To find driving scary?

[Tootbeep]

I passed my test a few years ago in London, first time with one minor. However, I never really drove as public transport was so good. Now I live in a small town and have a baby and a toddler and really want to be able to get out and about more, but I find it so scary, especially with kids in the car. I've been trying to practice more, but part of the problem is that our road exits on a busy A road and there are so many parked cars on one side that visibility is really poor and I'm terrified of pulling out in front of someone I haven't seen. I don't feel like I'm an unsafe driver but I'm not at all confident, get stressed out by people behind me and feel rushed. I feel like I'm so hyper aware of everything around me when I drive, that it becomes exhausting and stressful, so I put it off, then I become more anxious. Geting an automatic car has helped massively, but I still stress about parking and getting stuck somewhere. I feel so pathetic. Will it get better? Anyone been in a similar position and got over their fear? Any tips? Thanks.

@funinthesun19

I’m like this too. I passed in 2010 as quite a confident driver. Fully intended on getting a car but life kept getting in the way right from me passing. And because I haven’t driven since I passed, and I’m a much more anxious person now than I was 11 years ago because of a few hard life events, I now have this fear of driving.

I have actually sent off for a new licence because I can’t keep living like this where me and my children are isolated all the time. If anything it’s adding to my problems. I hope that with a few refresher lessons I can give myself that long overdue push to get driving.

I had this too, 10 or 11 years of no driving because I had moved to London and didn't really need a car, and then very anxious when I needed to start again. I did some refresher lessons and am back behind the wheel again. I won't lie, still a bit nervous and 'hyper vigilant' when it's busy, but a huge improvement!

I used to feel like this until I had to drive everyday for work, because I had to I pushed myself and my confidence built surprisingly quickly. During lockdown where I wasn't driving much I could feel myself slipping back a bit into worrying, so I would make sure I drove somewhere at least once or twice a week. If you have the chance I would try and drive by yourself, get the confidence up and then take children out.