There was a time in my life when I truly believed that driving anxiety was something I’d always live with. There were days it felt like it had completely ruined my life. Now that I’ve been fully recovered for over six years, I want to share my story with you—because I remember how isolating and hopeless it all felt.
And if you’re struggling with panic attacks while driving, or even just the fear of driving, I want you to know that you're not alone, and recovery is absolutely possible.
My Personal Journey With Driving Anxiety
What might surprise you is that most of my driving anxiety wasn’t really about driving—it was about the fear of panic attacks, of feeling trapped, and not knowing if I could “handle it” in certain situations. Whether it was in a car, on a train, plane, or boat… I feared losing control, embarrassing myself, or even having a bathroom emergency (thank you, toilet anxiety!).
Like many people with driving phobia, I developed tons of “safety behaviors” like searching for exits, planning the safest routes, or completely avoiding driving whenever possible. I also found being a passenger even more difficult—I needed to feel in control to feel safe. And the lack of control? Total panic.
What made it even harder was the feeling that I was missing out on life—turning down plans, skipping events, and missing opportunities because I was mentally and physically exhausted by the anxiety.
Why I Struggled With Driving Anxiety For So Long
Looking back, there were two big reasons I stayed stuck in the cycle for years:
I thought just driving would fix the fear. I told myself that if I kept driving every day, eventually the anxiety and panic would go away. Spoiler alert: it didn’t work. Exposure is helpful, but it’s not the only part of healing.
I focused too much on eliminating symptoms. I tried to avoid panic, dizziness, nausea, and every uncomfortable sensation. But the truth is, recovery isn’t about stopping the symptoms—it’s about changing how you respond to them and building a healthier relationship with anxiety.
“Driving Anxiety Is Ruining My Life!” — It Doesn’t Have To
I used to say that phrase all the time—“Driving anxiety is ruining my life.” But what I came to realize is that my responses to the anxiety were what really kept it going. The more I tried to resist or escape it, the more stuck I felt.
Through time, patience, and a lot of self-compassion, I learned how to allow the anxiety to show up without letting it control me. I practiced changing my self-talk, creating healthier behaviors, and rebuilding trust in myself.
And now? I can travel freely without anxiety tagging along. I’ve flown cross-country with my family, taken road trips in new places, and even drove hours across the UK with a baby in the back seat!
How You Can Start Overcoming Driving Anxiety
Recovery from driving anxiety isn’t just about “facing your fears”—though that’s definitely part of it. It’s about healing your relationship with anxiety, building confidence, and showing yourself that you’re capable of doing hard things.
If you’re ready to get behind the wheel with more peace and confidence, I invite you to check out my Overcoming Driving Anxiety Mini Course.
In this mini course, I’ll teach you the exact tools and strategies that helped me (and hundreds of others) recover from driving anxiety. You’ll learn how to:
Stop fearing panic attacks while driving
Shift your mindset and self-talk
Handle anxious thoughts and sensations
Build trust in your ability to drive confidently
One Last Message For You…
You are not alone, and you are not broken. If you’re thinking “I’ll never overcome this,” please remember that recovery is possible—even if it doesn’t feel like it right now.
“Just because you can’t imagine a life without driving anxiety doesn’t mean that life isn’t possible.”
Until next time, keep taking those healthy steps. You’re more capable than you think. 💛