How do i stop being afraid of driving?!

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Think of all the people who couldn't care less about how they drive- underage kids who steal cars, Thelma and Louise, etc. They didn't give a damn and just drove.

I'm not saying be reckless but it's not as bad as you think.

Find a wide empty lot, some very underused roads and go out and play around with the minivan a bit. Hit the brakes hard. Make sharp turns. Accelerate. Just spend time behind the wheel until it feels comfortable.

Changing vehicles feels very strange. I found larger cars and trucks to be HUGE when first driving.

It is not going to be comfortable driving the minivan for awhile. How long? Days maybe. Maybe a month. Take someone with you- a parent- and practice. If you feel really anxious, the other person can take over.

Small steps. Sit in the van a lot. Get used to the mirrors and the way the wheel feels. Read the manual. Take the van around the block. Go practice in a lot- the reason I'm saying an empty lot is that a bit of "wildness" (turns, hard braking) in a safe location will give you a bit more confidence in the van's handling.

Don't try and do city traffic and highways right away. Make yourself do small drives. Even if it just around the neighborhood for five minutes. If you have a day where you are scared, go back to an easier trip you feel comfortable with.

The key is to acknowledge you are afraid and drive anyway. Confidence comes from doing.

The best way to get over driving anxiety is to drive. Sorry, because I know that's not the answer that you want to hear. However, the fastest treatment for this type of anxiety is to do the very thing that is causing you the fear. Drive the mini van every day and when you feel panic, pull over somewhere safe and take several deep breaths and relax. Then drive a bit more. I have been there, and I know this is the truth. Good luck. I know how hard it is and how terrible it feels, but when you win over the fear, it's fantastic!!!!

You are nervous not depressed. You need more confidence. A tip to help you. Before you start it, look at yourself in the retro-visor for 2 or 3 minutes saying to yourself " I CAN, and I WILL " Believe! everything will be ok. I read an article about the same story on that site, I suggest you make a look on it

http://bit.ly/h7HMxN

You'll be fine. Only one way to conquer your fears is to face them.

just practice a lot. You'll get it, it isnt a big deal

Practice, practice, practice.

And make sure your meds (if you are taking any for your GAD) are working OK.

Can you explain, calmly, to one of your parents that you know your worry about the test seems excessive, but that you would feel more comfortable if you were more prepared? Then have one of them take you out to a parking lot, and onto a street, an drive. Drive that minivan somewhere safe until you know how it feels, how it handles, etc. And then drive it some more.

For most fears, including pathological phobias, the treatment is to expose yourself to the feared situation in increasingly larger/scarier doses as you learn to tolerate it. That's what practicing driving the minivan will help you do. You'll be in a relatively low-pressure environment if you practice in an empty parking lot with a parent. You can then expose yourself to a not-very-busy residential street, and then a busier street, and then a highway if you're feeling brave.

It may be possible (if you think it would help; depends on your relationship with your parents -- could make things worse!) to request that one of your parents (or a close friend?) sit in the back seat of the van while you're taking your driving test with the evaluator. I'm not sure if you could arrange this informally, or if it would need to be requested formally as a disability accommodation for your GAD. (DMVs are not known for their flexibility and friendliness, so a formal request might be required.

Assuming you do have the driving skills you're supposed to, don't push back the driving test. It will just prolong your agony, and keep you worried about it longer. You can do it.

Good luck, and let us know how it goes!