How to Overcome Fear of Driving After an Accident
by www.sedona.com
Driving a motor vehicle is the primary means of transportation in the United States. It is also the leading cause of death for people between the ages of 2 and 34.
In 2006, there were 5,973,000 traffic accidents in the United States. In these crashes, 42, 642 people were killed, and another 2,575,000 were injured, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
For those who have been involved in an auto accident, particularly a serious one, getting back into the driver’s seat can be terrifying. You may fear that you are not a good driver, or you may fear others on the road. You may also be running the frightening images -- the bent metal, the injuries, the sounds of the accidents, the looks on your loved ones’ faces -- through your mind like a horror move.
No matter what you are afraid of, the more you hold these fears in your mind -- getting into another car accident, getting hurt while driving, hurting someone else while driving -- the more you will attract them into your life, and the harder it will be for you to get behind the wheel.
This is where The Sedona Method, which helps you to let go of fear and other self-sabotaging emotions, can be an essential part of your healing. Hale Dwoskin, CEO and director of training of Sedona Training Associates, explains.
“First off, allow yourself to let go of wanting to force yourself to forget or overcome what happened,” he says. “Allow yourself instead to be gentle with yourself and explore how you feel about what happened and keep letting go.”
“It is also helpful to let go of trying to figure out what you did wrong or how you could have avoided the accident,” Dwoskin continues. “This simply forces you to hold onto the trauma and blame yourself for what happened. The more you let go, the more you will free yourself of the images and feelings in your mind and body from the past. Then simply start small with short trips and keep releasing.”
As you do this, you will find that the fear you associate with driving disappears, and you’re able to regain control of your life.
“If you open to welcoming, and then letting go of, whatever you are carrying within you based on the accident, then you can quickly and easily let it go,” Dwoskin says. “Then you can move on, and feel safe and secure in yourself and your driving ability.”
Sources
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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