Anxiety Support Group

Anxiety is a physical condition marked by intense and persistent feelings of distress, fear, angst or dread. General anxiety caused by routine day-to-day stresses usually passes quickly and is experienced by almost everyone at one time or another. However, such feelings that linger over time and are very difficult to cope with, and which lack a clear cause, may indicate...

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Anxiety about driving in the rain

BlueYonderDreams
BlueYonderDreams
My car has slid 3 times while driving in the rain these past few months. Thankfully, there were no accidents, but the 3rd time it happened really rattled me. I am now scared of driving in the rain in fear of it happening again and causing an accident. It has never happened in the past so 3 times just seems like too much. I am supposed to fill out paperwork tomorrow and I have to drive 25 minutes each way to do it. The thing is it is supposed to rain so I am terrified. Does anyone have any tips on dealing with this fear? Or even tips for driving in the rain?
Community LeaderMid
Mid
Have your tires checked for pressure, rain drive tread (this will help you not slide, skid, or hydroplane).

You also have to relax your feet on the gas and brake. With anxiety, you get so tensed up that what you consider gentle braking may in fact be slamming on the brakes and grabbing the wheel so tightly that you add to the motion.

Best wishes!
BlueYonderDreams
BlueYonderDreams
Thank you for the advice. Having my tires checked is a great idea!
JudyFZ
JudyFZ
Give your self extra time to get there and then just take your time driving. Stay on the right and don't let anyone bully you. I get anxiety about driving, too, but a lot of times it's anxiety that's spilling over from other things. Maybe having to run an errand to do paperwork feels overwhelming or unpleasant. It would for me. Sometimes it helps me to separate the feelings about the situation out and then take things one step at a time.
littlemart
littlemart
I don't drive in snow and ice at all! Haven't for years. A hard rain scares the junk out of me so I try to limit that too. In fact, driving in general makes me nervous.
koolman
koolman
I'm not crazy about it either. Poor visibility, shiny roads. Drive slow or pull off to the side of the road and wait for the rain to stop.
littlemart
littlemart
Once you've hit black ice and gone in the ditch, you hate to drive! And I have MS which makes my eyes go nutty sometimes which does not help at all.
Community LeaderMid
Mid
I use a video game with driving and obstacle course to help me keep my reflexes natural.

What this does is give you practice with your usual method of correcting a change in the drive pattern, and you can see the possible consequence, to decide whether you want to change it to something else in the game.

Best wishes!
BlueYonderDreams
BlueYonderDreams
I was so scared, but I made my trip safely. Each time I slid previously it was when I applied the brakes so this time I made extra sure I was gently applying the brake.
enigmaticloner
enigmaticloner
It's happened to me before as well, it is pretty scary but if you have to then you have to get it done. The only advice I really have for that is to make sure your car has no problems especially with the brakes and anything related to it. Also try to leave earlier if you need to so you can take the time and drive slower and stay in the slow lane also. Make sure the windshield wipers are on of course and the headlights.
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