I used to be so scared of driving that I couldn't even look at my car parked outside my house. I didn't drive for seven years. I was too afraid.

Happily, these days I can and do drive whenever I want. So what makes people scared of such an everyday activity as driving, and how do those of us with a driving phobia overcome it?

If the thought of zooming off down the motorway brings you out in a cold sweat, then rest assured you're not alone. Fear of driving is one of the most common phobias that exists, yet we seldom talk about it. Official statistics are hard to find, yet hypnotherapists say that this is one of the most common complaints they hear from their that clients.

Why do some people and not others develop fear of driving? There are four key factors:

1. A parent who was a non-driver or an unconfident driver
2. Experience of any type of car crash, including minor prangs
3. A prolonged and high degree of stress, particularly in the time before the car accident
4. Stopping driving for a period of time

Any of these factors by themselves can lead to a driving phobia, and if more than one applies to you then the risks are higher. So someone who's suffered a car crash might not develop a phobia, but if they are also highly stressed at the time, and then take a prolonged break from driving, anxious feelings around driving could easily develop.

All of these factors applied to me - my mother is very nervous in cars and has never gone beyond a provisional licence; I'd had a near miss whilst out driving, when my brakes had failed in heavy traffic; I had a very stressful job as a TV producer; then I had a baby and got rid of the car, and didn't drive at all for several months. I'd also fallen out of a moving car on to a dual carriageway when I was four. The seeds that grew into this phobia were sprinkled throughout my life.

What can you do if you're scared to drive?

• Deal with the root cause of your stress - what is it that has made you stressed enough to develop this phobia? It might have nothing to do with driving at all.
• Practice breathing exercises and relaxation techniques, relaxing your muscles and using positive affirmations such as 'I am a calm and confident driver'
• Recall your past successes - the times you drove well and took journeys you enjoyed
• Take refresher lessons
• Use music to boost your mood - play music you love whilst driving and sing along
• Seek professional help - many hypnotherapists are skilled in helping people with driving anxiety
• Enrol with a professional driving instructor at a specialist school
• Keep driving -  you won't want to, but aim not to let a week elapse between drives