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View Full Version : Kathy's fear of highway driving


kharris
10-23-2008, 01:32 AM
My name is Kathy and I'm a highway phobic. Here's my story as briefly as I can explain, I stopped drving on the highway about ten years ago. The panic attacks became so unbearable as I was forced to drive the highway daily because a river divided me from my job. So, I moved to the same side of the river as my job and problem solved, right? After ten years of this "perfect" situation, I was outsourced from my job of 24 years! But, fortunately in these hard times, I got a new job, but guess where? You guessed it, on the other side of the river! But there is a twist, I got a job where my husband works, so he drives me to work everyday. I've been on the new job for 7 weeks, and it's my big secret that I have this driving fear, they don't know I can't drive myself to work. Oh, and my husband is a very aggressive driver, he takes many unnessasary risks, he gets angry at other drivers, has actual bouts of real road rage. I have screamed out loud out of fear of driving with him. So just a few problems to overcome. I very motivated to be independent, I have practiced on a rural highway and did OK, but just can't seem to drive the path to work, with heavy traffic, going across the bridge, merging into traffic, etc. I want nothing more than to have a nice peaceful ride to work & back, on MY terms! I think I need a driving coach that understand this stuff to get me over that bridge. Rich has heard this story a couple times, any feedback is very welcome.

Rich Presta
10-23-2008, 12:21 PM
What do you fear would happen if you went over the bridge?

Fiore
10-28-2008, 09:46 AM
Hi Kathy

Welcome to the forum. Joining was a good move and you will have many around you that know exactly where you're at.

At the risk of being a bit frank, I don't think being a passenger with your husband each day is going to offer you any therapy. It's driver's like him (road ragers) that have fuelled many of us into the way we are.

I can see your dilemma. You are working with your husband, not feeling ready to do that bridge, but at the same time, the longer that arrangement continues, the harder it may become for you to get that bridge (with you driving) into your "comfort zone". Is it possible for you to take some week-end practice driving the bridge? If you feel at this point that the bridge is completely undoable, make sure you try to get in driving practice (I would recommend without your husband!!).

Keep posting Kathy. The solutions are there.

Fiore