Stress Management

Nearly one in three UK drivers report feeling stressed whilst behind the wheel. Stress isn't a disease, but it can be persistent, sometimes intense, and can hinder your driving and other aspects of your lifestyle. We can help you understand the difference between 'pressure' and 'stress' as without recognising that you may be suffering from stress in the first place, it can be very difficult for the individual to take remedial steps and effectively manage his or her stress.

Driving-related stress is likely to be experienced when the demands of the road/traffic environment exceed the driver's ability to cope with or control that environment. Stress is often confused with the healthy pressure that both motivates and improves performance. Surprisingly, stress is not always generated by the 'cut and thrust' style of driving encountered on our roads everyday, but rather by the anxieties, moods, fatigue, frustrations, and emotions which may interfere with our ability to effectively cope with the challenges of driving.

Stress is in most cases a cumulative process, progressively hindering our thought processes, coupled with a drivers' inability to recognise and accept that the stress may have it's origins in a combination of environmental, physical, personal, psychological, family, and psychosocial/cultural factors.

Drivingsafe.co.uk has designed an interactive seminar suitable for the individual with personal and confidential stress related issues, or for smaller groups of drivers. This can be offered as a 'stand alone' module, or as an integral part of other driver training initiatives.

The seminar is designed to change drivers' mindsets, and to provide detailed information about how to recognise, avoid, and deal effectively with stress, anger, and fatigue whilst on the road. By the end of the course drivers' should be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of what stress is and the difference between pressure and stress.
• Realise stress/anger-related incidents whilst on the road are mostly preventable.
• Understand the consequences of stress, anger and fatigue on driver', on an individual, their family, team and organisation.
• Know how to recognise the symptoms, and admit to yourself that you are feeling stressed or frustrated.
• Know what to do, and how to cope with stress.
• Learn individualised stress/anger management coping strategies,driving and life skills.

Personal Driving Stress

Sometimes driving stress can manifest itself as a 'driving phobia'. That is an irrational human mechanism that is activated to protect the sufferer from what they perceive to be actual or potential danger. A person may often resort to irrational behaviours in order to avoid certain situations or events. Others may perceive the circumstances which aggravate the 'driving phobia' as being either insignificant or trivial, but to the individual concerned they are 'very real' and 'very relevant'. In many cases the 'driving phobia' can be linked to some form of life changing event that has possibly taken place at some stage in their earlier life, or by a more recent traumatic event.

Driving Phobia

People who develop a 'driving phobia' experience a psychological difficulty concerning their ability to drive a vehicle. Their belief in their inability to cope with driving then creates even more stress, which reinforces and perpetuates their original anxieties and concerns. For those that suffer from this condition they may find that dealing with the normal routines of everyday life become extremely difficult and challenging. They may feel embarrassed and foolish, and be reluctant to voice their concerns for fear of being ridiculed, 'put down', or ignored. Being involved in a road traffic accident or incident is a common causation factor. Although not necessarily always being life-threatening in real terms, the incident may have been perceived as being so by the driver. Unless the RTA or incident is deconstructed and examined sympathetically but objectively by a suitably qualified person, it is difficult for a 'driving phobia' sufferer to successfully resolve these issues. We can help you regain your confidence in your ability to drive, by assisting you to resolve the anxieties, and breaking the 'stress-phobia' cycle that is getting in the way of your driving.