What Is Amaxophobia?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsDiagnosisWhat Causes Amaxophobia?Types of AmaxophobiaTreatment for AmaxophobiaCoping With Amaxophobia

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Symptoms

Diagnosis

What Causes Amaxophobia?

Types of Amaxophobia

Treatment for Amaxophobia

Coping With Amaxophobia

Amaxophobia is a fear of being in a vehicle, either as a passenger or a driver. This phobia can be serious and life-limiting, making it difficult or even impossible for people to be in a car, bus, train, or airplane. People who have this phobia may be unable to work, socialize, or go to school because they are so afraid of being inside of a car.

At a GlanceAmaxophobia causes people to have an intense fear of being in a car, either as a passenger or driver. Symptoms of this type of specific phobia include intense fear, distress, avoidance, and physical symptoms of anxiety. Medications can help people cope with symptoms of anxiety while psychotherapy can help people overcome their fears.

At a Glance

Amaxophobia causes people to have an intense fear of being in a car, either as a passenger or driver. Symptoms of this type of specific phobia include intense fear, distress, avoidance, and physical symptoms of anxiety. Medications can help people cope with symptoms of anxiety while psychotherapy can help people overcome their fears.

Symptoms  of Amaxophobia

Symptoms specific to amaxophobia include:

Amaxophobia, like anyphobia, runs the gamut from mild to severe. Some people can travel in a car with a driver they fully trust, such as a spouse or parent. Others can take a bus or taxi on a familiar route. In the most severe cases, people with this phobia are unable to travel at all, except on foot.

Identifying Amaxophobia

Amaxophobia is not recognized as a distinct condition in the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders” (DSM-5-TR). The DSM-5 is the diagnostic manual that doctors and other mental health professionals use to diagnose mental health conditions.

Amaxophobia is a specific phobia—a fear of a specific situation or object.

A trained clinician can help you determine which phobia or combination of phobias you have. In order for a mental health professional to make a specific phobia, your symptoms must match the American Psychiatric Association’s general criteria, including:

10 of the Most Common Phobias

There are a number of factors that may play a role in the development of specific phobias such as amaxophobia. Some of these factors can include:

This fear could also be related to agoraphobia, a fear of being in a place or situation you can’t escape in the event of developing panic or other incapacitating symptoms, orclaustrophobia, the fear of being trapped in an enclosed space.

It is also common for specific phobias such as amaxophobia to co-occur alongside other anxiety disorders including other phobias, panic disorder,social anxiety disorder, andsubstance use disorder.

The Psychology of Fear

While there is no official distinction between different types of amaxophobia, this condition may present in two ways:

Some people with amaxophobia are still able to drive their own cars. The prospect of allowing someone else to take control of the trip, however, can be terrifying. For others, driving itself is the trigger.

Some may experience amaxophobia in both conditions (as driver and passenger).

There are a few different treatment options that may be used to help people with amaxophobia. These include:

Medications

Medications such as antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs are sometimes prescribed to help people manage some of the physical and emotional symptoms of the condition. These medications are often most effective when used along with psychotherapy.

Psychotherapy

The first-line treatment for specific phobias is often a strategy known asexposure therapy.Working with a therapist, people are gradually exposed to the source of their fear while practicingrelaxation strategies. Over time, the fear begins to lessen or even disappear. Virtual exposure therapy can also be helpful.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)may also be used to address the negative or irrational thoughts that often contribute to the phobia. Some research suggests that, in some cases, CBT treatments for specific phobia are effective after just one to three sessions.

If amaxophobia is seriously affecting your quality of life, seekprofessional help. Success rates for treating all types of phobia are high.

The list of possible consequences of amaxophobia is long and includes a wide variety of repercussions for your career and personal life. Examples of how this phobia may affect your ability to cope include:

If you live in a rural area or a sprawling city, where even picking up groceries requires a long car ride, a mild case of amaxophobia may be devastating.

Phobias and other anxiety disorders often grow worse over time if left untreated, so it is important to seek help as early as possible.

Takeaway

Amaxophobia can make it hard to drive or be a passenger in a car, which can interfere with your ability to function in your daily life. While amaxophobia can take a serious toll on your life, effective treatments are available that can help bring relief. If you are experiencing symptoms of this condition that are impacting your life, you should contact a mental health professional.

If you or a loved one are struggling with a phobia, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you or a loved one are struggling with a phobia, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

4 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Kupfer DJ.Anxiety and DSM-5.Dialogues Clin Neurosci.2015;17(3):245-246.Eaton WW, Bienvenu OJ, Miloyan B.Specific phobias.Lancet Psychiatry.2018;5(8):678-686. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30169-XPk Bernstein J, Milberg WP, McGlinchey RE, Fortier CB.Associations between Post-Traumatic stress disorder symptoms and automobile driving behaviors: A review of the literature.Accid Anal Prev. 2022;170:106648. doi:10.1016/j.aap.2022.106648Thng CEW, Lim-Ashworth NSJ, Poh BZQ, Lim CG.Recent developments in the intervention of specific phobia among adults: a rapid review.F1000Res. 2020;9:F1000 Faculty Rev-195. doi:10.12688/f1000research.20082.1

4 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Kupfer DJ.Anxiety and DSM-5.Dialogues Clin Neurosci.2015;17(3):245-246.Eaton WW, Bienvenu OJ, Miloyan B.Specific phobias.Lancet Psychiatry.2018;5(8):678-686. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30169-XPk Bernstein J, Milberg WP, McGlinchey RE, Fortier CB.Associations between Post-Traumatic stress disorder symptoms and automobile driving behaviors: A review of the literature.Accid Anal Prev. 2022;170:106648. doi:10.1016/j.aap.2022.106648Thng CEW, Lim-Ashworth NSJ, Poh BZQ, Lim CG.Recent developments in the intervention of specific phobia among adults: a rapid review.F1000Res. 2020;9:F1000 Faculty Rev-195. doi:10.12688/f1000research.20082.1

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Kupfer DJ.Anxiety and DSM-5.Dialogues Clin Neurosci.2015;17(3):245-246.Eaton WW, Bienvenu OJ, Miloyan B.Specific phobias.Lancet Psychiatry.2018;5(8):678-686. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30169-XPk Bernstein J, Milberg WP, McGlinchey RE, Fortier CB.Associations between Post-Traumatic stress disorder symptoms and automobile driving behaviors: A review of the literature.Accid Anal Prev. 2022;170:106648. doi:10.1016/j.aap.2022.106648Thng CEW, Lim-Ashworth NSJ, Poh BZQ, Lim CG.Recent developments in the intervention of specific phobia among adults: a rapid review.F1000Res. 2020;9:F1000 Faculty Rev-195. doi:10.12688/f1000research.20082.1

Kupfer DJ.Anxiety and DSM-5.Dialogues Clin Neurosci.2015;17(3):245-246.

Eaton WW, Bienvenu OJ, Miloyan B.Specific phobias.Lancet Psychiatry.2018;5(8):678-686. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30169-X

Pk Bernstein J, Milberg WP, McGlinchey RE, Fortier CB.Associations between Post-Traumatic stress disorder symptoms and automobile driving behaviors: A review of the literature.Accid Anal Prev. 2022;170:106648. doi:10.1016/j.aap.2022.106648

Thng CEW, Lim-Ashworth NSJ, Poh BZQ, Lim CG.Recent developments in the intervention of specific phobia among adults: a rapid review.F1000Res. 2020;9:F1000 Faculty Rev-195. doi:10.12688/f1000research.20082.1

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