Fear of riding and driving following accident

Resolved question:
In the year 2005 (When I am 16 Year Old) onwards I am big fan of Bike and Cars. I feel very happy and really enjoy to travel in car and bikes. At that time I ride bikes. If someone ask me to go out in bike or car that makes me very happy and also I ride lot of bikes at that time. But in 2012 January things changed in my life. When I and my friend were going to college in bike. My friend drive the bike and I sit in the back seat. While in the way we face an accident. I fall down the road, then the people take us on the hospital. I want to face a surgery because in my bones were broken (In face). After 1 week I left hospital and doctor suggest 1 month rest in Home.
After few months I understand that ride in Car make me fear. I shocked in that mint set. As I told, in 2005 I love to ride and drive bike. But after this I am afraid to ride in a bike. From 2012 to this day I ride only very few time in bike on a very near places with few traffic. I lost the confidence to drive a bike. And also I skip the bike rides as a Driver and a passenger. This problem affect me in Car too. When I ride car I always sit in the back seat and also I am afraid to look to the front glass, because when I look in front I feel the other vehicles will hit my car. Simply on 2012 January after accident I have fear to ride and drive in car and bike. Mainly bike. I can’t imagine to ride a bike for more than 5KM. Mainly through cities. I have no fear to travel in Bus.

On recent internet searches I can understand that it’s a diseases called Amaxophobia . (http://phobias.about.com/od/glossary/g/Fear-Of-Being-A-Passenger.htm)

In this century how can we live without a ride in bike and car. I have No Bike and car. I am afraid to buy a vehicle. Because I have Amaxophobia . Can I recover from this? Or this fear will follow in my life . I avoid all journeys wit friend and family due to Amaxophobia.

Submitted: 4 Days
Category: Family Physician-GP

Expert:  Dr. Jaydeep Tripathy replied 4 Days.

Hello,

Thank you for your question at DoctorSpring.com. I am sorry to hear about your accident.

The symptoms that you have described is suggestive of a condition known as Amaxophobia. In this condition, patient will have intense fear from traveling in a particular vehicle. This usually is due to a previous situation.

Panic attacks, increased heart rate, loss of sanity are other symptoms exhibited by the patient during that period. The patient may have severe agitation which cannot be controlled manually. He would need to be calmed down with sedatives. This is treatable.

In your case, you can definitely overcome the problem by treating the root cause of the problem. I can understand your anxiety but with proper treatment you can recover completely. Psychotherapy and anti anxiety drugs can be used for the treatment. I would suggest you to consult a psychiatrist who would evaluate you and create an appropriate treatment plan. Proper counseling is needed to root out this problem. Through this, you can slowly be free from the fear that has gripped you. Hope this helps. Thank you.

Regards

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Patient replied :

Thanks for the replay.. Your message gives a energy for my life. I 22 year old. So you can imagine how this problem affect my life. I am searching for a solution for this for a long time. But these days i found the name Amaxophobia and i can understand that this is a disease. Last 1 year i though this is happened only me and never recover this in my life. Every time i try to train my mind to avoid fear. But not success. Before enter the car i have high level of confidence but while travelling fear and increased heart rate. If no other vehicle in the road i have no problem. Now i only travel in car and also i can't imagine to travel a bike. Doctor why I have very less fear while travelling bus and train? Doctor can i complete recover from this problem. Because how to remove this fear from my brain.
Now a days I remember my old days with travel in Bike and car with friends and family. After this accident I loss everything. Every time I skip these trips. My friends always request me to join them. But doctor how can I go with them with this problem. Not only trips …. I can’t travel in a vehicle to go a place. After accident I can count how many times I travel in a car and bike. Before accident its uncountable the number of time I travel in bikes and travel.

Can u please tell how this treatment works? Again I am asking can I get a complete relief from this. Because I can’t imagine how I can get a relief. Normally how long it take to get a relief. Is this a step by step process? Can I consult any psychiatrist for this treatment? Or someone specialize for this?


Expert:  Dr. Jaydeep Tripathy replied 3 Days.

Hello again,

I understand your situation. It is not easy to deal with this problem. The fear that you have while traveling in bikes and car is mainly psychological. Since you had a terrible accident with it, there is a certain degree of paronia attached to it. However that is not present with the use of buses and trains.

This fear is hampering your daily activities like going out with your friends. I would suggest you to consult a psychiatrist as he can help you through it .

Yes, It is a step by step process as it takes time to come to terms with the trauma. However you can recover completely with therapy and medications as would be prescribed by your doctor.

Thank you.

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