HelenP
09-20-2009, 06:32 PM
I did it! Yes it meant getting my husband up at 6.30am (and he had been up and watching the boxing until 5.30am, at which point the Sky decided to die and he couldn't get signal, and he missed the end - Gah!) and no, the girls had no idea of the significance (I did ask Katie if she had noticed that I had never driven her on the motorway but she looked nonplussed) but boy I was excited/frightened to death.
Nicely it was a beautiful pink sunrise and glorious blue skies so thank s to God for that. I had done all my prep (including downloading the driving fear programme by Rich Presta ( http://www.drivingfear.com/index.php) and having some NLP/Hypnotherapy from Dan (details to follow) and had been anchoring the good feelings from when I jumped off a precipise into a whirlpool named the 'washing machine' following hours of ghyl scrambling (basically sliding down welsh waterfalls on your backside) and no, I didn't want to do it but yes, it was an amazing feeling when I did, into my right hand and various other techniques.
Non particularly helped as the tears welled in my eyes as I approached the roundabout and exited onto the M56 and so driving onto a motorway for the first time in over 8, count em, 8 years. It was awful, terrifying yet exhillerating all at the same time. I spent over 3 hours driving around, down, up, into and through every situation I have been so afraid off for the past decade. Motorways (including the infamous M6 Viaduct, a huge bridge over the ship canal), in all directions (to Wales, To Chester, To Mcr, To BHam) coming off at all different junctions, doing those scary dual carriageways with no middle barrier and no hard shoulder, the expressways, the strange roundabouts, the junctions and practicing motorway techniqes, even overtaking! Yes have been in the second lane!!!
I know I need to keep up momentum. I had more than a few wobbles. I had Adam, and I need to get confident without him, and I need to get organised on my directional skills (yet with the blonde hair I feel the odds are stacked against me) I need to practice, practice, practice.
But tonight I sense victory. And how GOOD does facing, and beating your greatest fear feel? Amazing.
Nicely it was a beautiful pink sunrise and glorious blue skies so thank s to God for that. I had done all my prep (including downloading the driving fear programme by Rich Presta ( http://www.drivingfear.com/index.php) and having some NLP/Hypnotherapy from Dan (details to follow) and had been anchoring the good feelings from when I jumped off a precipise into a whirlpool named the 'washing machine' following hours of ghyl scrambling (basically sliding down welsh waterfalls on your backside) and no, I didn't want to do it but yes, it was an amazing feeling when I did, into my right hand and various other techniques.
Non particularly helped as the tears welled in my eyes as I approached the roundabout and exited onto the M56 and so driving onto a motorway for the first time in over 8, count em, 8 years. It was awful, terrifying yet exhillerating all at the same time. I spent over 3 hours driving around, down, up, into and through every situation I have been so afraid off for the past decade. Motorways (including the infamous M6 Viaduct, a huge bridge over the ship canal), in all directions (to Wales, To Chester, To Mcr, To BHam) coming off at all different junctions, doing those scary dual carriageways with no middle barrier and no hard shoulder, the expressways, the strange roundabouts, the junctions and practicing motorway techniqes, even overtaking! Yes have been in the second lane!!!
I know I need to keep up momentum. I had more than a few wobbles. I had Adam, and I need to get confident without him, and I need to get organised on my directional skills (yet with the blonde hair I feel the odds are stacked against me) I need to practice, practice, practice.
But tonight I sense victory. And how GOOD does facing, and beating your greatest fear feel? Amazing.