We are concerned about those phobias related to daily activities and, in some cases, necessary, because they are very limiting and cause numerous emotional disorders. Some of them are related to driving and on this occasion we are talking about fear of parking in our dictionary, a disorder that affects more people than you think.
What is parking phobia?
Some call it parking phobia or parallel phobia, but the truth is that parking phobia does not have a name assigned to it medically. It refers to those people who feel unable to carry out the maneuver to park, especially if it is a question of doing it in parallel. The anxiety that it generates makes them unable to park.
Being afraid to park is closely related to a lack, but also to prioritizing others. You may fear the reaction of the car behind you while trying to park, and of course it has to do with gender stereotypes. Be that as it may, parking becoming a moment of panic is something that must be dealt with.
Symptoms and consequences of parking phobia
When a person is in the situation of parking the car, they experience all the symptoms of anxiety, such as excessive sweating, tremors, tachycardia or difficulty breathing. In some cases it can lead to a panic attack. And to all this is added the limiting thoughts of the type “I will not be able to do it”.
The result is usually that the person with a parking phobia decides to ignore a free space in parallel and go around looking for a place that is easier for them. The stress you are subjected to with this fear is immense. And in the most severe cases, parking phobia can lead to amaxophobia, which is a general fear of driving.
Causes of parking phobia
Like all phobias, the fear of parking can be caused by a traumatic experience. But in this case more psychological aspects influence such as low self-esteem, the feeling of incapacity, the low self-esteem and the idea of clumsiness, without forgetting the lack of experience behind the wheel.
People who are insecure about themselves are more prone to parking phobia, as they fear submitting to the judgment of others. An impatient driver who is waiting for you to complete the maneuver can make parking terrifying.
Parking phobia treatment
The first reaction when we talk about any phobia is avoidance behavior. In this case, leaving the car at home and using public transport does not seem like a bad option, as long as it is done for the right reasons and not out of fear. Any phobia, even if you can avoid the stimulus without serious consequences, must be treated, since it can lead to other different phobias.
In addition to cognitive that is used to overcome phobias and other emotional disorders, gradual exposure therapy seems the most indicated in the case of parking phobia. Both should be accompanied by the practice of relaxation techniques to reduce the effects of anxiety.