Hills

[natalie]

Hi,

I was so happy to find a driving phobia website. I purchased it last week and am so happy to be able to identify my specific driving fear(s). Without this program I would think I was losing my mind. I am a 67 year old female who has been driving for 27 years. All of a sudden, out of the blue, I am terrified to drive down hills. Although my car is faithfully serviced, I fear that the brakes will fail and I will go rolling down the hill in an out of control car. This fear has transferred to driving on the road where I keep testing the brake. I am fine as long as there are no other cars on the road which is so unrealistic. The Driving Fear Program exercises are a great help to me. To my credit, even at the height of my fears I never stop driving locally but I find I plan the most reliable route--which most times proves not so reliable either. Sometimes I pull to the side to let a car pass. Other than this nightmare, I am daring and happy and enjoy life. ;) :oops: Thanks for letting me express my situation.

[Rich Presta]

Welcome Natalie, I think you'll do great, the whole brake testing thing is a common compulsion born of anxiety...it will go away of its own accord. It's the fact that it bothers you that makes it so pervasive...kind of like the urge to scratch an itch that bothers you. When you stop making it "itch" so bad, you won't want to "scratch" it. The more you try to stop thinking about it, the harder it will be...just accept that's there and know you can choose to listen or not.

[ecpdba]

Hi!

I am not sure where Rich posted it on the Board, but he said something like this:

What is the big deal with pulling off the road to take a break or to get a bite?

It's as if we are all programmed that we must not stop or we must somehow all go the speed limit all the time etc..

Now I would want you to take whatever steps you need to ensure your safety, but I would say to you; got the speed that makes you happy and you are comfortable with. Pick a safe time of day and practice. Turn on your flashers, put on some fun music or whatever you like and the simply take it on "hill" at a time. Let others pass you or pull off if you need to. The point is that like anything else we learn, we learn in small steps with our fear.

You can overcome this fear and you control your destiny. Take your time and follow the program.
Make sure that you post how you are doing!

Frank