Can I please share something good?

[bakewellbride]

I passed my driving test 8 years ago and ever since passing I suffered from terrible driving anxiety. I would always get so scared and unable to sleep if I knew I was driving the next day. I would make excuses, cry, insist on needing dh to sit in the passenger seat and help. I felt sick behind the wheel. I went for long stints avoiding driving altogether even if that meant walking past the car to the bus stop. I just hated it.

My eldest is nearly 6 now and it really hit me that he's going to need me to drive him places so I decided to finally overcome my driving anxiety. For about a month I did as much driving as I could and to my amazement it actually got easier and easier. I took my toddler to a group then shopping today and honestly having the car was enjoyable and made things so much easier and quicker. I never dreamed I'd say that! There are so many fun places I can now take my children and I don't get scared anymore at all.

I've finally found my freedom 🚗

Brilliant!

It will be life changing.

Well done you! You’ve been very courageous!

Amazing! Well done and enjoy all the days out and time saved getting there!! X

Congratulations!!!!

I’m a huge fan of exposure therapy, it works so well for many things.

Well done you!

I so relate. I too had driving - and parking- phobia.

It's life transforming to overcome it and get out there.
My best advice is keep it up. Practice is key.

Be proud of yourself.

Well done OP!!

You're amazing! That must have been so difficult to overcome

Thank you everyone! Such kind messages. Dh needs the car for work tomorrow and for the first time in my life I am actually a bit gutted 🤣the old me would have been secretly relieved!! Have also just ordered a nursery rhymes cd that I can't wait to play in the car to keep her entertained.

Fantastic! I was exactly the same and the feeling when you crack it is wonderful! Congratulations🎉 the world's your oyster now.

Well done! I used to be really scared of driving, a few years ago we had a beautiful brand new car and I wouldn't drive it. Now I'll fairly regularly drive 150 miles or so (including the M6) with just the DC. I'm so glad I can. Get planning some trips!

Congratulations!
I have a friend like you. We've been going out on Sunday mornings. We've been on the motorway, practiced reversing, parallel parking and gradually she's gaining confidence. Keep going!

@Bollockybollocky bloody he'll your friend is miles ahead of me, my parallel parking isn't good and I haven't attempted the motorway at all recently 😬you're a great friend for going out with her btw

@Tharshe @ShipshapeShore thank you 🥰🚗

Vroom vroom!

Good job.

Well done, enjoy the freedom. It's like being given a pair of wings!

Well done! This is incredible news.

I'll admit I found the motorway slightly terrifying 😀but I'm so proud she did it.

🙌🙌🙌

Well done for putting the work in to become confident!!

you'll be saving up for your own car before you know it!! 🚗

This is so inspiring to read! I passed my test many years ago but was so terrified, I never drove again! Finally decided at start of this year to try again (I’m 51) and have been taking refresher lessons. Bought myself a car recently and my instructor is now coming out with me in my car but I feel like my anxiety is getting worse, with the added responsibility of having my own car. In today’s lesson, she made me do a really busy roundabout and I was panting like I was in labour! Legs trembling etc. Just found the whole session overwhelming today and had to pull over at one point for a 2 min cry. I mean, it’s pathetic. I desperately want to do it and it would give me so much independence to drive. But I feel like everyone else knows what they’re doing and I’m the only unconfident driver. She suggested I go out by myself every day, even to do a 10/15 min drive, but I find every excuse not to do that. I just don’t know how to overcome my fear of driving 😢😢 but I’m desperate to be able to do what everyone else seems to find so easy.