Let's Talk About Tackling Driving Anxiety - Q&A With Annie!
Driving anxiety is something I struggled with deeply—whether I was in the driver’s seat or just a passenger. The fear wasn’t so much about driving itself but more about the overwhelming “what-ifs” and panic attacks that came with every journey.
I know that so many struggle with driving anxiety. Recently, I had the chance to dig into this topic with Annie, and on this episode we share some incredibly practical and comforting insights while answering some of your most commonly asked questions about driving anxiety. Let's get into it!
"I'm constantly consumed by the thought of panicking while driving. How can I change this?"
I really resonated with this question! When I first started to face driving anxiety, my brain would get stuck in a loop of worry. I was so afraid of panicking, and that fear alone would often kick in before I even got into the car.
What I learned is that trying to constantly “think my way out of anxiety” only made it worse. Instead, allowing myself to feel the anxiety without trying to think and do my way out of feeling was key.
2. "How can I actually trust that I'm not going to pass out while driving?"
This was one of my biggest fears when I was struggling! Anxiety loves to trick us into believing that the worst will happen.
Some things that really helped me were reframing my anxious sensations as a sign that my body was actually keeping me alert and present, not working against me. It's also important to remember that trust grows with each small experience where we let anxiety pass without incident. For me, every drive, even the short ones, became a small step in building this trust.
3. "How do you build up confidence if you've been avoiding driving for a while?"
For a long time, my way of coping with driving anxiety was simply not driving. Overcoming this avoidance is about taking tiny, manageable steps. This might look like starting with something as small as sitting in the car without driving, or even visualizing yourself driving.
Breaking your fear down into small steps and gradually extending your comfort zone will be so helpful to overcoming driving anxiety.
4. "What is your best tip for overcoming driving anxiety?"
One of the biggest tips, and is such a game-changer, is that so much of the healing happens outside of the car. Learning to sit with your feelings, practice mindfulness, and let go of control in other areas of life is so important.
Remember, overcoming this isn’t about pushing through it all at once; it’s about taking those small steps, feeling what you need to feel, and trusting that you’re stronger than the anxiety would have you believe.
We answer these in lots more detail, along with lots more questions, so make sure to tune in for all of the goodness!
Alright, until next time, keep taking healthy acTION!
ready for more support?
If this episode hit home for you, you’ll love my mini-course, Fear to Freedom where I guide you through taking action on the things that feel hard (like stomach anxiety, leaving the house, or trusting your body again).
If you’re struggling with toilet anxiety, you’ll find my course Freedom From Toilet Anxiety incredibly helpful OR check out my full program, Panic to Peace, for a deeper transformation.
