Fear of Driving? Stick with Water

It probably comes as no surprise that caffeine is a stimulant; and in just slightly more than moderate consumption it can cause people to become hyperactive and jittery. Studies also show that caffeine may interfere with the brains chemistry, which could contribute to causing more stress in the body.

Caffeine is used in scientific studies to trigger panic attacks among control groups to test potential forms of treatment for anxiety - so if you are already an anxious driver, caffeine is certainly not something that you need to be adding to your diet. As seemingly obvious as this may be, what do most fearful drivers still have next to them in the car during thier daily commute to work? Right, a steaming hot cup of coffee.

Some instances that occur on the road are stressful for anyone and for those that have driving anxiety, just getting behind the wheel can cause an immense amount of stress. Studies of the effects on caffeine and anxiety disorders have shown that even moderate consumption of caffeine can increase blood pressure, increase the heart rate and lead to the production of more adrenaline - which will all magnify the stress and associated feelings experienced by the anxious driver.

The effects of caffeine will vary greatly between any two individuals. Some people have a very high tolerance for the effects of caffeine and others may experience some very unpleasant effects from just a few sips of a caffeinated beverage or can even have a strong reaction to chocolate, which also contains caffeine.

If you have anxiety associated with the fear of driving, just getting into the car can compound the stress that you experience. Adding caffeine can be yet another multiplier to the stress that you are feeling. All of the unnecessary added stress could easily set you up for a severe panic attack while driving.

Anxious drivers need to take every precaution they can to reduce the effects of what could become a very stressful situation. Good stress reducers include relaxing music, self hypnosis and positive thought - these are the things that should be the foundation of your preparation for getting behind the wheel if you suffer from the fear of driving. There are also good self-help programs available specialized designed for the fear of driving such as The Driving Fear Program.

If you've experienced even mild stress associated with driving or simply being a passenger in a car in certain instances, or if you have a history of panic attacks or anxiety, then caffeine is something that should probably be eliminated from your diet entirely. Some people feel that they get a needed "boost" from the intake of caffeine, but there are other ways to get energized that don't contribute to your stress and anxiety. If you experience stress from getting behind the wheel, you should look for any alternative you can find to perk you up, something that is sure to not add to the stress that you are feeling.