Anxiety Support Group

Anxiety is a physical condition marked by intense and persistent feelings of distress, fear, angst or dread. General anxiety caused by routine day-to-day stresses usually passes quickly and is experienced by almost everyone at one time or another. However, such feelings that linger over time and are very difficult to cope with, and which lack a clear cause, may indicate...

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yankee13 11/15/2011

I am 23 and i do not have my license. not for any specific reason... i just never had the desire to drive and when it was time to step up and start , i freaked and realized i feel really uncomfortable in the drive seat. i get tense and freeze up. i have made it this far without but enough is enough .. i need my license. i dont rely on anyone for a ride ( although my fam helps me out when need be or i walk which i dont mind)

i have renewed my permit several times and this summer when i went i thought i would try for my license. i was SO nervous and anxious i could not focus. the test ended up being so much easier then i thought it would be but i messed up on little things and ended up not passing. needless to say i have not tried since nor have i tried practicing driving. it really got to me because after i took the test and was out of the car i thought about how all the things i messed up on i shouldnt have ( ex 3 point turn turned in to 5 point turn, parallel parking )

i dont get it because it seems like everyone else is so carefree and relaxed when driving ( as if they are sitting in a lazyboy just hangingout!) and me , i am tense , and would think i am in a cramped space and far from relaxed.

if anyone can share how to over come this , it would be greatly appreciated!!!

deleted_user 11/15/2011

I got my CDL license. I was driving this huge truck on interstate and than I started think and realized that it is me driving this huge truck so I had that feeling of freeze up for couple minutes when I could not move stearing wheel, that was scary. I understand you. Try not to think about the situation too colorfully and you will be fine. Or at one time I was swimming for about 10 minutes in deep water than I started thinking how deep is water and started drawning because I freezed up so I usualy do not go into deep water because of it. We, anxious people have vivid imagination that is the problem.

deleted_user 11/15/2011

I failed my driving test 3 times!!! I too was nervous. Not anymore. The more you expose yourself, the less fear you will feel. Eventually, it will become second nature to you and you won't even be thinking about it.

When you pass (AND YOU WILL), take little trips first.

Try not to dwell on it and continue to move forward. Practice positive affirmation for self-esteem. You can do it.

deleted_user 11/15/2011

Boths of my parents failed driving test about 10 times each. Still driving without lisence. They were told that they drive good only in streight line though I can tell that they are driving everywhere even in such dificult for driving places where I do not drive while having license. It all depends on who will check your driving skills.

deleted_user 11/15/2011

What I did was get a driving instructor; it really helped boost my confidence! It turns out that even though I was super nervous about my abilities, my actual driving was pretty good!

Even given that, I failed my test 3 times. Always on little things. I think this is pretty typical; I know only one or two people who passed on their first try.

Everyone is nervous and tense at first. It's only once you gain confidence from driving for a while that you'll really relax. You can do it!

deleted_user 11/15/2011

Hi,

Yes, you can do it! I agree with what others have said including the part where our imaginations can get carried away.

Good luck!

Shar

deleted_user 11/15/2011

I felt like that about driving when I was your age. But I have been driving for 15 years and still get nervous driving. And I even live in a very small town. I am very afraid of driving in a big town or city. In 2 weeks I have to drive (at night) 2 hours away from my home by myself and I am so nervous. Cause I am afraid I am gonna get lost.

yankee13 11/23/2011

thank you everyone for the encouragement! your words were helpful and i am trying to make slow progress in working my way back into feeling comfortable in the car. you guys were helpful and i am glad to know that i am not the only one nervous! i hope to take the test again asap. p.s: BNB..good luck on your drive ! i hope you have a safe and fun trip and make it there okay with out getting lost.

deleted_user 11/24/2011

I was very similar to you. I took drivers ed and then private lessons, but was so nervous on the driving test that I didn't pass. Eventually I did, but I was still scared to drive. Eventually I just forced myself to do it, and I have gotten so used to it now. Don't let the fear hold you back. I know its so hard to get yourself to leave your comfort zone, but once you do it, it is worth it.

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