Terrified and I dont know why!

[Neverdriven37]

I'm new to this Forum and I so embarrassed to say I am 37 years old and have never driven a car. I am a Vice President of an Advertising Agency and a single mother to a five year old girl. A homeowner, taxpayer, a highly intelligent person...and I have never driven a car! When I was 16 it was just not at the top of my priority list, then University in another City away from home, moved downtown and took the subway for years...then got really busy being a workaholic and never took the time to deal with it. Now I just cant put it off anymore. It is so humiliating to have my mom drop me at Client meetings. She takes me and my daughter shopping on the weekends. When shes not around I take taxis everywhere, even 45 minutes away to meetings. All the taxi drivers in town know me...I spend about $350 a week (which the company pays for). People in my company think I am a prima donna but the reality is, I am just plain flat out terrified to drive. I picture myself putting on the brakes and cars smashing into me from behind and going flying out the window, dead. I picture myself getting into an accident EVERY time i am in a car. The sound of crunching metal. The smashing of glass. I can FEEL the pain. Almost like it happened in a past life. I just feel like I will be so out of control. I have run out of excuses with my family and they are now refusing to drive me so I have GOT to do something but I am just so afraid. Any advice?

[elderwanda]

If you haven't bought Rich's Driving Fear Program yet, I recommend it. I don't like to sound like a commercial, but there are a lot of techniques in it which would probably come in handy for you.

I've just been listening to the mp3 recordings again, since something happened which set me back, and I'm finally ready to work on this some more. I definitely think it's worth the money.

If you're imagining yourself flying out the window, just remember that if you're wearing a seat belt, that simply is not going to happen. And if someone is tailgating you at high speed, and choosing not to wear their own seat belt, then if they go flying through their window, that's not your fault. Anyway, once you get used to operating a vehicle, you'll see that you have control over your braking. It's not like you put your foot on the brakes, and BAM, you've stopped.

:)
Evelyn