Amaxophobia

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Amaxophobia, hamaxophobia, ochophobia, or motorphobia is an abnormal or persistent fear of being in, or riding in, a vehicle. Amaxophobia is a clinical phobia classified as a specific phobia, fear of a single specific panic trigger.

Amaxophobic sufferers riding in a vehicle will typically fear the accident and its consequences, especially injury or death. They may do backseat driving, which involves haranguing the driver which can distract the driver and increase the odds of car crash. In addition, sufferers may fear enclosed spaces or being trapped in a vehicle. Amaxophobic people may try to look for jobs or careers that do not require car rides, which may limit potential lifetime achievements.

The term amaxophobia comes from the Greek ἄμαξα (ámaxa) or ἅμαξα (hamaxa), “a carriage” and φόβος (phóbos), “fear”.

Many amaxophobics may feel a sense of panic or feeling out of control. Other symptoms include headache, nausea, dizziness, terror, and other facets of panic attacks when sufferer is in a vehicle.

Therapies are recommended to treat amaxophobia, such as cognitive “tapping” therapy used to erase negative memory that caused fear. Psychotherapy is a traditional treatment method, and talk therapy is used to soothe the sufferer. Anti-depressants are often recommended tool to treat amaxophobia, especially in the modern world when/where vehicles are common.