Fear of driving and overcoming it

[Petitegirl]

Hi all,
I am looking for some success stories of someone who had a driving phobia and managed to overcome it. Any tips and practical advices please :)

I passed my driving exam few years ago but I have a big anxiety of driving on my own to the point now that it developed into a phobia. I must overcome it but don’t know how to start. Did a refresh lesson and instructor said I am safe driver just my confidence is a problem :(

Thank you all for your time.

Inspirational stories here. I’m another one in the same boat, I will take the most complex of public transport routes before driving, I hate it so much and am terrified of having an accident or making a mistake.

I have a phobia about parking my car. I think it stemmed from a time when I was in a supermarket and almost got stuck in a space. I've been driving for years but it's getting worse. I can't go anywhere if I don't know where to park. I've actually avoided offering anyone lifts because of it. If I'm going to the retail park, I have to go early in the morning so I know I'll get a space. My MiL needs to visit hospital regularly but I never offer to take her as I'd be in a state about parking as it's terrible at the hospital. It's getting worse as I get older. All I can think of is - roll on next year when I can get a free bus pass

I passed my test years ago but have never driven on my own since

I passed my test years ago but have never driven since!

1

Sorry I don't know how this happened

Not me, but my mum. She didn’t drive for 20 years after passing her test. She got back into it by driving around empty Tesco carparks at night with my grandad and graduated to empty roads at night. My grandad took it slowly and took her eventually on roads she was comfortable with at busier times of day. They did all of this over a period of about a year. She went on to become a very confident driver and 30 years later is still on the roads. My grandad was an incredibly patient and kind man, so if you have someone like that in your life that can take you out on the road and not rush you, try that.

Good luck!

@Tee20x- if you would like, send me privately your phone number.
If anyone would like to join a support whatsapp group, please feel free to leave your number in a private message.
The purpose of the group is to encourage each other, support, share experiwnce and so on. If someone has any other ideas on setting up a group, please let me know :)

Love the idea of a support group. I can drive around London fine but have a phobia of motorways

@Petitegirl will do - I'm on the app so don't think I can PM you. Do I have to log in from a desktop site?

@Tee20x- I have sent you a private message :)

I have created the group if anyone would like to join please send me your number privately or alternatively let me know and I will send my number :)

I'm interested but can't message from the app

I would like to join the group but scares someone will know me in RL

Just popped to a shop I go to all the time. No carpark, park outside. I parked but needed to reverse as blocking a drive. I messed up trying , so just drove off.
And went to another shop that I didn't really want!!
So mad. It's like one step forward and 2 back.

Thank you for the podcast tip ! Iv been driving for 30 plus years , but can’t do motorways . Iv spent enough that I could have just hired a chauffeur and been done with it 🤦‍♀️🤣 it’s the speed I can’t do , so lorries bully me . Even when being driven I close my eyes !! I drive an hour to work on a busy A road happily… but only to my junction … mad isn’t it ?!?

@Iusedtobecarmen- ha ha chances are small however we are all in the same boat here, nothing to be ashamed :)

I'm on the app too, so if you could send me your number.

I managed to drive to a retail park today (and back) 😆 had a non driving passenger with me though. One of my problems is that I catastrophise before I've even set off.

@Iusedtobecarmen

Just popped to a shop I go to all the time. No carpark, park outside. I parked but needed to reverse as blocking a drive. I messed up trying , so just drove off. And went to another shop that I didn't really want!! So mad. It's like one step forward and 2 back.

At least you had the courage to try. :)

Watching with interest. Passed my test in 2017 with only 4 minors but I'm still such a nervous driver. I hate it! I'm not generally a nervous person at all and have no previous trauma associated with driving e.g an accident so it makes no sense to me and I can't understand why I get so nervous. I just do.

@firstimemamma
Same here. Responsible job. Confident ish person normally.

Very true

Sorry was meant for tee20!