Fear of driving

[intheflowers]

I'm 21 and don't have my license and have to rely on friends to take me grocery shopping and such. I can't even get a job because I would need to be able to drive to work. Whenever I'm in the passenger seat with someone, I'm like to myself, "Yeah, this is pretty simply. I can do this." But when someone offers me help with driving or asks me to drive for them when they're drunk, I am completely TERRIFIED. My heart starts racing and my mind gets all fucking up and I just want to run and hide. My mom told me she's paying a driving school to give me lessons for my birthday, which was mid-February, and all I need to do is call up the school and set up the times for my lessons. But I haven't done it yet and I'm so scared.

Things that scare me about driving:
Driving on highways: 60 mph and over is WAY TOO FAST. I wouldn't feel in control.
Accelerating onto highways
Just being in control.

[need.to.be.thin]

I used to be scared of driving aswell, but I think the thought of it is alot worse than actually doing it. You should book the lessons, dont be worried and I know its hard but try not to over-think it and think of all the bad things that could happen because there's alot of good aswell especially being able to go where you want when you want and getting a job etc. On your lessons your driving instructor will have duel control so even though it feels like your driving they have control of the car they can help you if anything goes wrong and will only make you do what your comfortable. Your first lesson will probably somewhere quiet with hardly any people around, your not going to be driving on highways for a long time. And once youve built up your confidence you can think about things like that but for now, just try and enjoy and just think of all the good things that could come. Good luck xx

[1ndonly]

If you're 21 and don't know how to do it, I really hate to say it, but you're out of luck.

Best bet is to learn from a Romanian street racer. They tend to be good at teaching it to North Americans. Good luck finding one.

[war_with_life]

I have always been a reluctant driver, I wouldn't have learnt if my parents hadn't bought me the lessons for my birthday, then when I could drive I would do anything to get out of it, I would only go to the petrol station to fill up my car on Sundays as that is when it is quieter. Now I cannot drive due to having had a couple of seizures and I miss it like crazy and can't believe I had made such a fuss about it for so long.

[Divine]

I'm so terrified I'm going to kill people while driving, I have this nightmares and I DON'T WANT TO DRIVE AND RISK.
Its a GREAT PRESSURE ON ME because "you are a man, you should know how to drive" crap.This is going to end bad I know it.

[Meg]

I'm terrified to drive as well...I'm 27, have had my license for 11 years, never been in an accident, and yet I'm so scared I haven't even gotten behind the steering wheel in well over a year. I think I'm afraid I'm going to have a panic attack while driving...and to make it worse, I live in Michigan where the roads are snowy/icy at least 1/4 of the year. I totally understand how you feel about always having to rely on others to take you places, it makes me feel so incapable!!

Sorry, I don't have much advice...but good luck with the lessons...and if you learn any tricks to make you calmer about it, please share!

~Meg

[1ndonly]

I'm so terrified I'm going to kill people while driving, I have this nightmares and I DON'T WANT TO DRIVE AND RISK.
Its a GREAT PRESSURE ON ME because "you are a man, you should know how to drive" crap.This is going to end bad I know it.

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