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I'm not ready, but I have to get my license
UserPost


jayellay
1

I\'m 19 years old, and I just recently got my learner\'s permit. I\'ve never attempted a driving test, and I have very little experience driving because I\'ve been terrified of it for years. All through high school, I had to rely on my mom, siblings, friends, and significant others to take me to work, school, and everywhere else. I don\'t know when my fear got so severe, but I was reluctant to even practice because I couldn\'t go anywhere without driving on a busy road right outside my old neighborhood.

 I was jobless for nearly two years because I was too worried about the hassle of finding rides. I\'ve been living away from my mom since I graduated high school, and I rent a house with my twin brother and oldest sister. For the past 4 months I\'ve been working at a new job (full-time for the past 2 months) and every day I am so stressed out about having to ask people to give me rides at inconvenient times, but I can\'t quit because I really need the money. After the lease is up in January, I\'ll have to find my own apartment, so I\'ve set a goal to get my license by the end of the year.

But I\'m being pressured by everyone to get it sooner. I feel like such a burden to all my friends and even my own family, who are tired of me not being able to do things for myself. And I\'m tired of it, too, but I\'m still scared! My driving anxiety has slightly lessened, but I\'m not nearly comfortable enough to get my license by the end of the summer–which is what everyone is expecting.

I just get so panicky and unconfident when I drive. I second-guess myself and freak out if the speed limit is above 35, or if someone\'s behind me, or if I have to think about right of way, or I imagine getting into an accident. It\'s ridiculous. I just want to be able to get to and from work by myself. It\'s less than ten minutes, and I don\'t even know if I can do that.

Are there any effective home remedies (that actually work) I can try to ease my anxiety? I need help, but I can\'t exactly afford therapy. And not being able to drive has really been holding me back from a lot of opportunities and relationships. Ugh. I need help. It\'s good to know I\'m not alone.


Awkward123
2

Oh, Jay, I really feel for you.  I can so relate.  I know how it feels to be railroaded into getting your license.  I was also motivated, like you are, by the promise of a little more personal freedom.  The best advice I can give you is to study really hard.  That will give you more confidence if you feel like you have a good grasp of the rules of the road.  When you\'re in the car just take it one mile at a time, and remember to breathe deeply.  Those were things that helped me somewhat.  I carved out a little territory of places I could drive.  Work, friends houses, shopping district.  Being able to get around on my own was GREAT!!  But then I moved- and now I\'m massively scared again, on unfamiliar roads, in a big city.

 I really need a job and I finally got an interview this coming week.  But I\'m absolutely squirming with anxiety about driving there!!   Thinking about it gives me the same feeling that a cat would have when it realizes its going to get a bath.  My boyfriend is pretty understanding but he still doesn\'t really realize how bad the feelings are.

 I want to wish you good luck, I know you can do it! 


YUSB1L
3


loszuky
4

Hello guys, I passed my drivng test two years ago. But I still have major fear of driving especially long distance.  I tried to avoid driving anywhere especially with my brothers. When I\'am behind the wheel I feel nervous and freak out.  The fear of making any mistake especially in left turns. I need to get over my fear to be more independent from my brothers.


SLunt06
5

Hey.  I\'m 21 and I STILL don\'t have my license yet.  I have my learner\'s permit and I tried and failed the test twice.  When I get in the driver\'s seat, I\'d always have images in my head of getting into an accident or something.  Growing up, my mom would show me newspaper articles about people dying in gruesome accidents and I was always afraid it would happen to me.  My fear has lessened, so I\'m ok with driving.  HOWEVER, in MN, a person without a license can\'t drive by themselves.  If you do, the police could arrest you.  I\'m a college student and so are most of my friends.  It seems like no one has the time to spend the last 5-10 hours I need to pass my test.  They\'re are two driving schools in town but, I\'m afraid they\'d charge me and arm and a leg.  Plus I\'d have to drive to get there.  What can I do?
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