Amaxophobia, or fear of driving

Amaxophobia, or fear of driving, is an excessive and irrational fear of driving or having a car accident. It is part of the family of specific situational phobias and manifests as intense anxiety in situations to driving. The treatment of amaxophobia is essential to help individuals overcome this fear of driving and regain their autonomy. Amaxophobia can be caracterided by distress when the person is at the wheel, whether on certain roads or all roads, or even as a passenger. The treatment of amaxophobia helps to reduce this distress and improve the quality of life of those affected. Amaxophobia affects nearly 5% of adults, particularly those aged 20 to 40. Women are more affected by this phobia. The treatment of amaxophobia is crucial for these individuals to help them regain confidence and overcome their fear of driving.

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“Virtual reality is 80% effective, with benefits lasting for more than a year after treatment.” Eric Malbos, Psychiatrist

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Why such efficacy ?

1. Immersion

The user will be immersed in environments designed to recreate anxiety-inducing driving situations from everyday life.

2. Cognitive restructuring

They will unlearn negative reactions, such as catastrophic thoughts (“I’m going to lose control”), and rebuild positive thinking patterns (“I can do it”).

3. Repetition

Through repeated exposures, these patterns will become quickly and permanently ingrained in your mental functioning.

4. Progressiveness

The gradual increase in the difficulty of the environments will allow the user to progressively desensitize to the anxiety experienced and regain confidence in their abilities.

5. Personalization

With Artificial Intelligence, they will be supported and encouraged in a personalized way throughout the exposures.

Receive the C2Care method for free, combining Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Reality !

The AI revolution !

We use Artificial Intelligence both through a coach named Camille and through virtual characters within the scenes. Camille provides support and acts as a trusted companion to whom you can share your concerns without fear of judgment. On the other hand, the virtual characters faithfully replicate real-life social behaviors. You will be able to interact with them in various everyday contexts, such as a party, a date, a job interview, or a spontaneous conversation on the street. Learn more

The different driving situations !

Highway

Highway

The highway is a real source of anxiety for individuals suffering from maxophobia. The user will be able to gradually increase the difficulty of the exposure by adjusting several parameters such as traffic density, nighttime conditions, or weather.

Progressively and safely, the user will become accustomed to different traffic conditions, allowing them to regain smooth and calm driving.

Tunnel

The tunnel is often a major source of concern for individuals suffering from driving anxiety. In this environment, it will be possible to drive through various tunnel configurations: short, long, large, small, with or without traffic, or even at night!

The user will be able to work on their fear of driving in an enclosed space, where escape seems impossible. Treating maxophobia in tunnels helps reduce anxiety and overcome the fear of driving in these specific situations.

Tunnel

City

City

City driving can quickly become a source of anxiety due to the many situations it can create: traffic signals, red lights, store windows, heavy traffic, pedestrians, and close proximity to other vehicles.

The virtual city allows you to immerse yourself in an interactive environment and experience the reality of driving in the city: red lights, sound stimuli, pedestrians, right-of-way crossings… Treating amaxophobia in urban environments helps overcome the fear of driving in the city.

Bridge

Often linked to the fear of heights, driving anxiety can also occur on bridges. The sight of the void, along with the possibilities it creates, such as the risk of falling, can generate significant anxiety.

With virtual reality, the user will be able to experience different stages of crossing a bridge : short, long, small, single or dual-lane, as well as different weather conditions. Treating maxophobia on bridges helps reduce the fear of driving in these specific situations.

Bridge

Mountain

Mountain

The mountains are often a significant source of anxiety for individuals suffering from maxophobia. Narrow, winding roads, sharp turns, limited visibility, the proximity of the void, and large vehicles that may force maneuvers perceived as dangerous.

Exposure to this environment through virtual reality will help you stop avoiding these settings. Virtual reality will allow for various types of mountain roads, and through gradual exposure, the user will be able to drive on these complex roads calmly again.

Lives changed thanks to our method.

Feel free to customize your exposures for a fully immersive experience !

You will be able to customize each environment by adjusting different parameters to suit your specific needs :

Road Type: A wide range of configurations is available, including single-lane roads like in city centers, three-lane highways, rural roads, or even bridges and tunnels. All types of roads are included to best match the anxiety associated with each situation.

