Is it normal to be this nervous?

[scorcio5]

I am hoping I can get some words of wisdom from you lovely people, as I am 99.9% sure my twating anxiety is blowing this all out of proportion, I am a fairly new driver ( less than 6months) and tomorrow I have complete a 2hr long journey from 1 city to the next all on my lonesome, now I have built up my confidence on my local roads and have been quiet happily plodding about doing normal day to day stuff, work, shopping being personal taxi service to X2 ds, however the thought of completing said journey is filling me with dread, I have well prepped, am leaving in ample time, car is in tip top condition, route is planned, ( I'm not going on motorways as I don't feel safe enough however I do have a couple of motorway lessons booked in with a driving instructor for when I return) but I am a big of nerves I do have terrible anxiety problems and am currently on ADs, ( although for a while I have been suspecting a visit to the Gp is in order as they may need tweaking with, but that's another story) am I completely overthinking a simple task?? Does everyone feel like this when driving somewhere new? I actually feel like I am taking my test all over again

Ah OP. I think it's quite normal.

I grew up in rural Wales. Everyone learned to drive the moment they turned 17 to get some independence and I was no exception. I drove fine, no problems.

However years later I was living in Bristol and DH had a car. He insured me on it. I was terrified. There was so much more traffic than I was used to. It took me weeks to have the guts to go out on my own. I had to plan in order for me to work out my route, the one way systems and which lanes I had to get into etc.

After a month or two it was like second nature.

I still get a bit freaked out if I'm driving somewhere I don't know very well and I get diverted from roadworks. In these cases I always put on Google Maps where a nice calm lady talks me through it.

So basically OP, I think it's normal. I think you've done all you can to prepare and I'm certain it will be fine. After a while this type of thing won't bother as much.

Good luck.

A long, unfamiliar drive as a new driver? Totally normal to be anxious. I certainly was as a newish driver.

It completely depends on what you're used to. I had to drive the motorway to get to work so the day after I passed my test I cracked on. I now prefer motorway driving. If you haven't had to do long distance drives etc since you passed then it's completely understandable that you're anxious. Practice makes perfect and you'll look back one day and wonder what you were ever worried about.

I used to be a very anxious driver but then got a job that involves driving lots of new places; it really was the case that the more I drove the more confident I felt. If I’m not sure which lane I’m supposed to be in etc then I just go slow and hold my nerve if I need to wait for people to let me move into the lane I need.

Thank you guys, I do live in rather busy city in Yorkshire, and regularly go on dual carriageways etc, and I agree the only way to gain confidence is by practice, just before passing my test my driving instructor told me ' I teach you to drive, you only start really learning once you passed your test' and I am completely agree with that, I am following Google maps, and although the journey will take me another hour using the back roads, until I have my motor way driving lessons I think its probably a safer option and less pressurised. Thank you all for making me feel a bit more normal,