Driving test... absolutely bricking it.

[Folkishgal]

Have my driving test tomorrow and quite frankly bricking it with nerves 🫠

I have a 2 year old and a 6 month old. Two year old is staying out, 6 month old is EBF and won't take a bottle so have no choice but to have him here. My husband will settle him in a separate room so I get some sleep but will have to bring him in for feeds

What do I do if he doesn't sleep? Any tips for just general nerves? How do I stop myself from having a nervous breakdown mid test and being unable to continue??

Good lord help me.

I don't get what you mean by the kids staying out, why would they need to leave your home before your driving test ?
Nerves are totally normal though, of course you'll be bricking it but all you can do is try and keep calm, have confidence that you're a good driver (otherwise your instructor wouldn't have said you're ready) and don't rush, it's not a race. Rushing usually means mistakes, you need to have time to process what is being asked of you. Good luck !!

I think you're overthinking things!
Surely in the last 6 months you've had driving lessons having had little to no sleep the night before?

It really isn't any different.
I assume you have a lesson before your actual test slot - use that to try and relax a bit.

The worst part about the test is actually waiting to take it… the nerves beforehand is horrendous!

Think of it this way, if you pass great! If not, book another test and try again. it’s not just a one chance thing.. you can always re take :-)

Can you get a GP appointment today and ask for a propranolol prescription? I get awful test anxiety so did this before my test, it takes away the physical symptoms of nerves and anxiety. Passed first time 🙂

Eat a banana before you go. Someone gave me this tip before my third test, and I passed!

I took on the same advice and passed!

In all honesty OP nerves are normal. It is no longer than a driving lesson so if you have been managing them ok you will be fine. When I passed my youngest was ebf and 6 months, ds was just coming up to 2 and my other ds was 3!

Good luck. It is all experience even if things don't go as planned.

Wishing you luck tomorrow. I hope that you pass. 🍀

I ate 2 bananas. 1 before the lesson right before the test and 1 at the test centre waiting for my examiner. I passed first time. Definitely eat bananas! Oh, and wear something lightweight. When I finished my test my pits were dripping in sweat from being so stiff hahaha!

Same here.

not sure how it works but it did for me too.

good luck for your test.

Bananas? 🍌 WTF? Never heard of this before.

Anywayz. GOOD LUCK @Folkishgal Sending happy positive vibes through the internet. Let us know if you pass!

Aw, I’m an instructor and have had two long chats with students this e week who are dreading tests.

As well as the banana, have some rescue remedy too. It does help.

Give yourself time during the test to do what you need, when stressed the tendency is to try and rush things which in turn will make you more stressed. Remember to breathe.

Examiners do have training in dealing with nerves, there’s nothing wrong if you’re really anxious in asking to pull over somewhere safe for a couple of minutes to collect yourself. They’ve seen it all before.

At the end of the day they are human beings, they do several tests a day and you spend under an hour with them. They want to see people pass. They aren’t godlike, they’re civil servants who have the same worries we all do. Absolutely no need to be scared of them.

And what’s the worse that can happen? You get a cancellation and you take it again. It’s no big deal.

Good luck!

Good luck op. Keep us updated 🩷

Good luck today OP

All the best @Folkishgal !🍌🍌🍌
(Never heard of this before but will pass on the tip!)

I didn't sleep a wink before my test (no kids) just nerves. It made no difference your brain just switches into gear. Good luck.

I failed a few tests before I passed. The only thing I did differently on the last one was to have some rescue remedy. It did actually work and I've taken it since, before job interviews.

I like the liquid but you can also get pastilles, which give you something else to think about whisky you suck them and it gives your brain a rest

Good luck!

How are you feeling today @Folkishgal. Good luck.

Agree with banana, I was told it is to do with potassium. Also I have heard that an ibuprofen can calm you.

I hope you managed some sleep OP

Good luck

I failed over the stupidest fault, no minors just one major (didn't look at my blind spot when reversing out of a bay, absolutely furious at myself. This happened within five minutes of having the test)

didn't help I was in such a stress because my instructor slept in and we made it with literally 1 minute to spare. Didn't get a moment to just sit and calm myself down so I was so flustered when I started the test 😣😣

I’m afraid I’m probably no use. I was an absolute nervous wreck in my first test. It was in the days of the 3 point turn and my leg was shaking so much on the clutch! I failed that time. Tbh second time I wasn’t that much better lol but at least the fear of the unknown had gone. My son has his in 2 weeks and I’ve said to him just imagine it’s a lesson but with a different instructor. Hopefully that might help. Good luck with it and let us know how you go.

Ah just seen the update! Bummer. Never mind, put in for another one and go again. All the best people pass second time anyway ;)

So your instructor nearly made you miss your test?! Have they acted unprofessionally before? I'd consider a new instructor or ask for a lesson free of charge. It's one thing to have an issue with the car for example but to simply not get out of bed on time is shitty (esp given how long tests take to book!)

I was super nervous on my first test, failed it because my legs were shaking so much I stalled the car. Someone advised to take a beta blocker before the next one - passed with flying colours! I had to take them again when going for a long trip by myself for the first time, but after that had no issue with nerves at all.

Good luck!

Nearly everyone I know failed their first test, I also did something really stupid, I turned left at traffic lights when examiner said to go straight ahead, this also was within 5 minutes of leaving the test centre. I was so much more prepared for my second test and passed. Don’t beat yourself up too much, I now say better drivers pass second time.