What is Tachophobia or Fear of Speed?
Tachophobia or fear of speed is a form of phobia in which the sufferer experience an intense fear of speed. The name ‘tachophobia’ is coined from two of the Greek words; the first word being ‘tachos’ which means speed and ‘phobia’ which means fear. The fear arises in some people as soon as the vehicle they are travelling gains speed or starts moving fast.
Causes of Tachophobia or Fear of Speed
Previous trauma and hereditary or genetics are the two major causes for tachophobia or fear of speed. The tachophobia or fear of speed is very common in adults. Even though people understand that the fear is irrational they cannot get over it. People even get the fear when they think of something related to speed or they see something in speed. The fear increases as the person fears of dying due to increasing speed. The tachophobia or fear of speed is irrigational and people usually find it difficult to handle. Before the people can realise the fear and identify it as a phobia, the fear takes over control of their lives. The reason of tachophobia or fear of speed could also be caused due to a tragic event in the early life or when a person has met with an accident previously.
The tachophobia or fear of speed is very overwhelming and may be caused to you due to many factors which can be psychological or related to any incident in the past. If you had been in an accident that as caused due to speed or you witnessed a death or your loved one in an accident that occurred due to speed then you can grow tachophobic.
Signs and Symptoms of Tachophobia or Fear of Speed
Sufferers of tachophobia or fear of speed show symptoms like breathlessness, dizziness; a dry mouth can be noticed in the person. Not all people have the similar symptoms though. The symptoms of the tachophobia or fear of speed begin with nausea, palpitation, sweating profusely, and then it follows to a panic attack.
If the fear keeps growing in the person then the heartbeat increases. This unnatural change in pace can result to aheart attack or apanic attack which affects the brain. A person who is tachophobic may feel shortness of breathing and suffocate which can lead to life risks at places.
Tests to Diagnose Tachophobia or Fear of Speed
There are no proper tests for finding out whether the person has tachophobia or fear of speed or not. Neurological tests can be done to check the brain readings to identify if the person has the phobia or not. The tachophobia or fear of speed can also be identified when you notice a certain change in reaction like a gag reflex in a person when he or she is being exposed to car racing area or he or she is being made to travel in a vehicle that increases its speed very fast.
Treatment for Tachophobia or Fear of Speed
Psychotherapy is the best way to help the patients who are suffering from tachophobia or fear of speed. Cognitive behaviour therapy or CBT is one such method where the doctors help you to identify the reason of your fear and then teaches you to cope with it. Morita therapy is a way where you shall be exposed to an image of a speeding car and then to another image which can clam your nerves. This kind of exposure therapy helps you to overcome the fear.
Prevention of Tachophobia or Fear of Speed
Taking care of tachophobia or fear of speed before it manifests itself in a big way is the best way to prevent the phobia from settling in you. Immediate symptoms like dizziness or trembling when noticed in a person should be taken to a doctor. Before the nervous breakdown may occur, the patient should be in proper hands.
Prognosis/Outlook for Tachophobia or Fear of Speed
The prognosis/outlook for tachophobia or fear of speed is excellent. The treatment might take a few months to a few years depending on the kind of therapy the patient is going through.
Home Remedies for Tachophobia or Fear of Speed
One should not be ashamed of having the problem of tachophobia or fear of speed. Try to imagine the positive sides or the helpfulness or necessity of speed in life. Learning the reason of your fear may help you to overcome it too. Tachophobia or fear of speed can harm your daily life because you need to be on road everyday thus exposing yourself to speed might bring down the fear in you slowly.
Taking care the fear before it manifests itself is the best way to prevent the phobia from settling in you. Learn to go with the flow. Consult doctors immediately when you recognise you are developing a phobia. Avoid circumstances that you might need to face so that the fear does not overcome you.
Coping with Tachophobia or Fear of Speed
You can get help even if you are tachophobic. Coping with the tachophobia or fear of speed is difficult since you get exposed to speeding objects daily but you can have a person with you so that you fear less or as said earlier, realise the usefulness of speed or acknowledge the reason of your fear and learn that it is irrelevant so that you can learn to cope with it.
Recovery Period/Healing Time for Tachophobia or Fear of Speed
The recovery period/healing time depends on the treatment medium if you are getting treated clinically. You can also get the assurance of the fear not manifesting itself in you again after the treatment is over. Tachophobia or fear of speed needs to be completely treated in order to lead a normal life.