What Is Vehophobia?

Are you afraid to drive or even be in a vehicle? Some people think it’s funny, but vehophobia is no laughing matter. Like other phobias, it’s a mental health condition that can lead to panic attacks, extreme anxiety, and other symptoms.

Vehophobia is more commonly referred to as amaxophobia, but both words describe the same condition.

What Is a Phobia?

A phobia is an overpowering fear that can limit a person’s life. Phobias can cause intense levels of anxiety that make it impossible for an individual to participate in certain activities. It’s impossible to know exactly how many phobias exist because the list of things humans can fear is nearly endless.

However, mental health experts divide phobias into five main categories that include:

• Animals
• Natural environments
• Blood, injuries, and medical procedures
• Situations
• Other

Vehophobia is classified as a “situation” phobia along with aerophobia, the fear of flying, and claustrophobia — the fear of enclosed spaces.

Phobias aren’t conditions people can simply “get over.” They are often deeply seated fears that can cause people to rearrange their whole lives. For example, vehophobia could be caused by surviving a catastrophic auto accident or losing loved ones in an accident even if you weren’t present. Genetics and learned fears can also contribute to a person’s phobias.

Types of Vehophobia

Not everyone experiences vehophobia the same way. Some people with this disorder may be able to drive but unable to ride in any type of motorized vehicle as a passenger. Some can be a passenger selectively with people they trust, such as a spouse. Often, those with vehophobia are extremely knowledgeable about car crash statistics.

Some individuals with vehophobia can take public transportation, such as buses, but others can’t. In all cases, a person with this disorder is afraid of being injured or killed. It is not exactly a fear of driving or its responsibilities but a fear of harm.

Symptoms of Vehophobia

Vehophobia symptoms can be mild to extreme. Sufferers may experience only a few of the symptoms or all of them.

Symptoms include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Chills
• Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
• Shortness of breath
• Heart palpitations
• An intense feeling of impending doom
• Trembling or shaking
• Digestive upsets

Symptoms may arise when confronted by the need to drive or ride in a car or simply from thinking about driving a car.

Vehophobia Treatment

Approximately 90% of people with phobias benefit from exposure therapy. Exposure therapy is a type of psychotherapy that steadily exposes the sufferer to situations and images that trigger their symptoms. For example, a therapist might begin showing a vehophobia patient photos of cars, then eventually exposing them to real cars, followed by entering a parked car, and so on until the individual can comfortably ride or drive.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy and virtual reality exposure therapy may also be recommended. For people who experience depression, anxiety, or other mood management disorders related to their phobia, medications may be appropriate.

Do You Have Vehophobia?

Anyone can develop a phobia. People who have survived any type of car, Uber, or taxi accident have a higher risk of developing vehophobia. Phobias can cause people to feel shame and embarrassment. The pressure to move on can make matters worse.

An inability to drive or be a passenger can also be isolating. People with this disorder may be limited in their ability to socialize, work, or go to school. Every aspect of their life can be negatively impacted, including their physical health.

If you or someone you know has vehophobia, seek help. Online therapy and support groups provide comfortable options that don’t require transportation.

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If you’ve been injured in a car accident, please contact Marzzacco Injury Law at the nearest location to schedule a free consultation today.