One Big Step Closer !

I just wanted to tell you that I enjoyed reading about you over coming your fear. It took me 8 years to work up the courage to take my written test, and one day I too was fed up and decided I had enough. In the state of Colorado We get to hold a permit for 3 years, 2 month's nearing my expiration date, I decided that I refuse to renew a permit! so I called a driving school and followed through. After six 2 hour classes my instructor felt like I was ready to take my drive test. I passed:) I was so happy because it was liberating to even hold an actual drivers license in my name. Then finally my circumstances started to change, and public transportation became really aggravating. One day I walked to the dealership and the next thing I knew, I was a new car owner, now after driving for two days, I'm still a bit nervous and anxious. So to see someone who's older than myself, but still what I call a late bloomer like me do it, gives me hope. God bless you.

This was a fun story to read; I'm glad you were able to overcome your fear/s. Have you since gotten your license?

I have a few anecdotal comments - My cousin was told during driver's ed that "D" doesn't stand for "drive", it stands for "death", and that made her deathly afraid to drive! My sister got into a few minor car accidents, and then developed a fear of turning left, so she would instead make a large spiral of right turns down to her final destination. My mom came to America when she married my dad at the age of 25, and she learned to drive by taking the driving test multiple times. My mom now has her D/L; and both my cousin and sister can drive okay now - I guess driving itself is a form of exposure therapy!

Thanks for sharing. I too suffer from driving phobia. It makes me feel so alone because I am the only one that I know personally that has a fear of driving. I'm am 33 and have gotten my permitt 3 times and have driven with my husband and a friend but not for a couple of years. I hope one day I can overcome this

Thumbs up for you! I have passed the written test twice, but never went to take a driving class.

Are you going to take your driving classes in a driving school or just plan to ask family member or friends to teach you?

I can relate, it took me long to get my drivers license due to a number of reasons such as, fear/anxiety of driving, lacking the funds for the classes, myself, etc. I received my license for the first time 2 years ago when I was 31 & had my provisionals taken off this past February, now my next step is to finally own a car. I'm very happy for you, this is a big step that you took & this is an inspirational story for people of all ages who are going through the same thing, best wishes on getting the license.

Good for you...good luck! xD

That's great you did it. Fear fails again

Thats great. WAY TO GO....

Thank You, your a great inspiration hun :o) I am 32 yrs young! and I would love to drive also - looking forward to really trying and getting through this time, take care and drive safe xx

i am ashamed...i am 42 years old ..ive had my temperary permit 6 diffrent times in my life...taken the driven only once,and failed,ive aloud this anxioty to run my life..and...i want to drive,i want that freedom and indepence...ive always been ashamed to talk about why i dnt drive...im so happy to have found this sight...i need help..

Congratulations you have achieved a huge thing by being able to learn to drive your independence will sore. Enjoy!!!!

Wow, I am proud of you. I think your story can apply to anyone who has something in their life they are fearing to do, and thus delaying doing it, and I include myself. Your story is an inspiration to us all. What else in your life can you apply this new knowledge to?

that is an amazin story n 1 thing....EVERYONE want s FREEDOM girl especially the wives...haha:)

Since before I was able to get a permit I have had an extreme phobia of driving and being in control. I started seeing a therapist to treat the anxiety. He had me do a few different exercises to try to help me learn to manage/minimize anxiety. The deep-breathing helps a bit in certain occasions like social anxiety. But, as we were doing one exercise, I started going deep into my childhood, which my therapist didn't expect and he was like WHOA! He wasn't expecting me to start revealing "inner child" issues, nor was I. He was like "... we got a lot of work to do!" I have tried the DMV website's practice tests. I don't do too badly on them but I am not really certain that I will ever get over any of my traumas/issues.

bravo! great way to look at things!

I think the picture looks great. CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

It is a wonderful picture, if I ever feel sad I will come back to look at it. xxx

Happy for you!!!! Yes, we (i'm 40) need to break those ties that bound us to our ordinary days and just take a leap up, testing our own ability ..... it's great that you decided to take up the challenge by yourself (not involving your husband) so you can see the real value that you actually have inside....



Go on...don't stop there....go out and find out tons of opportunities waiting to be touched by you...

I am sooooooooooooo proud of you. It is fun to drive and you get a sense of independence. Good Luck to you.

Driving is a relaxation. Very soon you will realise that you have some control of atleast something.

wow. what a story! That is exactly why I feared driving. In fact, shortly after getting my first license at at 28 I too got into an accident. Never to drive again. You are a brave and inspirational person!

Good for you! I am in my 20's - and I have had a terrible fear of driving since I was 16 & saw a terrible accident. One man in it was virtually decapitated - his head was hanging by a thread of skin. My bf at the time and I were trapped right next to the collision for over 20min & had to give statements to the Police even though we only saw the actual "crunch" of the accident. 2 couples dead: probably just driving to work (& bickering) like us. I couldn't stand the burden of feeling responsible for the lives of others, so for years hid behind "environmental awareness", which I still try to live up to by the way... Anyway: now I feel free, just like you, and I too have a Licence photo in which I look like the 'cat who just got the cream'!