get over my fear of driving

So, this morning i went for my first lesson with an instructor. Man i was scared! i felt like crying…
It ended up being ok but i think i have a long way to esp in the confidence department. I couldn’t get a lesson for a few weeks but it goin to be a double lesson,which im already freaking out about.

Hopefully i’ll be able to practice my driving between now and my next lesson. we only stayed in side streets and it was early in the morning so not much trafffic but he said next time we are goin into traffic,eeeek.

I am finally taking the plunge and going for my first ever driving lesson,at 24 i have realised i need to get over my fear and start driving. I am excited but so so nervous at the same time. i have put it off for so long, it’s time to move slowly towards the next step.
Wish me luck :)

I have driven two more times since I last made an entry about this, both alone! Yesterday I didn’t even have the huge building-up fear of it that I have had in the past. Maybe it’s getting easier?!

Stuff to start branching into:
- driving on bigger roads
- learn how to pump gas (yes, I still don’t know how!)

And again today. I was going to go alone, but it was raining, and the last time I drove while it was raining I failed my driving test. :| So I got a buddy to come with me this time.

So it would be a useful errand, I went to take my boots to get repaired. It was good to have a buddy with me as on the way back, there was a no left-turn and I had to navigate a different route to get back. Fortunately my co-pilot knew where we were going, I think it would have been pretty nerve-wracking to be alone, in the rain, on an unfamiliar route.

On the bright side, I do notice my comfort level at driving with someone has risen substantially. I do need to work on driving alone, but that’s a step in the right direction.

Okay, I took out the car again today, and trying not to make excuses, I booked it for tomorrow and the day after as well. I’m trying to do it like that so that it stops being scary, because it’s more frequent…

It’s worth noting that I drove on the parkway today, which I don’t think I have ever done. I drove with a buddy, but tomorrow I am going to try alone. I don’t plan on going as far as I did today, but that’s fine because driving alone is much harder for me.

Since I got a car, I have been driving everywhere! I have to drive to work, (using highways) so that practice is made it less fearful to drive. I’m still not totally and completely comfortable, but I really cannot believe the progress I have made. A few months ago, I was terrified to drive on the highway. Now I do it everyday twice a day. I want to be a good driver, and being less nervous has helped me with that.

I took a long, 2-hour, drive trip on the highway. Plus I had to drive at night on the way back. I still had a co-pilot, though. I am very comfortable now driving with someone, but I fear driving alone…I will have to do this soon, though. As long as I relax, (and have a GPS) I will do just fine!

I drove all the way to downtown on the highway (about an hour way), around downtown (when I didn’t know exactly where I was going) and all the way back home. It was a huge accomplishment for me. Granted, I had a very good co-pilot directing me but it was definitely a big step for me.

Okay, I am going to journal my driving here so that I hold myself a bit more accountable for it. I have a terrible fear of driving, failed my license exam several times, finally got my license in January but haven’t driven much, which is an embarassment.

Last Saturday (8 days ago) I drove by myself alone for the first time – I just drove to the grocery store – but I did it! I really need to force myself to take the car out again. I hate how afraid I am of it.

I haven’t really driven in years. It’s a scary thing, if you think about it. But i have been getting more practice, and I have been doing better. I have even done a little bit of highway driving. I’m starting to realize it is vital for my independence and becoming a real adult that I must get over my fear of driving. I want to feel comfortable driving anywhere.