I'm not quite sure if this will work for me - what do you think?

[lucycat]

Hello all! I just happened upon this site today and am very seriously considering purchasing the program. However, I feel like my issues are slightly different than most I have been reading about on this board (I do realize that no two anxieties are the same, though!).

I am ashamed to admit that I am in my early 30's and have never had a license. I was very close to getting it right after high school, but some life events happened and I didn't. Back then I had no anxiety about driving. But as I've gotten older, I've gotten more and more (and more) anxious about it to the point where I want to cry at the thought of even getting behind the wheel. I made myself go through a driver's ed course last year, but still haven't gotten my license.

Now, my strange problem is that I work myself up so much over it before I get behind the wheel, but after I'm on the road, I'm fine. It's just making myself get into the car that's the problem. I feel my chest tightening up right now just thinking about it! Everyone who has driven with me tells me I'm a good driver and just can't understand why I get so upset. But I just worry that I am going to not notice someone or something going on and get into an accident.

I also want to add that this anxiety is hugely frustrating for me since otherwise I'm a totally rational and logical person and I KNOW that this fear is irrational. Millions of people drive all over the place every day without giving it a second thought. A car is just a more efficient way to get from point A to point B and all that.

So, I guess my question is, is this program right for me? Thanks!

[ALayne87]

I have no idea if the program will work for you, because I haven't tried it. But I can tell you I have the same problem you do! I have taken drivers ed back when I was in High School and I have taken defensive driving classes outside of school, and I did well. I'm a great driver. BUT. Life happens and I ended up without a car for awhile (bad transmission...) and when i finally got my car fixed I was like too scared to get back in it because I felt out of practice. Like maybe I had forgotten all I had learned. Things started going through my head like what if I try to turn and I don't actually have the right of way and wreck? And one time I was driving at night, and I'm not sure how much experience you have given the topic of this forum, but a car came up behind me and hit a pot hole, so their lights sort of bounced in then out then back in again my rear view mirror and I was like "did they just flash their lights at me? Did I do something wrong? do they know of a danger up ahead? I'm going the speed limit... I have my seat belt on..." just panic, for no reason. And I'm also like you in the sense that otherwise I am a very rational person. And I totally accept the fact that the fear is not rational at all. But I also can't deny that it is there. I think both of our fears come from insecurities (maybe yours comes from feeling you waited to long to get started and you are way behind other people your age who have been driving since they were 16-18)