it is by not giving in to the fear.
The more you build up a negative experience, the worse it becomes.
Most people who have given up driving all together, are those who chose to give in to the fear.
What started off as anxiety has been magnified to larger proportions and they are too scared to drive? In order to deal with the panic attacks, it is important to reduce the level by giving yourself permission to fail, without remaining in that position for too long.
You should never feel guilty about the need to pull over until you are relaxed.
As long as you do not attach much significance to the act, then you will find that you will need to do it less.