Vehicles: The environments will feature not only various types of cars but also vans, trucks, buses, and motorcycles! This customization allows you to focus on specific vehicles that trigger high anxiety.

Obstacles: The environments contain different types of obstacles. An accident may be on the side of the road, an ambulance may be parked, or there could be construction zones. These obstacles enhance the sense of presence, increasing the realism of the environments.

Weather: Scenes can take place under a clear blue sky, heavy rain, foggy conditions, or at night. Certain intense anxieties are often linked to specific driving conditions.

They testify to the effectiveness of C2Care !

Do you need further information or have any specific questions ?

Our environments in image

Often associated

Acrophobia

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Anxiety

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Scientific Articles

Efficacy of virtual reality exposure therapy for driving phobia

The use of technologies in exposure therapy for fear of driving

Virtual reality exposure therapy for fear of driving

FAQ

Virtual reality (VR) is an innovative technology that enables patients to be exposed to immersive and controlled environments, facilitating the management of numerous psychological and psychiatric disorders. Its use in mental health offers several advantages:
  • Gradual and Controlled Exposure: VR allows patients to confront anxiety-inducing situations in a secure environment, gradually adjusting the intensity of stimuli to promote habituation and emotional regulation.
  • Realistic and Reproducible Environments: Unlike traditional techniques, VR provides immersive scenarios that can be consistently reproduced, ensuring a coherent and effective approach.
  • Increased Patient Engagement: The interactive and immersive nature of VR enhances treatment adherence and motivates patients to continue their therapy.
  • Personalized Treatment: Virtual environments can be adapted to meet the specific needs of each patient.
  • Versatile Applications: VR is used to treat anxiety disorders (phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorders), addictions, mood disorders, and even cognitive remediation.
The use of virtual reality in healthcare is not new! It has been studied and utilized for over 30 years in the medical and psychological fields. As early as the 1990s, researchers began exploring its potential for treating anxiety disorders, particularly phobias and post-traumatic stress disorder. Since then, numerous scientific studies have confirmed its effectiveness in addressing various psychiatric, neurological, and cognitive disorders.
Today, VR is widely integrated into therapeutic and medical practices, with clinically validated protocols. It is used in hospitals, clinics, and psychologists' offices worldwide to provide patients with innovative, effective, and safe treatments.
To use virtual reality, one must immerse themselves in a virtual environment. There are several ways to achieve this.
In the past, the CAVE system (Cave Automatic Virtual Environment), a 3D setup consisting of multiple screen walls, was the primary method used. This system allowed users to be fully immersed in the virtual world, with their movements detected in real-time. However, this technology was expensive and not widely accessible.
Since around 2016, with the introduction of virtual reality headsets like the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, VR has become much more accessible. These headsets immerse users in virtual reality through an enclosed screen that projects digital images. The user's head movements are tracked, enabling them to look around and interact with the environment as they would in the real world.
Today, VR headsets are wireless and standalone, providing maximum comfort and ease of use without requiring external sensors or cables.
A virtual environment is an immersive digital simulation created through virtual reality. It allows users to navigate in a 3D space that accurately replicates everyday situations or specific contexts.
In mental health, these environments are designed to help individuals gradually face certain situations, manage their emotions, or enhance cognitive skills. By interacting with these virtual spaces, patients can engage in meaningful experiences tailored to their needs.
You need to equip yourself with a virtual reality headset. Our software is compatible with Meta Quest 2, 3, and 3S. 
You will then only need an internet connection. 
Numerous studies confirm that virtual reality is safe to use. However, some restrictions are in place to protect users from potential adverse effects.
For instance, individuals with epilepsy and pregnant women should avoid this type of therapy.
As with any immersive technology, prolonged use may cause visual fatigue or mild discomfort, particularly for those sensitive to motion sickness. Therefore, it is recommended to take regular breaks and adjust session durations according to individual needs.
Virtual environments are designed to be gradual and controlled, minimizing the risk of excessive anxiety. Most users quickly adapt to immersion and experience the benefits of this innovative approach from the first sessions.
Anxiety disorders and phobias can be effectively treated using virtual reality. Patients are gradually and progressively exposed to anxiety-inducing situations in various environments while remaining in a safe space. This process helps develop a sense of habituation, ultimately reducing or even eliminating anxiety over time.
Behavioral and substance addictions can also be addressed through virtual reality. By incorporating synthetic stimuli into the environments that trigger craving responses, patients struggling with addiction can work on their cravings to diminish the urge to consume.
Additionally, multiple environments—such as bars, casinos, and social settings—enable cognitive work on dysfunctional beliefs associated with specific temptation scenarios.
Regarding eating disorders, virtual reality software helps target key etiological factors, such as body dysmorphia, allocentric lock (a tendency to focus on others rather than oneself), and food cravings.
Currently, our TERV (Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy) solutions include multiple software programs designed to address critical psychiatric, psychological, and neuropsychological determinants such as relaxation, cognitive stimulation, behavioral activation, and social skills training.
Reminiscence therapy is also a major therapeutic tool in treating depression. By allowing patients to relive sensations linked to past pleasurable activities (such as sports, driving, or traveling), virtual reality stimulates hypoactive brain areas, enhancing therapeutic success. VR serves as an excellent mediator for reigniting engagement in enjoyable activities.
Moreover, cognitive stimulation for elderly individuals is another area where virtual reality proves beneficial. By leveraging technology to make stimulation activities more engaging and accessible, patients and nursing home residents can improve executive functions and memory through specially designed applications.
Today, virtual reality in mental health care is advancing rapidly. Researchers, clinicians, and developers continue to explore new therapeutic targets to offer innovative and effective treatment solutions in the near future.
VR can be used by all healthcare professionals assisting patients with anxiety, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorders, addictions, or other psychological challenges.
It is particularly beneficial for psychologists, psychiatrists, neuropsychologists, specialized nurses, as well as psychomotor therapists, physiotherapists, dietitians, sophrologists, and hypnotherapists. With a wide range of immersive environments, VR enhances therapeutic approaches and provides innovative tools to improve patient care.
Healthcare providers incorporating virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) expand their range of treatment options. VRET is a well-established therapeutic technique with scientific validation from cognitive-behavioral therapy research.
  • Professional Differentiation: Integrating VR into practice allows therapists to stand out from traditional treatment options.
  • Scientific Validation: VRET is backed by extensive research, reinforcing its credibility as an effective treatment method.
  • Improved Patient Engagement: The interactive nature of VR fosters greater patient involvement in therapy.
  • Time-Saving: VR provides direct access to various exposure environments without needing external logistics.

