Some people experience anxiety when driving, avoid certain places or situations, have difficulty returning to work, or find that everyday activities no longer feel safe or manageable.
Occupational Therapy can help you gradually rebuild confidence and participation following trauma, with treatment focused on the activities and environments that are important to your life.
Exposure-Based Treatment
Exposure therapy is an evidence-informed approach that can be used to help people gradually face situations, activities, places, or experiences that have become associated with fear or anxiety.
Exposure is not about forcing you into a situation before you are ready. Treatment is carefully planned and individualized, with the goal of developing greater confidence and reducing avoidance over time.
Depending on your goals and clinical needs, treatment may involve:
- Gradual exposure to feared or avoided situations
- In-clinic and community-based exposure
- Prolonged community exposure when clinically appropriate
- Strategies for managing anxiety during exposure
- Identifying avoidance and safety behaviours
- Building confidence with everyday activities
- Developing coping strategies that can be used outside therapy
- Progressing toward meaningful work, community, and leisure activities
Driving Anxiety After a Motor Vehicle Accident
A motor vehicle accident can make driving or even being a passenger feel overwhelming.
You may experience anxiety when:
- Getting into a vehicle
- Driving on familiar roads
- Driving near the location of an accident
- Travelling on highways
- Sitting in traffic
- Approaching intersections
- Being around other vehicles
- Driving in specific weather or traffic conditions
Occupational Therapy can help you develop a gradual, structured plan to work toward increased confidence and participation in driving-related activities.
Community-based treatment may be incorporated when appropriate to help bridge the gap between the clinic and real-world situations.
Returning to Everyday Life
Trauma can lead to avoidance of activities that were previously part of your normal routine. Treatment can focus on gradually returning to:
- Work
- Driving
- Shopping
- Exercise
- Social activities
- Family responsibilities
- Community activities
- Hobbies and recreation
- Other meaningful daily activities
The objective is to help you move toward a life that is less restricted by fear and avoidance, while developing practical skills to manage symptoms along the way.
A Gradual, Individualized Approach
Every person’s response to trauma is different. Your Occupational Therapist will work with you to establish appropriate goals and determine a pace that is clinically appropriate for your circumstances.