How do I control my anxiety for my driving test?

[MeadowHay]

I have my driving test very soon. I was actually meant to do it in January but it was rearranged due to the lockdown. I was all ready to do my test in January and was actually feeling quite optimistic, but this time with my test so close my last few lessons have been shambles - suddenly making loads of huge mistakes that I would never normally make. I can only put this down to the heightened anxiety. If I don't pass my test, I am aware that I will be facing a likely 4 month wait to retry it, so I think this is making me feel more pressured (not to mention the extra cost of lessons - I've already been a slow learner and had far more lessons than most people...)

I only have a few lessons left before my test and I really need to control my anxiety if I have any hope of passing this test!. Does anyone have any tips or methods that have worked for them? I was initially a very anxious learner and over a LOT of lessons this mostly disappeared, so it's really frustating to have these feelings back again and to be going backwards with my driving .

@ShirleyPhallus

The advice I got on here years ago was to eat a banana and take 2 paracetamol. Something about blood sugar and controlling the nervous flushing you get.

It worked for me so passing on the good fortune! Good luck!

I was coming on to say eat a banana!

I also got this advice, most likely from MN, so I did (never usually like them enough to eat a whole one) and I passed.

Some banana anecdata for you

Good luck! You’ll be fine. Even if you do fail I’m sure you’ll pass next time so not to worry. Nothing in the future is set in stone so don’t borrow trouble worrying about what ifs.

I am a hugely anxious person and was so anxious when I took my test that I was sure I had blown it in the first five minutes. I was instructed to drive to the top of the hill and turn right. At the junction I stalled the car three times. That's it I thought and then just carried on through my test without worrying as I was sure I had failed.

He passed me and when I mentioned the stalling said 'We all make mistakes it's how you deal with them that counts'. So you may make mistakes but don't feel that's the end of it. Try and stay in the moment..

I'm not worried about minors I'm just worried about panicking if something unexpected happens, and then making a bad decision because of the anxiety which would then be a serious and I'd fail the test instantly. With covid you don't even get to complete the rest of the test, you're instructed to drive straight back to the test centre if that happens. Makes sense I suppose but if it happens early on then you don't get the rest of the test experience for experience either which is a shame.

My instructor said about Kalms but I've tried them before and they didn't help. I think because a lot of that stuff really relies on placebo and I never expect them to work so it doesn't help hah. He also said about banana but I absolutely hate bananas and I don't think inducing nausea prior to my test will help .

Also I think having my lovely super calm and patient instructor in the car would be soo helpful but because of covid rules you aren't allowed to have anyone in the car with you . I will have to imagine his voice like someone else said hah.

Thanks to everyone for your positivity and sharing your experiences too. I know it's not a huge deal to need a few attempts, my friend passed on her 5th and my mum on her 4th after all. It's only because the waits for tests here are about 4 months that it's an issue

I know this feeling so well. I actually didn’t sleep at all the night before one of my driving tests which resulted in a fail.
I think what’s important to remember is: if you fail, it isn’t the end of the world. Don’t put silly amounts of pressure on yourself to pass otherwise failing will feel a lot worse (if you do fail, of course).

I too tried beta blockers and other anxiety medication however alas it didn’t work and made me feel spaced out! How I passed in the end - I reminded myself I’ve done this a million times (the driving test - I passed on my 5th attempt ) and I know I’m good enough to drive on the roads. My instructor told me just before I went off with the driving examiner “you can do it, you really can drive well! Just have faith in yourself” not sure if that helped but it was very reassuring to hear. Remember your instructor wouldn’t recommend you going for your test if he knew you couldn’t pass. You’re clearly up to test standard now!

If it makes you feel any better, I actually clipped someone’s wing mirror while doing a parallel park the hour before the driving test and my instructor looked like he lost faith in me then . Good luck and keep us updated!

I was nervous learning too. I passed on my second try by talking myself through things as i was doing them and by deep breathing, so deep breath in then blowing out slowly before the test and during the first few minutes, until i felt a bit calmer not sure if this might help?
Also don't worry if you don't pass first time you can get an app which notifies you of cancellations so you can change to a sooner one, think it costs about £10
Good luck

You need Propranolol. Your GP will prescribe it for your driving test.

Very good luck!

I stopped the car to be sick mid mine. When I wasn't vomiting I just talked. And talked more.
You've got this.