To be absolutely terrified of my looming driving test.

[Scaredypantseeek]

I need some tips on keeping calm. As I am absolutely terrified of my test that is looming.
I feel that my nerves are really going to let me down on the day

[Brices]

Take a beta blocker?

[EvenFlo]

Had to reply cause of all of the things I've done I hated learning to drive the most!
I failed the first 2. Think I got through the 3rd with a bit of a 'shrug shoulders' approach - just told myself it didn't matter in the scheme of things and tried to see it as just another lesson. I also tried to make myself feel excited about the prospect of going out without my instructor.
Practically - I went around the test route LOTS of times beforehand but made sure I didn't practice manoeuvres the day before (I did that with previous tests, made a mess of them and then took that anxiety to the test with me).

Good luck!

[NuggetofPurestGreen]

I have mine soon too. Finding it very hard to be motivated to go out and practice and test is next week!!!

[NuggetofPurestGreen]

Sorry OP. I have no tips as in the same boat.

[francesdrake]

Decide in your head this will be your 'mock' exam - just to see how it all works. If you don't pass, that's fine; lots of people don't, first time out.

[Bazza2]

I had mine just over a week ago. Have you got many lessons booked between now and your test? I had four hours of lessons in the days before and we drove for an hour before my test, and I found it really helped. The night before I went to bed early with Horlicks and an unchallenging book. On the morning of it I had two bananas (recommended by someone) and not much liquid so I wasn't worried about needing a wee. And I didn't tell family or friends that I had my test. And I passed! I found that I wasn't as nervous as I expected to be. Good luck, I know how scary it feels.

[Bazza2]

And yes to what frances said about thinking of it as a mock exam.

[BossWitch]

If you do go to pieces on this one, get your GP to prescribe you a beta blocker for the next one. I took 6 tests before doing this, then passed - wish I'd done it sooner!!

Good luck.

[HolgerDanske]

I was exactly the same. Absolutely terrified of any exam situation. Failed my first test spectacularly.

Second time around, I knew I was a good driver. So I tried to look at the test as just a drive. I was nervous, but I knew I could do it so I calmed myself down and managed it. It helped to remember that the examiner only wants to observe safe driving -- Safe driving I could do! It wasn't going to be perfect (I'm a terrible perfectionist and have horrendous exam anxiety) but it was going to be safe, because by that time I was a safe driver.

Important tips: have a banana before the test (this is my top tip for any exam situation), and a small glass of water.

[Scaredypantseeek]

Thank you all for taking your time to reply.
My test is next week too, Nugget.
I am actually taking the test in my own car and practising with my husband (although I have had plenty of lessons with an instructor)
Some good advice. I just feel sick when I think of the test though.
Would my Dr be sympathetic if I rang and asked for something for my nerves?

[Scaredypantseeek]

Cross post with BossWitch.
Would they prescribe anything for a 1st test?

[mostlyconfused]

Don't take anything to calm you down. I tried that with my first 2 tests and although it did make me feel more relaxed, I then wasn't focused enough. It's best to have a banana and a can of red bull about an hour and half before your test. This will help you be more alert and not make any silly mistakes. Good luck!

[Grantaire]

Nerves are a brilliant thing. Honest. It shows you care. That slight edge of adrenalin will also make you more focused. All you need to do (hah, I know), is channel it. I was a terrified wreck beforehand and I let myself wobble up to and including the morning of the test. Then I went into the toilets in the test centre and had a word with myself in the mirror. It sounds silly but I told myself I had raised two children who I encourage to get out there and try new things every day and then praise them for their efforts. That's the hard thing and I tell them every day. Having a go. It was time I showed them that I could do that too.

When I got in the car, I narrated everything, sometimes out loud. I talked through my thought processes, honestly it was like the dullest story ever. "I can see those cyclists and the bus, I am checking my mirrors, I know I need to signal before I slow down" and on and on. It made my mind sharp and left no room for worry.

And if you make a mistake or are less than happy with something you do, forget it immediately. It might not matter and that one blip should be left in the road where it happened.

You CAN do this. You absolutely can. You can drive. The test is a brief sneeze of time and flies by. You just have to show them how competent you are.

Good luck!

[SlaggyIsland]

Red Bull might not be the best idea for everyone. I refer to it as Panic Attack in a Can.

[sherbetpips]

I too was terrified, failed the first one by stalling three times in the middle of a roundabout. Re-applied immediately and re-took it one week later and passed. I used bach's rescue remedy and breathing exercises to calm my heart rate down and stop the panicky feeling.

[Brices]

Talk to your GP, for performance anxiety I find beta blockers helpful. You'll still feel nervous but your hands won't shake, they make me feel more focused and capable. Although you feel anxious on them you won't feel drugged and dopey. Your heart rate will be slower and you'll be able to take in the instructions more calmly etc.
Sure most GPs would help. Good luck!

[flora717]

Can you get a friend (insurance covered) to pretend to test you as it's your car? A week before my test my driving instructor swapped with someone else test prepping. We drove a route that the examiners sometimes took. I was very sure of what would happen.

[geekymommy]

I hated taking the driving test. Hated it with the fire of 6.02 * 10^23 suns. I was totally freaked out, too.

[MsRinky]

Another one here who failed four, possibly five tests until I went to the GP and got some betablockers. Sailed through the next test, now have a dozen years of happy and incident-free driving under my belt.

[tigermoll]

I was exactly the same - I ended up getting a hypnotherapy track to help me calm down. I listened to it every night for about a week before my test and it was the one I passed on. It was specifically for calm driving and by a woman called pam segal (but there are loads of other ones available)

[Scaredypantseeek]

Thank you all so much
Grantaire, I find myself narrating too.
I have been out today, driving in and out of the test centre and practising parking in there.
Feeling a little more confident, but will talk to my dr next week if I think I need to.
Just wish it was all over and done with.

[kittycatz]

A very useful tip which I found helpful is to pretend you are a taxi driver. The examiner is a passenger and they will direct you to go where you need to.
Sounds crazy but I read this tip somewhere a couple of days before my test and I used it on the day and passed first time.

[Chillyegg]

I was in the same position as you! I basically went round the whole test murmuring my next step it helped to break the silence. Also it reminded me to not forget a step ie Mirror mirror signal, or id read an instruction sign and respond to it. My test invigilator was really nice aswell!

[stinkingbishop]

Was exactly the same as you! Agree with the tip to consider it a mock test. If you pass, then that's great, but not the objective - the goal is so you can understand what the test is like for when you sit it 'properly'.

I also pretended my kids were in the back of the car, so I just had to drive, and drive safely. I got a couple of points docked for being too cautious at junctions, but passed .

Try to remember the examiner will have seen 1000s of people, and in complete states, much worse than you...I tried to open the front door with the key (?!!!!!!!) and he just winked at me.

[NotLoveActually]

The best advice I got from my instructor before my test was 'you're trying to put the examiner to sleep with your driving' and 'it's a speed limit, not a target'. helped me immensely trying to drive calmly as though lulling the examiner off to sleep best of luck.