I said my driving instructor had said I was a safe driver but my anxiety was getting the better of me. She spoke to me about nerves in other aspect of my life and about my current anxiety medication and then agreed to give me three tablets. One to make sure there was no adverse effects, one to take before a lesson to make sure it did not effect my driving and one for the test.
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So pleased to have stumbled on this group. I failed my practical test twice and then lost all confidence (although I told everyone I had just lost interest as I felt embarrassed!). My theory test has expired now so it feels like I'm going to have to start from scratch all over again. The panic and anxiety that a lot of you have mentioned resonates with me so much. I feel like I've a pit of dread in my stomach whenever I'm behind the wheel of a car and seem to lose all ability for rational thought.
Sounds like you did really well overall @judsmum - two minors is nothing to sneeze at. Fingers crossed for November.
Sounds like you did really well overall @judsmum - two minors is nothing to sneeze at. Fingers crossed for November.
That's bull! But great u only had 2 minors. Bloody lorry!
I had a mock today which I failed. As soon as my instructor said the words “mock” the nerves descended and I went to pot.
I have my theory test tomorrow and even though I pass them when studying I’m super nervous and feel like I’m not prepared! Driving is not a problem surprisingly. I had leased 4 years ago but the instructor made me nervous and was money grabbing so I stopped. Started learning again in august and my instructor wants me to put in for my test ASAP. It’s just this theory that’s throwing me off
Well done on passing your theory! I have mine booked for the end of October. It’s worrying about the lack of tests as I was hoping to take mine before the end of the year
Me too! I’m keeping an eye for cancellationsWell done on passing your theory! I have mine booked for the end of October. It’s worrying about the lack of tests as I was hoping to take mine before the end of the year
You will get there, don’t be disheartened. Just think of it as more practice. I know how you mush feel, but keep goingI failednerves got the better of me, I hope next time I feel more prepared
xxAwww, 15 lessons is nothing! To be honest I probably had over a hundred. And that’s no exaggeration! Not that you will need that many! But I kept stop/ starting the lessons because I got disheartened. So just keep pushing through and you will get there xx
You will get there, maybe use some cbt for when you hear that word. If you ever see the speakmans on tv, they have this trick of pressing this part of your hand that can calm you down when you feel anxious. Maybe try that when you another mock. Just keep going, don’t be disheartened. X
You did bloody amazing!!!!
Well done! City centres are horrific when you have passed let alone doing a test!! You should be very proud of yourself with 2 minors! It won’t be long until you pass at this rate! Well done xxx
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Oh man I lost track of this thread. Thanks for the encouragement everyone. Love to those who have had their tests, it is so rit failing, I won’t go into detail because I’m trying to focus on the positive atm but my first test was baaaaaaaaad.
Really feel the mum problems not driving. I don’t think I could put myself through this if it wasn’t for my kids, I feel so crappy not being able to drive my eldest to school. It wasn’t so bad when she was little and we could have lots of public transport adventures with the buggy but now I have two and Covid is in the world it is just not fun.
I have my test in a few weeks and am trying so hard to prepare. Finding it really difficult to get practice in between lessons as although I’m lucky to have a car available my partner hates doing it and we have to take the kids so it can be hectic. But powering through. I am trying hypnotherapy next week so will report back. The person I am seeing reassured me that they see a lot of clients with driving anxiety.
I have never taken beta blockers but have heard others have had good results. Since beginning to learn to drive I have started taking fluoxetine (Prozac) for general mental health issues and they have helped in that I no longer have actual panic attacks in the car. So def worth considering a chat to the dr for anyone feeling debilitating anxiety.
I hope this is readable and I’m not repeating my previous post loads I’m being a bit stream of consciousness as have lots to say and not much time. There is a book by Joanne Mallon available called ‘How to Overcome Fear of Driving’ that I have found really helpful. It seems to be written with people in mind who have their license and have stopped driving due to anxiety but is very useful for nervous learners too.
Really feel the mum problems not driving. I don’t think I could put myself through this if it wasn’t for my kids, I feel so crappy not being able to drive my eldest to school. It wasn’t so bad when she was little and we could have lots of public transport adventures with the buggy but now I have two and Covid is in the world it is just not fun.
I have my test in a few weeks and am trying so hard to prepare. Finding it really difficult to get practice in between lessons as although I’m lucky to have a car available my partner hates doing it and we have to take the kids so it can be hectic. But powering through. I am trying hypnotherapy next week so will report back. The person I am seeing reassured me that they see a lot of clients with driving anxiety.
I have never taken beta blockers but have heard others have had good results. Since beginning to learn to drive I have started taking fluoxetine (Prozac) for general mental health issues and they have helped in that I no longer have actual panic attacks in the car. So def worth considering a chat to the dr for anyone feeling debilitating anxiety.
