Fear of being in fast car or going downhill

I have the same fear!  It started maybe 10 years ago.  I get sweaty and clamy 

and sometimes hyperventilate.  I cannot drive myself in the mountains anymore. 

Hi there, I have the same problem! I wont get in my friends car because of it!I try and get over it by telling people when Im in the car with them, they really dont mind and so long as you can get over the embarrassment of it- thats one step forwards. Also keep telling yourself, nothing will happen if I go down the hill, at the end of it which will come soon, nothing will happen. I understand totally, and I am sure you will get over it one day. :) Good luck!

I have the same fear and I had this my whole life. It started to really affect me once I went to college probably because of depression. I even had to quit school because I was afraid of the train ride to school. Now, I'm taking driving lessons because then, I would be able to control the speed. I had to driving over a hill today and I was scared so I went super slow. If you are getting in someone's car, try to ask them if they can go slower or even just slower on the slopes. Just tell them your situation straight out

I have a phobia of travelling on public transport or in cars with others and sometimes of driving myself.

It is a problem I have only recently been able to share with a few people, but which I have suffered from my whole life, which is why I have questioned if it is a phobia at all or something neurological.

I have only recently started to speak to my GP about it and get other therapy, but nobody understands the problem and I the amount of embarrassment it gives me even trying to talk about makes it even harder to try to overcome.

I have realised that it has totally changed the direction I want my life to be going in and I have missed out on so many life experiences, trips with friends, holidays and work opportunities. It has taken over my life and I would give anything to rid myself of it, so if anyone has any ideas I would love to hear them!

It started when I was a baby. When my parents carried me down the stairs I would tense up and cling to them for dear life (like I was actually falling), this carried on through my childhood but only when going down slides or on fairground rides (which I tried to avoid at all costs).

When I started high school I remember getting a lift with my mum’s friend. I felt so out of control that I doubled up (like I was in pain) out of sheer panic. I then wanted to avoid going in cars with friends because of how out of control I felt. This led to having a very limited social life and difficulty maintaining friendships.

This fear developed and involved fear of trains, planes, boats, basially anything that moved that I wasn’t in control of (even lifts and escalators). When I was particularly nervous, it even went on to an intense dislike of even seeing moving objects (cars going past me, repetitive images, repetitive noises) and would send me into sheer panic. The only thing I can liken it to is being on a rollercoaster, tense with fear, but also nearly blacking out, like going into a fit. Sometimes I feel like objects move too fast in front of my eyes for me to process everything and it sends my brain into overdrive. This is why I have wondered if it’s neurological, but my GP has assured me it’s not so they are not willing to look down this avenue.

I am intrigued, but also infuriated by this problem and it is a difficult and lonely process trying to understand and treat it on my own when I am SO embarrassed by it. This is why I am appealing to anyone who has experienced this or knows what it could be to get in touch so that I have some idea what to do next. I have thought that it may be depression-related (when I’m really happy I can rise above it, but that’s not very often) or hormone related (some days I am full of fear, other days I can’t feel the fear at all.)

Thanks in advance!

Hi! Reading your post above was literally like reading something I had written. I can't believe how close our symptoms are. After going through the Internet you are the only person stating such similar symptoms to mine. I have had this fear of 'speed'/'being out of control' for as long as I can remember. I won't go on roller coasters and will avoid being a passenger in a car of someone I dont know at all costs. My mum remembers be doubling over and shouting and wanting for her to stop the car if she ever went downhill. It's the feeling of being out of control, my brain can't keep up with the speed and the uncertainty of what's to come. IM almost completely find driving myself. I've only ever had the fear when driving myself on a motorway if i really think about the feeling of the speed I'm doing.

I had hypnotherapy about 7 years ago (im currently 26) because I was terrified about the minibus transfer on an upcoming holiday to Turkey, unfortunately it didn't work. The therapist was trying to find a route to the problem, like an event but she could not. I've never really been scared of flying but I can tell that I am growing a fear of this now. Taking off is not great and turbulence panics me but nothing like being in a fast vehicle. The only way I can describe it is the intense feeling in your stomach (what I call the out of control feeling) when your going downhill fast. My husband says everyone gets it and this is the feeling of adrenaline but I absolutely hate that feeling! I wish I loved it! I wish I didn't have this problem. It really gets in the way and stops me from joining in with things.

