The Approach That Worked & Now I Can Drive Again

I want to say thank you very much to Ride Drive for the help with sorting me out. The last sessions with John really have been a turning point. Having been on the motorways and driving in the dark on country roads I’ve got the idea now.

I found there was a huge amount I didn’t know (and lots more still to learn I’m sure), but for now I need to practice, practice, practice. Even the big unfamiliar junctions I am starting to get to know how to tackle. I went round the one outside the Hanger Lane underground station at the weekend (it went OK!) and I’ve been OK about getting lost and then un–lost, which is good experience.

Ride Drive are at the leading edge of research
into the causes of driving phobia

I have been reading John Cov’s latest post on your driving phobia forum, the one where he says about how he considers Ride Drive to be the leading people in the country at the moment in dealing with driving phobia. Too right you are! I was thinking, are you and John Cov going to write a book?

There is a lot of information about phobia in general, but for information on driving phobia, and what to do about it, is only on your website. Yourself and your colleagues have had such an insight from hours of exposure to phobic drivers, years of phobia forums, what’s worked, what hasn’t, and you have the other side of the coin, as in the understanding of road driving to an elite level – just a thought.

There was a time I really couldn’t see a way out of my road fear

Not that a book could replace the practical sessions, but maybe pull the information together so people can get and keep a clear insight into their problem. I remember when I was in panic/phobia mode; I really couldn’t see any way out of it. I did go looking for a book, but there isn’t one. Years earlier I had my CBT book to read and re–read when I wobbled and couldn’t see a way out of the situation.

I work with people who are living with constant discomfort from the pain from longstanding injuries as my job. Backs, necks, shoulder etc. and these are people who have been previously written off, being told they have to just put up with it.

We have an approach that works, and people do get fixed, but most of what we do has not been learned through any course. Most of it is very simple and has been learned from the people we have been trying to help. We get asked, “Where did you learn that? Why wasn’t I taught that before?” and often it is the very simple things that have made a huge difference.

For the first time I could join a motorway properly

How many times have I read, “When joining a motorway, match your speed to that of the traffic that you are joining?” Yes, I understood all that, but it didn’t help. Then on a Ride Drive session, John says, “Pick a target vehicle and keep up to their speed.” Priceless! I can now join the motorway, but why didn’t someone say that to me before?

Fighting the driving phobia with Ride Drive
is the only thing that has worked

Just like I don’t know what I don’t know about driving skills, do you realise just what you know? Three years ago I was seeing a clinical psychologist, taking antidepressants and had to keep breathing into to a paper bag! Now look at me. As my driving has improved to a novice, but competent level, I’ve decided to go on a long drive. I am going to do London to Isle of Skye and back. I was going to get the train, but this will put into practice all the bits I’ve learned, and I’m looking forward to enjoying the drive. I am setting off tomorrow and planning to get there over two–days for a holiday (well 2–days–ish).

Thanks again, Julian.

Best wishes

Emma.

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This page was last updated
Monday, 10-May-2010

Stop The Fear Driving on The Motorway – Cure Panic Attacks