Driving and Stress
DId you know that around 1 in 3 drivers in the UK report high levels of stress behind the wheel?Stress itself is not necessarily a problem of course, but the way that we react to it can differ hugely depending on how we feel.
There are a number of issues that can affect our driving, including how we are feeling before we get behind the wheel; what we meet on our journey; who is in the car with us; time pressures and traffic jams; and of course any bumps or accidents that we might have been involved in either recently or in the past.
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"Road Rage"
"Road rage" is a common term these days - although it certainly was not around 20 or more years ago. The concept is now well known - and associated with aggression and violence. Keeping your own stress levels at bay and learning how to deal with other people's "rage" is an important part of modern life driving. Surprisingly, it is not necessarily the pressures that we experience on the roads which is a main cause of road rage, but rather how we deal with them. Keeping our cool, especially when others are blowing a fuse, is the key.
Try these tips:
Try these tips:
- Keep yourself physically cool - open a window, make sure you have plenty of air circulating in the vehicle, use a battery controlled fan if you don't have access to air conditioning
- Wear comfortable clothing, nothing too restrictive, especially around the neck and waist
- Keep a bottle of water in the car - dehydration causes alot of misery!
- Make sure your music is "calming" rather than pounding - a recommended 60 beats per minute will have you rocking in line with a chilled, relaxed heartbeat
- Keep an eye on your breathing - deep breaths from the abdomen will keep you calm
- Be aware of your body language and physical tension - check out how tightly you are gripping the steering wheel - if you are "white-knuckling" it is time to let go, take a break and relax!
- Take opportunities to relax when you can - natural stops at traffic lights or in queues of traffic give you an opportunity to "chill out":
- Take nice deep regular breaths in, then blow out three times
- Pull your shoulders up to your ears and then let them drop down again
- Squeeze your hands into fists then release them three times
- Use some driving "etiquette", let one car into the traffic queue when you can, a smile and acknowledgement goes a long way
- Use driving to "de-stress" - quiet time on your own to reflect, think, plan or whatever you please can be surprisingly therapeutic
- Plan ahead when you can, think ahead for options if you come across something unexpected
- Take a break if you are on a long journey - those signs are there for a reason!
- Put yourself in the other person's shoes if someone ahead of you makes a mistake - none of us are perfect
- Good communication with other drivers will keep everyone's stress levels on an even keel
Take your time - "better late than never" is a much under-valued saying!
Driving / Travelling Anxiety and Phobias after Accidents and Incidents
Accidents and road traffic incidents can have a direct effect on our anxiety and stress levels when driving, or travelling in a car or other vehicle. One very debilitating consequence of car accidents is when someone develops an anxiety or phobia about driving or travelling. This can happen even where there are few or no physical injuries. It can be embarassing or feel humiliating to acknowledge it, which adds to the anxiety of course, creating a vicious cycle.If you find yourself avoiding driving or travelling, or only doing so when someone else is with you, seek some help. If you leave it, you may find that it gets worse. Recovery is certainly possible, but you will need some help and guidance to deal with your symptoms. The best approach is to use some regular relaxation to help yourself recognise your stress reactions and know how to deal with them, then to learn some "fast track techniques" to keeping calm. Once you have mastered these, then a paced return to driving or travelling in a vehicle, initially with someone else if you need to, will help you get back on track.
If it is longer than 4 weeks since an accident or incident and you find you still have vivid "flashbacks", it is important that you seek help through your GP or medical advisor as soon as possible. This could indicate that you are developing a traumatic reaction to the incident. You are not "going mad", you are experiencing a serious psychological reaction which needs expert help. Recovery is certainly possible with appropriate and timely help.
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