While overcoming driving anxiety for the long haul can take deep digging into its actual causes, you can use a couple of quick fixes while you’re on the road and feeling that onset of driving panic. No, one of those solutions is not to pull over, get out and run. Both solutions involve staying in your vehicle and they both involve becoming acutely aware of the panic, stress or overwhelming fear.
What’s even more amazing about both solutions is the ability to use them not just with driving anxiety, but for any type of anxiety or discomfort at any given time and in any given situation.
One solution comes from Buddhist thought, and it’s a popular little formula that can give you big results.
The Three A’s: Awareness, Acceptance, Action
This trio of steps has a healthy history of popping up in recovery and self-help programs and its premise is as simple as it says.
Awareness: Become aware of your emotions, whether it be panic, fear, anxiety, stress or even anger or resentment.
Acceptance: Accept that is what’s going on with you. Don’t try to stuff the emotion or deny the situation. Truly look it in the eye and say, yes, this is what’s happening. I understand and accept this is simply the way it is.
Action: Take action in the direction to help quell the emotion or correct the situation. In certain cases, you may find the only action you can take, or at least take at the moment, goes back to merely accepting a situation rather than trying to fight it. At other times you may find you can do something to instantly make it better, like a few deep breaths and soothing thoughts to get through driving anxiety or panic.
Another solution comes from blogger Leo Babauta, who incorporates a lot of Buddhist thought. His blog is, after all, entitled “Zen Habits.”
A Five-Step Fix
Sorry, no catchy trio of letters or acronym here, although the steps are once again pretty straightforward. Babauta said he realized these five steps worked wonders with removing a tightness in his chest he felt prior to meditation one day. Here’s what he did to get rid of the tightness.
- Notice: Once again awareness kicks off the formula, noticing the tightness or stress.
- Visualization: Imagine the tightness floating off into oblivion.
- Letting go: Transform the tight into loose. Try it by clenching then unclenching your fist, Babauta says, followed by other body parts that could use a little loosening.
- Breathe: Here comes a slow, deep breathe with a deep focus on the breath.
- Smile: Babauta says this is the clincher. We tried it and wholly agree.
“[A smile] transforms everything,” Babauta says. “You can now approach any activity, any moment, with an attitude of relaxed enjoyment.”
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