Television presenter Adela González has returned to the forefront of news after her time on Sálvame by becoming the host of the new laSexta program Más vale sabbath. The Basque communicator, one of the friendliest faces of entertainment programs on the small screen, has confessed that she has a really bad time every time she gets behind the wheel of the car, as she suffers from a disorder that she shares with millions of people around the world. the world: amaxophobia or fear of driving.
González, in an interview on the Akelarre program, on Euskal Telebista (ETB), opened his heart to talk about his personal life. The presenter explained how she dealt with the death of her eight-year-old daughter from cancer and how she handles her long-distance relationship with her husband. The Basque presenter also dedicated part of her intervention to the “atrocious fear” that she suffers when taking the car.
As its name indicates, amaxophobia is a phobia, or in other words, an irrational fear of driving a vehicle. This disorder affects more than 28% of drivers, according to a study by the CEA Foundation, and can manifest itself in various ways, from a general fear at the simple idea of getting behind the wheel to intense panic attacks when faced with dangerous situations. driving.
Driving has traditionally been identified with the male gender, which is why it is more difficult for men to recognize that they have anxiety problems or fear of driving after a traffic accident. The psychologist Ignacio Calvo, from the CEA Foundation, states that 55% of those who suffer from amaxophobia are women compared to 45% of men, in statements collected by the DGT's Traffic and Road Safety magazine.
The studies carried out so far conclude that amaxophobia is a problem that tends to worsen with age. Although 28% of drivers suffer from the disorder, the percentage rises to 65% in women between 40 and 59 years old and up to 50% in men over 60 years old.
24% of drivers with amaxophobia have been victims of a traffic accident within a period of more than a year. Another relevant cause is panic that manifests itself after having fainted while driving or having suffered an adverse situation that led to a panic attack while driving. Likewise, anxiety symptoms are very present in this disorder, such as claustrophobia (fear of closed spaces), agoraphobia (fear of open spaces) or acrophobia (vertigo of heights), among others.
The CEA Foundation report highlights that anxiety in drivers can arise for various reasons and in specific contexts. Depending on the type of road, 35% of drivers experience anxiety on highways and highways, while 14% feel it in urban areas. Another 14% face this problem when traveling on unfamiliar roads, and 3% experience it when going through tunnels. Regarding the weather, approximately half of drivers (50%) feel anxious in rainy or snowy situations, and 27% experience anxiety when traveling with children in the vehicle.
Yes, although first it is necessary to become aware of the problem and work on regulating emotions, both on a physical and psychological level. In this way, appropriate strategies can be developed to face the situation until you gain control over yourself and the vehicle, while working on self-esteem. It should be noted that self-esteem is usually lower in women who have learned to drive under the orders of a man or who get behind the wheel with family members or companions who encourage it.
