in Girl Talk
Tips to deal with anxiety driving?
I have my permit for the second time and it expires next year. Ive only drove on a road twice and a few times around a parking lot.. well anyways, My boyfriend and I just bought a new car (he has a license and registered it) and i really want to actually drive but i just get so much anxiety. I feel like im going to mix up the break and the gas and cause an accident. I can barely handle being in the passenger seat while he drives but i feel like its because i dont have control over what hes doing - like is he going to stop? Is he going to hit the car in front of us? or i think of other drivers on the road hitting us. Now, mind you he has never even been in an accident 🫠 i really want to get over this but i just feel like i cant and i feel like its holding me back. Im tired of depending on him to drive me places and we’re either rushing or late or what i need to do doesn’t line up with his schedule. Im tired of not being able to go out with the kids and drive by myself. There are just so many things and my body is so tired from running around (literally) all the time it would just be so much easier if i could drive too
I had such bad driving anxiety when I was with other people. I could drive myself fine but no one was allowed in the car with me. And absolutely no being a passenger while others drove. So I mostly understand what you are going through. First I got on medication and got a therapist. The meds dulled the anxiety some enough that I was willing to try to change. My therapist and I worked together for the rest. I would say start very small. Parking lots, you neighborhood, ect. Get good and comfortable with those. Play music or crank the AC or do whatever you find comfortably. And then really let yourself feel the anxiety and celebrate when you do it anyways. Then go to other roads at less busy times if possible. Just really short drives to prove you can do it.