No idea, those thoughts just won't pop up when I sit at the back.
Maybe the front seat is the main trigger. Same applies to buses. XD

klrk Wrote:No idea, those thoughts just won't pop up when I sit at the back.
Maybe the front seat is the main trigger. Same applies to buses. XD

Although I do have those phobic thoughts when sitting at the back, I feel a lot worse at the front... perhaps because I'm "closer to the action". At least at the back, I can look at the floor and pretend I'm not in a car... :?

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I can ride in any car except nice ones, its really WEIRD. I refuse to drive in those nice sports cars like ferrari, porsche, bmw. I dont know why!!!! I need help.

I appear to have the same problem as the first poster of this thread, except mine started about a year ago and is slowly getting worse. There is no reason for this; no accidents, no bad drivers etc; it is very irrational. And as for the thought of going on a plane - no chance.

Hi Everyone,

My name is Laura and I am involved with a special program involving phobias in Westchester County, New York. We are currently seeking people with the fear of driving, the fear of heights, and the fear of water to participate in a three day program that will be filmed. We would prefer people who are comfortable discussing their phobia and willing to work towards resolving their fears. Need people ASAP. Please note that this 3 day session is part of a pilot presentation for a network that will never air on actual television. We need participants for 3 days (Nov 19, 20, and 21, 2009) but I need to lock in people ASAP. You'll get thousands worth in therapy in just a few days!!! Only a limited number of spots available. Serious inquiries only.

I have a similar phobia it seems. I was relieved when I Googled and found this thread. In my case I have difficulty only when it comes to red lights or traffic jams. Even when going to the corner store I try to time myself to make make each green light. I cannot explain why this is happening. It seems silly but the 2 minutes at a red light is an eternity of rapid heart beat, restricted breathing and irrational thoughts.
I notice it is worse if someone else is driving. I find myself frustrated if they don't risk our lives to make the green light. If anyone knows anything about this please share. I am becoming a prisoner in my home and my friends and family think I'm being antisocial.

Welcome to the forum eyevoodoo. shappy

eyevoodoo Wrote:I have a similar phobia it seems. I was relieved when I Googled and found this thread. In my case I have difficulty only when it comes to red lights or traffic jams. Even when going to the corner store I try to time myself to make make each green light. I cannot explain why this is happening. It seems silly but the 2 minutes at a red light is an eternity of rapid heart beat, restricted breathing and irrational thoughts.
I notice it is worse if someone else is driving. I find myself frustrated if they don't risk our lives to make the green light. If anyone knows anything about this please share. I am becoming a prisoner in my home and my friends and family think I'm being antisocial.

Did something happen to make you feel nervous at red lights or during traffic jams? Or is it something that's just come about with time? You're ok with everything else driving related? And you're not really sure why you feel that way at red lights or during traffic jams?

Sorry, I can't really relate and I don't really know anything about this fear. I'm sure someone'll come along to offer up something though. Maybe if you read through this section of the forum a bit too, you might find someone with a similar fear.

Again, welcome to the forum. Hope you find the information you're looking for.

I have a huge fear of riding in a car. I am okay driving. I have been in an accident where I was the passenger and we lost control on a rainy street and pinballed across a bridge. Since then, I can't be a passenger without real fears (ESPECIALLY IN THE RAIN). My partner is so understanding, and is an incredible driver. She slows down and is a lot more careful when I am in the car. She is especially careful on the wet streets.

I wish I knew how to get past this fear. It is kind of like the post above, where the person was saying that if someone doesn't brake just at the right second or the car next to us doesn't quite stay in their lane so well.

I have come nervousness in an airplane, taxi, limo, etc. but I will ride.

It wears me out even more to ride with anyone other than my partner.

Welcome to the forum eagle938. shappy

If you don't mind me asking, how long ago were you in the accident? And have you seen a therapist or anyone to try and address the fear?

