I got my license at 17, and I was fine with driving then, and then I totalled a car because I fell asleep at the wheel. The weird thing is, the fear didn’t kick in until years later… Right after the accident, I was fine for a few years, I even drove in the city and the highway all the time. Then, about three years ago, I think due to some traumatic, unrelated experiences I faced at that time, I suddenly could not bear to drive anymore. It was like all of my pain was focused on this one thing, driving. Whenever I tried to drive, I would shake so bad that I had to pull over. I had to rely on friends to drive me everywhere.
Eventually I just started taking baby steps. I’m 24 now, and I finally can drive around the rural areas and small towns near where I live. Right now I can only manage to drive on the highway when someone is in the car with me. I find that some days I get scared again even on the quiet roads, for no apparent reason. I just want to be one of those people who can just hop in the car and go where they need to go, without having all of this fear.
