Driving anxiety support: Tomorrow I... - Anxiety and Depre...

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Driving anxiety support

MindfullyPanicking profile image

Tomorrow I need to run into the office and to a medical appointment, the latter of which I will need to drive a new route to accomplish. These are both fairly menial tasks, but the idea of driving around to complete them has me frozen in panic. I am trying very hard not to chicken out and order a Lyft, because I know avoiding driving just makes the fear worse, but it's very hard. I have always been anxious about driving and I learned to drive very late compared with others, but the lockdown and not driving anywhere for a long period of time has made it much, much worse. Tomorrow is my first longer trip in about a year and I'm really struggling to cope.

I would really love words of support or wisdom, especially if you struggle with this too and have found techniques that help.

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MindfullyPanicking
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15 Replies
TangledUpIn profile image
TangledUpIn

I can relate. I used to not mind driving but ever since the beginning of Covid, my anxiety around driving intensified. Now I'm working on dialing my anxiety back. I give myself a lot of pep talks in the car and little treats when I sail (s l o w l y)past anxiety triggers while I keep my wits about me😐

i drove heavy 6 horse trucks up mountain passes since 15....here are my tip;s

leave early----way

know ur route......map in car phone in car

drive slow.....people can go around

don't try to please...just drive slow and at your pace

look ahead and keep distance from the iditos zooming around

drive uur drive ignore everyone else

turn signals early

look for your lanes early

turn slow don't worry if u annoy anyone.....juice get there

ahlllll

don't worry about them......u just drive slow and steady and smooth in your comfort zone.......like a Bently not a hot rod

u

b

fine

MindfullyPanicking profile image
MindfullyPanicking in reply to

Thank you! This was very comforting and helpful :)

TangledUpIn profile image
TangledUpIn in reply to MindfullyPanicking

I agree with leaving way early. What has you the most panicked MindfullyPanicking?

MindfullyPanicking profile image
MindfullyPanicking in reply to TangledUpIn

I'm always afraid that I will make a mistake, and I tend to fixate on any areas of the drive that will be more difficult/anxiety producing. Taking a short drive today has actually helped alleviate a bit of it.

I'll definitely be leaving early tomorrow and I always over scrutinize maps before going anywhere 😂. I like Brig57's advice to just focus on driving, I definitely tend to focus on what other people must be thinking while driving more than I should.

Like t'others have said. Also just remember you can choose to be chilled - coz you've got this!

I'm still amazed how idiot drivers are soooo eager to over-take me (fgs I'm only driving within the speed limit), and they end up having to stop at a red light😂

TangledUpIn profile image
TangledUpIn in reply to

That is soooo hilarious when you end up at the same red light with someone who thought you were driving too slow😆

Serinus profile image
Serinus

I am currently working hard to overcome some driving phobia, but it is taking time. Since you have time constraints, can you, for now, take a look at online maps to find the least stressful route to your destinations? Even if it's an extra half hour. That gets you through tomorrow.

After tomorrow, you can start addressing the issue longer term by slowly trying more challenging drives.

And if it's too much, go ahead, take a Lyft tomorrow AS LONG AS you make a solid commitment to yourself to start driving the next day, so you don't have to order a Lyft the next time. But don't let tomorrow - a hard deadline - be your starting point for hard challenges. Get yourself to your destinations, then take things forward at a slower pace. (All this is from my perspective, I know yours may differ).

b1b1b1 profile image
b1b1b1

I agree with Serious. Going to the doctor is also somewhat stressful, so take a Lyft to relieve your anxiety. After that start working of the problem.

TangledUpIn profile image
TangledUpIn

Recently, I too called Lyft bc of panic-related driving thoughts. I wonder how many people take Lyft bc of panic🤔

MindfullyPanicking profile image
MindfullyPanicking in reply to TangledUpIn

I've definitely done it before! Determined to drive tomorrow though, because I need to get back in the swing of things before I return to driving to work every day. It's nice to know it's always an option if necessary, though :)

CL3V3R-G1RL profile image
CL3V3R-G1RL

I didn’t get my driving license until I was 24. I was scared of driving for fear I would make a mistake and wreck my mom’s car. That kept me from driving for a time. Then I started to learn with my mom. We would go out late at night on the weekends. I live in a lil big city so at like 3 or 4am it’s deserted. I would drive to downtown and come back home. Did that for a couple of months. Then I signed up for a 24hr gym, I would take the car and go by myself. Until my confidence built up. Then I met a guy I liked. This would be my first boyfriend. So I really wanted to get my driver’s license. So I went a week after my birthday and got my driver’s license!

Then I was driving us around. Still was afraid during the day driving and being by myself. What I would do is research the route before hand. Drive it at night before I needed to head out there for some reason. As I grew more confident. The more things open up to me. My friend was getting married and had a bridal shower, bachelorette party etc. I had to go to these places without my boyfriend. I was nervous but he reminded me and I reminded myself. It’s ok...you have gps. You won’t get lost. If you miss a turn, it’s ok. There’s a way to get back. Drive the speed limit and if people think you’re driving to slow they can change lanes and go around you. That helped me. That people had my back.

God, feels like that was ages ago. I still drive but I’m worried about medical issues. That’s what keeps me from driving, maybe I should say screw it and just go back to it.

Just wanted to post an update- I drove everywhere I needed yesterday without issue! I was definitely anxious throughout, but listening to the radio and focusing on each part of the trip as it happened really helped. I'm going to try really hard to drive somewhere every day from now on to make sure that the anxiety never gets that bad again. Thank you all for your encouragement!

Agora1 profile image
Agora1 in reply to MindfullyPanicking

I'm proud of you. You're back on the road :)

One mile at a time. :) xx

Maggie1204 profile image
Maggie1204

🙂

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