Hi everyone suffering with these symptoms I also have a totally irrational fear of driving up and down very steep hills I feel rwrereal fear and think that I will vere off the road at speed and crash into oncoming cars equally when driving uphill I fear that if I have to stop for any reason that I will not be able to get going again or roll back into the car behind me I dont know why I feel very very nervous as I have never felt like this in my 25 years if accident free driving has any one any ideas or advice why this should be happening

I don't think i will ever get over the fear of driving fast down a hill , how do people control the car doing about 80 ks an hour .I would need anchors on the car all around it gripping the road to keep it balanced .

hey hi people.i am one of u having d same problem u guyz are having.i was been searching for sumbody who would understand my problem as others only laugh at me.i need help..this fear is just spoiling my carreer my life.help

There are therapists who have methods to help you. I have found that doing something seems to be about the best way for me to get used to something. Start off small and as you become comfortable keep adding to what you do. I don't drive on the circumferential highways around Boston often and when I do it always scares me at first going down I-495 to get to RI. The speed limit is 65 but unless you go about 90 in the left lane you will get run over. The right lane is for cars getting on and off so that's a horror show and the middle lane is nearly as bad with people from the left lane diving across to get off on the right. But after a few days of doing it you just blend right in with the rest of the fools trying to be Darwin's next personality.

My buddy had a Piper Pacer when I was young and we had lots of fun flying in that. One of his favorite things to do was flying up to Laconia for Sunday coffee at the airport. When leaving we would quickly climb up to 10,000 feet and shut off the engine. It is really quiet gliding in that plane. We were able to glide all the way back to Hampton and still have enough altitude for an air start before landing. To get an air start you point the nose at the ground and after an eternity the prop would turn over when you got enough speed and the engine would start. We thought that was fun but we had some people ride with us who did not share our enthusiasm.

I have the same fears. Going down Hills, driving fast, other people driving fast and not being in control. I cannot drive over 50 miles per hour or I tense up and have to pull over. I always take back roads and yell at my husband when he does 60 or more. It is ruining my life and I take forever to get places . Everyone I know knows this about me and kinda pick on me, saying they hate my driving. I don't know if it's neurological or what. Too many people have this. I do not do roller coasters and I do not do rides that go down big slopes. What should I do...

I dont know if this is normal or if anyone will understand what im trying to express but, I freack out when going down hill. Its like my whole body is screaming stop! I act like im possesed when that felling happens because my body gets out of control. and i try so hard to control it but now that i know that i will get that feeling i freack myself out even more. Ive been able to keep myself from completely freacking out after 2 years of practice but i feel like theres nothing i can do to stop myself from feeling this way. I have to ride the bus every morning and afternoon and there's a bunch of steep hills where i live. I try and prepare myself before the bus goes down but its draining to do that every day. I really hope someone understands and can relate. I really need some advise. This "fear" (i wish there was a specific name for it)has really taken over my life. Thanks

Hi everyone. I too experience this crippling fear, and have for my whole life (as far as I remember). I'm in my thirties now. The fear keeps me from driving on highways/freeways, causes me to panic at the thought of flying anywhere, and even to panic while watching a movie where the characters are driving too fast or flying. The ironic part is, I'm in the process of getting my PhD in counselling psychology, yet still suffer from this phobia (mostly secretly, as I've been too embarrassed to talk about it). I've recently found a new therapist though, and am taking steps to work through it using cognitive behavioural therapy. I just wanted to share this link with you all, so you know there is a name for it: tachophobia. ***this post is edited by moderator *** *** posting of web addresses is not allowed*** Please read our Terms of Use

You just described what has happened to me about 10 years ago. I did not have this fear when I was 35 and under. Same exact symptoms as you.