De-Stress Your Driving

Does getting behind the wheel make you anxious or angry? Is getting stuck in traffic, being cut off, having to take a detour, and other everyday negative driving experiences triggering feelings of helplessness, frustration and anger? This daily stress can take a major toll on your overall health. The Lisle-Woodridge Fire District Division of Emergency Services offers the following to improve your stress-reducing commuting techniques.

There are more drivers on the road than ever before. Between 1980 and 2000 the total population rose 24 percent but the number of miles driven rose 80 percent. Whether your driving stress manifests itself as anxiety or anger, identifying and defusing these stressors will help you arrive safely, be calmer and even enjoy your journey.

Identify your behind-the-wheel trigger. Is it getting cut off? Is it getting stuck in gridlock? Or are they fear-based such as driving in inclement weather, changing lanes or merging into traffic? Generally, there are five traffic situations that trigger fear and/or road aggression: feeling endangered (when someone is tailgating you or cuts you off), being forced to slow down for other drivers (especially if you are a more aggressive driver), stolen parking spaces that you were waiting for, rude gestures or shouting from other drivers, and seeing other drivers break the rules of the road.

Recognize that your thoughts drive your stress response. While some of these anxieties are based in reality; anger, anxiety, and fear increase both psychological and physical stress response symptoms such as increased heart rate, sweating, erratic behavior, and shallow breathing. Once you are able to identify and control irrational thoughts and actions, you can control your stress levels. Change your perspective from reactive, blaming, and self-righteous to proactive, thoughtful, and responsible. Ask yourself, “Am I being reactive? Can I calm down and behave more rationally? What can happen if I do not gain control of myself? and Am I willing to put myself or someone else in jeopardy to ‘get even’?” Taking the time to give yourself breathing space will help get you back in control and to make well-reasoned choices.

Employ attitude-altering habits such as allowing more time to reach your destination, think of driving as an opportunity to meditate on the day and unwind, eliminate the cell phone and, instead, listen to calming music or books on tape, observe the scenery around you, do some deep breathing, make friendly eye contact, allow others to go ahead of you, and smile.

While there will always be circumstances that are out of your control, the key is to remember that how you react on the road is up to you.

For more information on this or other EMS programs, please contact EMS Bureau Chief Dan Anderson at 353-3000.