If you do suffer from a driving phobia or even just get a little anxious when driving next to a large truck or cyclist, we collected some expert advice to help you get over your fears.

1. Adopt Visualization Techniques

When we feel fear or anxiety, it’s hard to remember that our minds are very strong and, with practice, can be capable of resetting the way we feel about certain things or situations. Meredith Futernick, LMHC, LPC, a counselor who helps clients overcome anxiety and self-destructive behaviors, suggests using visualization techniques to get over our fears. Imagine yourself driving to your destination safely and without anxiety or a panic attack. Keep in mind that consistency is key, so the more you visualize, the more effective any technique will be.

2. Use Humor

Laughter and humor can often help relieve some of the fear and tension we feel from anxiety-inducing situations. New York-based therapist, Sherry Amatenstein, LCSW, recommends thinking about a ridiculous scenario to help you see the lighter side of things. Some funny driving situations that can happen to anyone include driving the entire way with a piece of clothing hanging from the door or leaving the trunk of your car open.

3. Keep a Journal

Psychologist Barbara Markway, Ph.D., explains that keeping a diary is a great way to learn about ourselves and our thought processes. In your journal, describe the situation you’re in. After that, write down how you feel when getting behind the wheel, what scares you about driving, and what you’re thinking the moment you feel anxious. According to Markway, this is a great step toward realizing that some of our fears are unrealistic.

4. Repeat Reassuring Mantras

An anxiety and OCD therapist, Ken Goodman, LCSW, says the first step to conquering we fear to identify them and write down why we want to conquer them. Once you’ve done that, create a positive mantra to help you get through your trip. This can be anything from, “I want to be able to drive my kids to school,” to “I want to take my first solo road trip.”

5. Plan Out Your Trips

Another great way to help get over your fear of driving is by planning out trips that you’re comfortable with or won’t offset your anxiety. Psychologist Ellen Hendriksen, Ph.D., suggests you plan out a couple of trips that add a bit of a challenge but are still within your comfort zone to provide your brain with a healing experience.

Perhaps begin with a short trip around your block and, as you become more comfortable, add a little distance and drive to your closest convenience store.

6. Carpool

Although carpooling might seem like a way to avoid our problems or fears, there’s nothing wrong with taking breaks. If you can, find a driver you’re comfortable with and split your commute to and from work. Certified hypnotherapist Ted Moreno also points out that driving with someone else and engaging in conversation can be a great way to distract from anxious thoughts.

7. Practice Makes Perfect

Exposure therapy is another important step towards overcoming fear and anxiety, and one that psychotherapist Jennifer Rollin is quite familiar with. She suggests constantly striving to practice with what you fear so our brains slowly begin to associate driving with a positive experience.

8. Increase Comfort

Last but certainly not least, create a routine that helps you feel at ease. Clinical psychologist and anxiety coach David Carbonell, Ph.D., suggests adopting actions that increase your comfort behind the wheel. This can include breathing exercises, listening to music, rolling down the windows to get some fresh air or even counting as you drive.

If you know certain situations set off your anxiety like congested traffic or driving on the highway, we also recommend incorporating some productive practices or even trying car yoga during your commute to help you relax. As you can see, many people have certain fears while driving but there are many ways to lessen those fears and get you where you need to be without a hitch.

You’ll also want to keep in mind that some fear is healthy and can help you get through some tough situations. The key is not letting fear interfere with your day-to-day tasks or completely take over your life. Instead of seeing fear as something to avoid, learn ways to control it.

Whether you experience fear behind the wheel or love being on the road, proper safety precautions are always best-kept top of mind to ensure your well-being and the safety of other drivers. If you’re headed out on a road trip, book a rental car with navigation and hands-free features to avoid any snafus while on the road.

Data from a recent survey, conducted by CarRentals.com