- (408) 409-3964
- Located in San Jose, California
Some days even thinking about getting behind the wheel brings up a wave of unhappiness, your chest feels tight, and your stomach drops. Here in the Bay Area, traffic moves fast, lanes are tight, and other drivers can be stressed out and unpredictable.
The fear of being caught off guard and overwhelmed can stay with you. Many people find themselves avoiding certain routes, avoiding freeways, sticking to side streets, or relying on others to drive them, even months or years later.
And when you are in the car you may find yourself obsessively checking your mirrors, staying in the slow lane, driving much slower than you used to, and freaking out when things remind you of what happened, whether you are driving or a passenger.
Many Bay Area residents feel this way after an accident, especially with the constant rush, unpredictable traffic patterns, and the high-speed freeways of the 280 and the 101.
You’re not “overreacting.” You’re responding to something that genuinely scares you. Your mind and body need to learn to relax and feel safe in the car again.
When a crash or near miss happens, your nervous system does what it’s designed to do: notice and encode the details about what was happening when the accident occurred, and keep you on alert so that you can be ready to react as needed. You might notice flashes of the moment, your hands tightening on the wheel, or your heart racing when you have to merge onto the free.
And the stress of an accident goes far beyond that initial moment of impact. You might be worried about the physical harm caused to yourself or a passenger, the damage to your car, or the conflict with other people that the accident caused. And the expense and inconvenience with getting a car fixed and dealing with insurance is also substantial, on top of everything else.
You’re not the only one who’s questioned whether you’ll ever feel truly comfortable driving again. It makes sense that your body still remembers. And it’s possible to help it relearn safety.
Imagine being able to drive over a bridge, navigate the freeway, or even just take a short trip across town without that familiar surge of fear. Imagine feeling more grounded when a car suddenly switches lanes or traffic comes to an abrupt stop. Imagine trusting yourself again.
The problem is not that you reacted in the moment of the accident. The problem is that your mind and body have not been able to readjust back to their normal patterns. They have not been able to fully process the event and allow you to feel safe.
It can result in long term anxiety and avoidance behaviors that end up harming you and not protecting you long after the danger has passed.
With my combination of CBT and EMDR and years of experience helping drivers overcome their driving fears, I offer a therapy approach that can help you rewire your brain and get you back to normal. I can provide the expert support and expertise that you need to start making changes in the way you handle driving.
I don’t tell you “Just get behind the wheel again!” I give help you understand and process your past experiences, and give homework for how to approach your stress and manage your driving current experience.
You Don’t Have to Do This Alone
If you’ve been struggling to get back to driving comfortably after an accident in the past two years, my support can make a real difference.
Together, we’ll explore what’s still feeling difficult and help you rebuild the sense of trust and safety in your driving that you lost. We’ll help your mind and body stop overreacting and be more grounded in the reality of your current situation.
If you’re ready to talk about what getting over your driving anxiety, I’d love to connect.