I was trapped in a car 8 years ago and since, it started with me getting in a car but checking the door then its got worse over the yrs i avoid going any where too far. If i go on holiday i take medication, which only takes the edge off and the journey always wears me out with constant panic feeling. Going by bus im fine as i know i can ring the bell and get off so im in control. This has made my life impossible i dont really go anywhere anymore. Can anyone help.

Hello Galebrandon and welcome to the community

Its understandable how you can be affected by what happened and i would think the only recource would be to seek professional counselling.

Have you considered counselling? Im sure that it would help overcome your fears so perhaps you should seek a refferel from your GP?

(03-02-2008 01:09 PM)MrFreedom Wrote:  Hello, I've just joined this forum a couple of days ago. I'm hopeful I'll be able to find a practical solution to my problem.

I've had this embarrassing phobia for the past 18 years, now I've found out there is a name for that: Amaxophobia (fear of riding in a car - as opposed to "driving"). I panic every time I have to sit as a passenger in a vehicle, be it a car, a bus, a taxi, ... Every time I find myself in a vehicle where I'm not in control, I feel trapped and experience all kinds of symptoms: feeling unable to breath, dizzy or faint, absolute terror and anticipation of accidents, etc..

I can't even accompany my six-year old daughter in amusement park rides for kids! Needless to say, I never took a plane .

The good thing is, I have no problem driving my car... fortunately, otherwise, how could I get anywhere! Since I can't "ride", I drive all the time and always find excuses to use "my" car, as opposed to someone else's. I have no problem at all when it comes to being in control. The problem is when I realize that I have no control; I feel trapped.

Even my closest friends don't take me seriously and think I'm "acting" (how insulting! angry1 ), they all make fun of it. In the past, I have asked some close friends to drive my car for therapy purposes and let me sit there as a passenger... I ended up making a fool of myself (with friends like this, who needs enemies?).

I'm in the process of reading "Don't Panic: Taking Control of Anxiety Attacks - R. Wilson" (I've read the first 100 pages) and I've already learned a thing or two... not the miracle cure I was hoping for so far, but hopefully this book will provide me with good tools to overcome my problem.

I've had some good moments in the past where I thought I was cured or on the way to recovery. There has been some instances where I took the bus for a short ride going into work, or the taxi downtown, I sat a couple of times as a passenger in my mother's car (for some reason, I tend to trust my mother, even though she's over 70 and doesn't have a great attention span and her vision is fading).

Since none of my friends are willing to help me out with this embarrassing problem, and my wife doesn't have a driver's licence, and my mother lives 6 hours away from me... I thought I could organize a group in my area where people will take turn driving each others cars... but I have to find those people who share the same phobia as me. Am I the only one? confused1

Any tips on how I can overcome this embarrassing problem? Anyone is interested in forming an amaxophobia support group and help each other out by driving and riding in each others' cars? Anyone living around Toronto (Canada)?

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I AM ALSO HAVING YOUR FEAR OF RIDING IN A CAR, IF I AM NOT IN CONTROL,,,MY BIG FEAR IS THAT THIS WEEK I WILL BE GOING TO THE SMOKEY MTNS, AND MY DAUGHTER DRIVES,,,SHE IS A GOOD SAFE DRIVER, BUT I STILL AM ANCY,,,,I TRY TO TAKE DEEP BREATHES, DONT HELP, NEITHER DOES LAVENDER....GOOD TO KNOW THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE,,,I FEEL EMBARRASSED , TO OPEN MY MOUTH,,,CHARLOTTE

I AM GETTING CLOSER TO LEAVING FOR N.C. MTNS. SUNDAY, FEELING NERVOUS, SINCE I HAVE TO RIDE IN MY VAN,,,I KEEP PRAYING NOT TO BE ANCY,,,CHALOTTE

I think you certainly need to try and learn some relaxation techniques to help you. Meditationm self hypnosis etc are all avenues that are available that dont involve the use of drugs.