I hope this is readable and I’m not repeating my previous post loads I’m being a bit stream of consciousness as have lots to say and not much time. There is a book by Joanne Mallon available called ‘How to Overcome Fear of Driving’ that I have found really helpful. It seems to be written with people in mind who have their license and have stopped driving due to anxiety but is very useful for nervous learners too.
Iv not heard of that book, but it may help me. Thanks! IV passed my test but I’m still so very nervous at times. The other night I drove home as it was going dark and it was extremely busy! And when I got through the door I burst into tears because it made me so panicky! It’s a route I do all the time but this time I wasn’t enjoying it at all. I really have a love/ hate relationship with driving. I love having the freedom and hate how scared it makes me. I shy away from routes that fill me with fear and even then I can have off days. I’m so glad this thread was made because I think it’s good to know that not everyone enjoys driving and the anxiety it can cause. I used to be sick of people making fun of me because it took me ages to pass- but it was real battle. It’s not as easy as saying ‘relax’ you will pass!
I think if any of you can take some sort of remedy to calm you then do it, as I mentioned on one of my posts, my mum gave me a diazepam before mine! I don’t advise that, you don’t want to be unfit to drive! But if you find something that calms you then I think it’s half the battle. I keep watching this thread and keeping my fingers crossed for you all. Xx
Iv not heard of that book, but it may help me. Thanks! IV passed my test but I’m still so very nervous at times. The other night I drove home as it was going dark and it was extremely busy! And when I got through the door I burst into tears because it made me so panicky! It’s a route I do all the time but this time I wasn’t enjoying it at all. I really have a love/ hate relationship with driving. I love having the freedom and hate how scared it makes me. I shy away from routes that fill me with fear and even then I can have off days. I’m so glad this thread was made because I think it’s good to know that not everyone enjoys driving and the anxiety it can cause. I used to be sick of people making fun of me because it took me ages to pass- but it was real battle. It’s not as easy as saying ‘relax’ you will pass!
I think if any of you can take some sort of remedy to calm you then do it, as I mentioned on one of my posts, my mum gave me a diazepam before mine! I don’t advise that, you don’t want to be unfit to drive! But if you find something that calms you then I think it’s half the battle. I keep watching this thread and keeping my fingers crossed for you all. Xx
I've got a lesson coming up for Saturday (first one in a week since having an anxiety attack after being called a 'learner w*nker' by another car driver). I just hope I can get over it because now I'm thinking it's going to happen every time I have a lesson 
That’s a horrible experience, some drivers are impatient and I suppose just get in the car remembering that- but also remember there are so many drivers out there that understand, they are patient and respect you are learning. These vile people who feel the need to shout those things aren’t worth bothering about. They themselves aren’t good drivers if they are shouting that. I mean we all had to learn and start somewhere, even the one shouting that!I've got a lesson coming up for Saturday (first one in a week since having an anxiety attack after being called a 'learner w*nker' by another car driver). I just hope I can get over it because now I'm thinking it's going to happen every time I have a lesson
Please, please don’t let it put you off, I know it’s hard. You deserve to be on the road just as much as that driver does. You will always get people like that, even when you pass. I have so many idiots tail gating me because I’m not going fast enough! I mean I think I drive at normal speeds!
And I had some lorry driver beep me on a dual carriageway the other week which upset me, because I genuinely don’t know what I did! Some people are knobs and they have no patience. So please just try and ignore them. Idiots they are! Xx
I am so happy I found this thread!
I am 31 and don't drive, I never bothered to learn at college as I didn't feel the need and then went to uni and travelled and never saved the money up. I had some lessons with a couple of instructors when I was in my early 20s (manual and automatic) and the dread I used to get before lessons was so horrible, I was pray that they would cancel last minute as the pressure of driving an actual car on the roads where there are other people gave me such bad anxiety. I never did my theory as I buried my head in the sand about my actual test as I felt so nervous to actually do it (I never did) I feel like it was a huge waste of money and my parents are disappointed that I quit but I honestly couldn't handle the nerves, I used to cry and everything (such a wuss).
I make the best of it and I don't need to drive but the older I get the more I get ashamed of my lack of driving especially when trying to arrange dates. But reading everyone else's experience make me feel not so alone! My friends have all been driving for years and I don't think they get my anxiety about it. Covid hasn't helped but I think my 2021 resolution will be to bite the bullet, find a good instructor and start again with the automatic lessons and get it done!!
I am 31 and don't drive, I never bothered to learn at college as I didn't feel the need and then went to uni and travelled and never saved the money up. I had some lessons with a couple of instructors when I was in my early 20s (manual and automatic) and the dread I used to get before lessons was so horrible, I was pray that they would cancel last minute as the pressure of driving an actual car on the roads where there are other people gave me such bad anxiety. I never did my theory as I buried my head in the sand about my actual test as I felt so nervous to actually do it (I never did) I feel like it was a huge waste of money and my parents are disappointed that I quit but I honestly couldn't handle the nerves, I used to cry and everything (such a wuss).
