The fear of driving again

It had been years since I’d driven. I won’t tell you exactly how many, but definitely long enough for my confidence to quietly slip away. Living in London meant I didn’t need a car and over time, not driving simply became normal.

But avoiding something doesn’t make fear go away. In fact, it slowly builds, a quiet stress response that becomes heavier over time.

But then something shifted. A special occasion was coming up and there were people I really wanted to see. That was my turning point. That was motivation enough for me, to find a way to start pushing past the fear. My growing fear of driving was starting to limit me.

So, I decided to hire a car and practise again. A simple step, but a huge one for my mindset.

Taking the first step

On the phone to the car hire company, I asked for the smallest car they had. But that didn’t stop the uncomfortable feeling of anxiety rising in my chest.

It felt surreal; I used to love driving. I’d helped friends practise for their tests. I once even sat in on a friend’s driving exam!

So where had all that confidence gone?

I left London and took a train up North as that’s where the final destination for the special occasion would be. On the way to the hotel, I’d been chatting away to the taxi driver about my mission to get back behind the wheel. As I stepped out of the taxi, the driver gave me a gentle smile and said in a soft York accent,

“Don’t tell the car-hire people it’s been a while love”.

Although anxiety is never pleasant, deep down the bigger part of me knew, I was going to be alright.  I told myself, that I wouldn’t be doing this otherwise would I? I’d researched my routes and chosen to stay in an area with fairly quiet roads to ease myself back into driving. I needed a chance to mentally prepare. I also stayed not too far from the location of the car hire company.

The staff at the car hire company were lovely. They asked manual or automatic? Then suggested sticking to what I knew, so I chose a small manual.

Just sitting in the driver’s seat felt like a victory. Then I noticed it had six gears, I only knew five; brilliant.

Back on the road

Day One: What should have been an hour journey took me nearly three! I was exhausted. The movement and muscle memory was there, but I’d taken so much for granted. The grey, wet weather wasn’t helping either.

Then it got dark. Night driving, motorways, unfamiliar roads and rain. Even though I wasn’t, new to driving, it felt like a baptism of fire. But although it wasn’t pleasant, I focused on just getting through it. By the time I pulled into the hotel that evening, the discomfort was already beginning to fade.

Day Two: A midday drive through the countryside led me to stop at a pub restaurant for a break.  As I walked in, the landlady took one look at me and said, “Are you alright, love? You look knackered. What can I get you?”

I asked for a strong coffee and a superb Americano arrived.

As I sipped my coffee, I told her I hadn’t driven in years. She smiled knowingly and said she’d had the same experience and understood how anxiety can creep in after a long break.

It was comforting to know I wasn’t alone.

Finding Confidence Again

Day Three: Something shifted. I started to enjoy driving again.

I wasn’t overthinking every turn or gripping the wheel so tightly. The roads felt familiar again, and for the first time in years, I caught myself enjoying the drive. That confidence, that was no longer forgotten no longer suffocated by fear, returned. I started to trust my instincts and driving stopped feeling like something to get through; it felt natural again.

Day Four:

I didn’t want to give the car back.

Although the weather decided to test me again and thick fog rolled in, I kept going. I didn’t like it, but I knew if I wanted to fully rebuild my driving confidence, I had to face all kinds of driving conditions. By the end of the trip, I’d clocked around 400 miles over five days.

A new perspective on driving fear

This whole experience reminded me exactly how my clients feel when they come to me with driving anxiety, panic around certain roads, roundabouts, turning right at traffic lights and bridge and motorway phobias. It also reminded me of how a learner driver might feel, taking me back to how I felt when I was a learner driver. The anxiety, the nerves and the personal and social pressure to pass my driving test.

Even as a hypnotherapist aware of how the brain reacts to stress, how the mind plays tricks, I still felt the anxiety.

I can’t wait to drive again though, maybe next time I’ll go for an automatic…

How Hypnotherapy Can Help With Driving Anxiety

If driving sparks tension, hesitation or anxiety, the good news is that this response can be changed.

Hypnotherapy helps you:

• reduce the automatic fear response
• feel calmer and more in control
• rebuild natural confidence
• create steadier reactions in stressful moments
• reconnect with the instincts you already have

Ready to feel confident behind the wheel?

I offer a complimentary, 15-minute discovery call where you can tell me what’s been happening, what you’re struggling with, and what you’d like to change.
It’s simply a space for you to talk and for me to understand your situation clearly before we decide on next steps.

📍 Available online across the UK
📩 Book your discovery call here.