Amaxophobia, or fear of driving

Amaxophobia is the fear of driving or having a car accident. It belongs to the family of situation-specific phobias. It is manifested by excessive anxiety about a driving situation. Amaxophobia can be characterised by distress when the person is driving (on some or all roads) or as a passenger.

Amaxophobia affects about 5% of adults and particularly those between 20 and 40 years old. Women are the most affected by this phobia.

Virtual reality to overcome amaxophobia

For more than 30 years, virtual reality exposure therapies have proven to be effective in the treatment of anxiety disorders and in particular in specific phobias such as the fear of driving. Gradual and progressive exposure to virtual reality can desensitise you and significantly reduce your anxiety.

« Virtual reality is 80% effective, with benefits that are maintained for more than a year after treatment. » Eric Malbos, Doctor Psychiatrist

C2Care, the world leader in therapeutic virtual reality (VR) since 2015, now allows you to expose yourself from your home. A psychologist will accompany you in your treatment using cognitive behavioural therapies (CBT) and virtual reality exposure to overcome your phobia.

Over 1000 patients already treated, be the next!

I start my therapy

Virtual reality adapts to your phobia

Highway

The highway is a real source of anxiety for amaxophobes. The therapist will be able to expose you gradually through the management of different elements:

Flow: free-flowing traffic, medium and heavy traffic, traffic jams
Drivers: trucks and motorbikes
Obstacles: accident, ambulances
Weather: sun, rain, fog
Time of the day: day, night

je souscris

je souscris

Tunnel

The tunnel is a context often cited by driving phobics. In this environment, you will enter a tunnel and drive through it. Your psychologist will gradually intervene on the environment and the control of the elements: speed of the vehicle, management of the road flow, addition of specific vehicles (motorbikes, trucks), perspectives from the car (passenger, driver), reversible weather (rain, fog, sun)

City

Driving in the city can quickly become a source of anxiety because of the many situations it can create: traffic signals, red lights, shop windows, heavy traffic, pedestrians, proximity to other vehicles. The virtual city allows you to immerse yourself in an interactive environment and to experience the reality of city driving: red lights, sound stimuli, pedestrians, priority crossings, etc.

je souscris

je souscris

Bridge

Often linked to fear of heights, driving anxiety can also be found on bridges. The sight of the void, with the possibilities that this sight engenders, such as the risk of falling, can generate anxiety. With virtual reality, you can relive the different stages of crossing a bridge, whether it is going up or down. You will finally be able to confront the bridge, by modulating the traffic, the type of vehicle, the speed or the weather.

Mountain

Mountains can often be a source of anxiety for people with amaxophobia. Narrow, twisting roads, hairpin bends, lack of visibility, the emptiness of the surroundings, large vehicles that can force you to make manoeuvres that are perceived as dangerous. Exposure to this environment through virtual reality will allow you to stop avoiding these environments. Virtual reality will bring you to the road as you go along to get as close to reality as possible.

je souscris

How does it work?

I get my headset

You will receive a virtual reality headset with unlimited access to our software, or, if you are already equipped, you can choose to have only the software. Our packages are carefully packed and shipped very quickly.

I carry out my sessions

During 2 sessions per month, the psychologist and yourself will discuss your amaxophobia in order to understand it and to give you the necessary tools to reduce it. You will be exposed to virtual reality in a progressive manner adapted to your amaxophobia.

I use my headset autonomously

Apart from the sessions with your psychologist, you will be able to repeat as many times as necessary the exposure to the different driving situations in order to create a habituation and thus reduce the anxiety related to them.

Testimonials

Each person tells in their own words about the support they have received and the major changes that have taken place in their lives. All these testimonies are proof that yes, one’s life can change, and that we are doing everything we can to guide you on the path to that change.

Anatolia

I am very satisfied with this adventure, which was offered to me by my dad.
I was finally able to regain my self-confidence and, above all, I got out of the vicious circle I was in. I am now regaining my independence. I realise that the cost of the therapy can be a hindrance, as it would have been for me, but part of the subscription can be covered by the health insurance companies. We are fortunate to have an efficient social security and mutual insurance system in France, so we no longer have any excuse to treat ourselves. Thank you again for your help.

Camille

I started to be afraid of the motorway without really knowing why. Other drivers scared me. I was scared myself. I didn’t have any confidence in my driving and little by little I started to avoid motorways altogether. I want to regain this confidence, which is why I decided to try the virtual reality solution, which seems to me to be a good alternative for a smooth start. Thanks to my psychologist’s follow-up, I am getting better and better at understanding my fear and controlling my anxiety.

Emilie

I got my driving licence quite late, but living in a big city, I didn’t do much driving after that. When we moved and driving became essential, I couldn’t get behind the wheel again! I lived with this fear for a long time, but I couldn’t go on like that. I have two children, and I don’t want to put them in trouble because their mother is too terrified to take them to school, or to the sports club. I have started home therapy and my psychologist is helping me to face my fears and confront them. I’m gradually regaining my confidence and learning to manage my anxiety.