The effects of a year of restrictions are showing themselves in a variety of ways – some of them unforseen. As the country opens up and we are once again (cautiously) allowed to venture out I’ve seen a rush of people now struggling with an activity that they’ve taken for granted for years – driving.
Driving is essential for many of us, living as we often do in places with limited public transport. We’ve spent a significant period of time avoiding travel, ordering online and working from home, and for many this change of behaviour has had a knock-on impact on the ability to cope behind the wheel of a car.
The good news is that, approached in the right way, this can often be a relatively quick thing to resolve.
During lockdown we have accidentally taught our brains that travelling is a dangerous thing to do. Rationally we are aware that it’s not the travelling itself that is dangerous, rather the risk of being in contact with the virus. However our subconscious mind is not rational. Our subconscious mind has simply watched us stop driving for the last year and assumes that driving itself is the risk to be avoided. And as our subconscious is completely focused on our survival it is particularly interested in avoiding risks.
When we resume this activity which our subconscious now sees as high-risk it does everything in its power to stop us. The primary weapon it has in its arsenal is anxiety – making us feel that we simply can’t cope, which in turn makes us reluctant to even try.
Using gentle and natural techniques we can work with the brain to help the subconscious relearn that driving, whilst not completely without risk, is actually fine. Once it understands this you’ll be confidently back on the road in no time.