Amaxophobiacs – people and animals - with a fear of travelling by car
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| Photo By David Kimber - Not Everyone Loves Cars |
The phobia is not exclusive to people. Dogs and other animals display many of the same symptoms people have who dread the thought of a car journey.
10 Ways To Spot Car Phobiacs – Are you an Amaxophobiac?
If you can tick a number of the following when thinking of travelling
by car then you, or someone you know, may have a car phobia.
- Severe heart palpitations
- Feeling faint
- Nausea and vomiting
- Sweating excessively
- Dry throat
- Unable to breathe properly
- Trembling limbs
- Hearing or sight impairment
- Loss of sense of reality
- Thoughts of losing control while driving
Car phobic dogs, in particular, will have additional reactions including; high pitched barking, cowering, signs of agitation, urinating and making attempts to exit the car at any opportunity which may cause safety issues to the human occupants of the car.
Amaxophobia can make a rational, sensible and well-adjusted
person crumble with the thought of sitting in a car. The prospect of a car journey – even days
away – can cause signs of stress and adverse physical reaction.
Car Phobic People Change Their Lifestyle to Avoid Cars - At Any Cost
People with car phobia will seek to adjust their life to
avoid the prospect of even having to get into a car. Many will move to cities where public
transport is readily available. Some Amaxophobiacs will invent complex reasons, excuses and scenarios
to avoid car journeys all together. This
will often hamper their social life and can lead to isolation.
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| Cats Can Be Avoided - But Can Cars? |
A commentator on car phobia said, “Many phobias are
manageable. People with a fear of cats,
for example, aren’t too embarrassed to tell others, cats can be avoided and often
this becomes a lovable ‘quirk’ among friends. However, Amaxophobiacs will hide their fear
as travelling by car is the norm in any western society. People with car phobia could be singled out
as strange, weak willed, odd and unusual yet it’s not their fault.”
Car Phobia - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Often people with car phobia will have other phobias but not
always. Amaxophobia may also be caused
by an event such as a car crash and is therefore a sign of post-traumatic stress
disorder. A number of counsellors and specialists
are available to help but this may be at a high cost. Many sufferers will feel too embarrassed to ‘come
out’ about their unusual fear of an everyday way to get from A to B.
Animals showing signs of car phobia must be identified quickly and training given to put the animal at ease.
Animals showing signs of car phobia must be identified quickly and training given to put the animal at ease.
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| Amaxophobic Dog - Montreal Dog Blog |
18% Of Motorists Expressed 'Love' For Their Car
A WeLoveAnyCar.com spokesman said, “We named our site because
many people love their car for many reasons, not just the practical benefits but
the freedom, independence, identity and status a car can give. In over 108,000 car reviews - from Ford
reviews to Ferrari reviews – over 18% of car reviewers actually included the
word ‘love’ in their comments. However,
there could be someone you know with this debilitating phobia and motorists the
world over must consider how they can help.”
WeLoveAnyCar.com would like to credit a number of internet
sites including Wikipedia, Psydoctor and Pe2000 for information. There is also an interesting piece on dogs who are scared in cars in the Montreal Dog Blog .
Amaxaphobiacs are encouraged to speak to professionals specialising in the treatment of phobias to help them conquer their car related fears.
http://www.pe2000.com/phobia-what/pho-car/
http://www.montrealdogblog.com/11438/trainer-dog-hates-riding-car/