I make the best of it and I don't need to drive but the older I get the more I get ashamed of my lack of driving especially when trying to arrange dates. But reading everyone else's experience make me feel not so alone! My friends have all been driving for years and I don't think they get my anxiety about it. Covid hasn't helped but I think my 2021 resolution will be to bite the bullet, find a good instructor and start again with the automatic lessons and get it done!!
I'm 27 and I'm only just learning - I live in a big Northern city so always relied on buses/trains, was never brought up with a car and never had the money when I was a teenager! People are always shocked when I say I don't drive - but I've never understood why! I'm learning now because I've saved money during lockdown and it's just going to fit in with my life more now. Good luck for when your start lessons!
Thank you! Everyone on here is so nice and supportive and it is such a comfort to read other people going through the same experience as I felt like it was just me being a drama queen! Hope the rest of your lessons go ok and you sail through your test when you come to it!
Thank youYou will get there, don’t be disheartened. Just think of it as more practice. I know how you mush feel, but keep going
Awww, 15 lessons is nothing! To be honest I probably had over a hundred. And that’s no exaggeration! Not that you will need that many! But I kept stop/ starting the lessons because I got disheartened. So just keep pushing through and you will get there xx
You will get there, maybe use some cbt for when you hear that word. If you ever see the speakmans on tv, they have this trick of pressing this part of your hand that can calm you down when you feel anxious. Maybe try that when you another mock. Just keep going, don’t be disheartened. X
You did bloody amazing!!!!
What I have found really helpful and quite calming was watching people taking mock tests on YouTube. There are some really good instructors on there and they go through when people made errors and when they are picking up points.
If anyone is struggling with the theory there is an app that cost 4.99 Driving test success. It is brilliant you can practice hazard perception and pretty much any theory question that will come up. That’s all I used and have passed the theory test a few times now.. have had to resit as I run out of the 2 years you get to take your practical
Edit to add: I’m assuming the app still costs the same as when I purchased last year.
If anyone is struggling with the theory there is an app that cost 4.99 Driving test success. It is brilliant you can practice hazard perception and pretty much any theory question that will come up. That’s all I used and have passed the theory test a few times now.. have had to resit as I run out of the 2 years you get to take your practical
Edit to add: I’m assuming the app still costs the same as when I purchased last year.
You’re so right, the aggressive drivers that try to bully learners are NOT the good drivers. The fear when someone beeps!! I panic and think I’ve done something dreadful and it turns out it’s just someone pissed off they can’t go at a roundabout or are saying hiya to their mate. Could easily cause an accident by panicking people. Also people who sit up your a or overtake at impractical times JUST because you are a learner is so stupid. They are only putting themselves at risk and causing confusion. Easy to get angry about it but it is their problem not ours.That’s a horrible experience, some drivers are impatient and I suppose just get in the car remembering that- but also remember there are so many drivers out there that understand, they are patient and respect you are learning. These vile people who feel the need to shout those things aren’t worth bothering about. They themselves aren’t good drivers if they are shouting that. I mean we all had to learn and start somewhere, even the one shouting that!
Please, please don’t let it put you off, I know it’s hard. You deserve to be on the road just as much as that driver does. You will always get people like that, even when you pass. I have so many idiots tail gating me because I’m not going fast enough! I mean I think I drive at normal speeds!
Not sure if anyone has mentioned it but World Driving UK on youtube is really good too, especially for manoeuvres and test tips, the guy explains everything so clearly.
Im so glad this thread is there (thank you!!!)
I have my theory on Sunday. I'm crapping it. Im practising on my app continually but I seem to have triggered my anxiety badly with not knowing what will happen on the day. Can someone help explain it? Like from when you enter the building etc? Do you pick hazard first? What if you want to finish before the time is up? If you fail do you get a bit of paper? Does everyone there know you've failed?
Jesus my anxiety about going in a room and not knowing what to expect is worse than doing the test I think.
Sorry if this is pathetic - I usually can't go anywhere new without a friend or my partner, so I'm expecting my nerves to get the better of me. (Tempted to pop a diazepam
these are prescribed to me btw)
I have my theory on Sunday. I'm crapping it. Im practising on my app continually but I seem to have triggered my anxiety badly with not knowing what will happen on the day. Can someone help explain it? Like from when you enter the building etc? Do you pick hazard first? What if you want to finish before the time is up? If you fail do you get a bit of paper? Does everyone there know you've failed?
Jesus my anxiety about going in a room and not knowing what to expect is worse than doing the test I think.
Sorry if this is pathetic - I usually can't go anywhere new without a friend or my partner, so I'm expecting my nerves to get the better of me. (Tempted to pop a diazepam
these are prescribed to me btw)- Status