Vehophobia After a Motor Vehicle Accident
For most people in the United States, driving is a common part of their daily life. If something interferes with your driving ability, your life becomes really difficult. One of the things that can interfere with your ability to drive is vehophobia. Vehophobia is a type of phobia that manifests as the fear of driving. Usually, this phobia occurs after someone is involved in a motor vehicle accident. However, even people who haven’t been in an accident can develop vehophobia. For instance, someone can develop this type of phobia after;
- Losing a loved one in a motor vehicle accident
- Being the victim of road rage
- Witnessing a crash
- Driving in dangerous or intense conditions
This article focuses on those people who have been in motor vehicle accidents. Below, we discuss symptoms of vehophobia and treatment options for vehopohobia.
Symptoms of Vehophobia After a Motor Vehicle Accident
While feeling some emotional discomfort after a motor vehicle accident is normal, post-accident vehophobia can adversely affect your life. Vehophobia can cause you significant stress. If you have vehophobia, you may find yourself avoiding activities that require driving, such as going to work, school, or running errands. This can significantly impact your life. It is vital that you are able to recognize if you have vehophobia. Once you recognize what you are going through, it becomes easier to deal with the situation.
Symptoms of vehophobia vary from person to person, and depending on the extent of your condition, symptoms may range from mild to severe. That said, the following are some of the common symptoms of vehophobia;
- Chest pain
- Nausea
- Panic attacks when in the car
- Intense anxiety when thinking about driving
- Racing heartbeat
- Shortness of breath
- Hot flashes or chills
- Trembling
- Sweating
- Muscle tension
- Feeling dizzy or light-headed
Often people with vehophobia illicit thoughts that involve, among others, the following;
- Getting into a serious accident
- Losing control of the vehicle
- Getting trapped in a damaged car and not being able to get out
Unfortunately, even mild vehophobia can significantly impact your everyday life.
Treatment Options for Vehophobia
It can be challenging to overcome the fear of driving after a motor vehicle accident. However, several treatment options are available to help you get over your anxiety. The following are some of the treatment options available to those struggling with the fear of driving after a motor vehicle accident;
- Cognitive behavioral therapy – This treatment option entails identifying harmful, negative, or unhelpful thoughts or behavior patterns and then working on making them more manageable so you can move past your anxiety and trauma.
- Relaxation techniques – Things like meditation, deep breathing, and progressive muscle relaxation can help you remain calm and manage your vehophobia.
- Support groups – Support groups can provide a safe space for people to share their experiences and receive support from others going through the same thing.
- Medication – Medication is often meant to address vehophobia symptoms and not make the condition disappear. For example, a doctor may prescribe anti-anxiety drugs to help reduce feelings of chest pain, shaking, and impaired breathing.
Contact Us for Legal Help
If you developed vehophobia after being involved in a motor vehicle accident that was another person’s fault, you have the right to hold the negligent party responsible for the harm caused. Our Fort Myers personal injury attorneys at The Pendas Law Firm can help you seek the justice and compensation you deserve.
The Pendas Law Firm also represents clients in the Tampa, Orlando, Ocala, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Jacksonville, Naples, Melbourne, Bradenton, Daytona Beach, and West Palm Beach areas.
