My driving fear is killing me.

[Karen17]

I posted a topic about my driving fear a while ago... how I started driver's ed and then quickly dropped out after my second time on the road because I did terribly and was freaking out the whole time.

Well that seems to be the main domain for my anxiety....I cannot stop thinking about driving.
I am freaking out because I don't know what to do about it. I cannot understand the simplest things about the road, things that seem like common sense...I don't exactly know what specifically but just everything on the roads tend to overwhelm me. I'm a senior in High School and I hate it when people ask me if I have a license or a job and I don't know how to explain to them why I don't. I just say "It's a long story." The thing is, I wanted to go to a community college for 2 years and then transfer to a Uni...thing is...you can't do that without a car of course, I wouldn't be able to commute to and from college.

I'm just totally lost. 

I just don't know what to do. Can therapists help you with this kind of problem? 

[pinky5]

Karen,

Sorry you're having a hard time with the driving, but try to hang in there, you might just need a little more time.  Talking to a therapist is helpful no matter what is bothering you.  A lot of people feel really nervous learning to drive, you're not alone.  I taught a couple of friends how to drive standards and one of them took a week or so and the other one was still not ready to take the test after a couple of months, but she hung in there and is driving now.  I recently bought a new car and the clutch is very different from what I was used to and I spent the first month trying to get used to it.  It was like learning to drive all over again, I kept stalling it and hopping through intersections (very embarrassing) and I have had my license for many years.  So don't be afraid to look a little silly, you're not going to be the best driver at first, but you can do it!!

pinky

[NightOwl]

I feel pretty much like you, Karen.  Although I do have very bad vision so I ahve thus put off driving for all these years..., but I am wondering if a lot of my fear is related to driving anxiety rather than my vision relating to it.  My vision is definitely yet another thing to cause fear of driving though.  lol  But I'm like you in that I don't understand some basic things and also I am worried that I will have a wreck... but with that I am mainly worried because of my vision (and same with seeing street name signs, but gps could help with that a lot I guess).

[tigerpaw]

Most certainly therapy can help you with thius fear.   

Also, there are many therapies out there for you to choose from.

Don't STOP now its time topress on!

The worst we can do is not go forward with our cure.

And yes, I was soo agrophobic at one point I couldnt even leave the house.

You can OVERCOME this!

Tiger

[Karen17]

Thanks guys.
I'll keep trying to overcome it...maybe some practice will help me and if I have my mom explain things while we're on the roads.

:D