Driving and shutting down

[tryinmybest4]

Hi all,

I got my license in March of 2020. Since then, I'd been driving my friend's car semi-regularly because I don't have a car. I got very confident driving on smaller roads, not really the highway. The fast speeds always makes me really scared.

In July, my friend was driving the car and I was in the back seat and we got into a small accident where thankfully, we were all fine. I still felt confident driving after that.

In September, another friend was driving the car and coming to pick me up. I was on the other side of the intersection. He rolled through the red light because there was a bus in front of him and a car slammed into the car. I watched it unfold and I didn't see him for a second and I was terrified. Thankfully, no one was hurt but the car was pretty beat up.

My issue is now, any time I'm in a car, my body is just in panic mode. My friend who was driving the car is ok and can drive again. I can't even sit in the passenger seat without getting so nervous. I haven't driven since September. I'm in a pretty transitionary period of my life and I'll have to move around a lot. I was wondering if anyone had any advice on how to go about starting to drive again.

Thank you.

[AnxM]

Witnessing something like that is very traumatic. It is understandable that you're anxious driving after that.

Do you re-play the accident in your mind? Do you get nightmares from it? If so, it sounds like PTSD and I would suggest seeing a therapist.

If you don't have the above symptoms, I would suggest getting in a car with someone you trust. You can be a passenger first, and later, with more confidence, you can drive, with someone next to you guiding you, offering reassurance.

If you are afraid of something, and you avoid it, the anxiety of doing it will keep increasing. But taking small steps will build up courage.