One of the considerable advantages of virtual reality is that it is effective on a wide spectrum of populations. Existing data from the literature on the subject shows us that it is entirely possible to expose a wide age group to virtual reality, with real therapeutic benefits.

The studies attest, in fact, to excellent feasibility and significant results; particularly in adults, in the treatment of anxiety disorders (including school phobia), autism, addictions, eating disorders, neuropsychological disorders, psychotic disorders and mood disorders.

The results are identical for adolescents with a significant added value concerning therapeutic engagement where virtual reality promotes adolescents' interest in their therapy.

Among elderly subjects, study results encourage the use of virtual reality with the aim of working on cognitive stimulation, on behavioral disorders but also on anxiety.

One of the major advantages of virtual reality is its effectiveness across a broad spectrum of the population. Existing literature on the subject shows that virtual reality can be used with individuals of various age groups, providing significant therapeutic benefits.
Studies confirm excellent feasibility and significant results, particularly among adults in the treatment of anxiety disorders (including school phobia), autism, addictions, eating disorders, neuropsychological disorders, psychotic disorders, and mood disorders.
The results are equally promising for adolescents, with a notable advantage in terms of therapeutic engagement, as virtual reality enhances their interest and participation in treatment.
For older adults, research supports the use of virtual reality to improve cognitive stimulation, behavioral disorders, and anxiety management.
However, people with epilepsy and pregnant individuals are not advised to undergo this type of therapy.
Yes, all our environments are grouped within a single application.
Our technical support team is available Monday to Friday, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM (Paris time), at technical@c2.care
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