Gas prices have finally topped $4 per gallon in some parts of the United States, and people across the country are feeling the effects. According to eMediaWire, the price increase could have a major effect on people with driving phobias.

Although there are several different treatment methods for specific phobias, the basic cornerstone of almost every treatment is to confront the feared situation. Whether you are armed with medication, hypnotic suggestions, positive self-talk or any other coping strategy, your phobia will not go away until you live through the situation several times.

Of course, for those who are afraid of driving, this means getting behind the wheel repeatedly. With $4 per gallon gas at stake, however, it is hard for some people to justify the expense. The potential is there, then, for gas prices to become a real or imagined obstacle to treatment. In some cases, the cost of gas could actually worsen the phobia, by adding increased pressure to “get over it” in as few miles as possible.

What do you think? Do you have a driving phobia that is being affected by the price of gas? Do you think that the end result (confronting the phobia) justifies the added expense? Feel free to discuss the situation in our forum.