Hello!

[psychgirl]

Hello! I am new to this group and joined to find help with my anxiety with driving a vehicle. I am a college student and I'm majoring in psychology.
I recently moved to a new city (the one my college is in) and found a job working with people with mental disabilities for the summer although this involves driving them to their appointments, and getting them involved in the community.
Recently whenever I think about driving or get behind the wheel I become terrified that I will get into an accident and my heart starts racing. I have had several bad experiences with driving and have always tried to be a cautious driver. I recently had a small fender bender which was uneventful but this most recent incident terrifies me. I have thought about quitting my job even though this is a great opportunity for me because of the driving involved.

[NixonRulz]

Hello! I am new to this group and joined to find help with my anxiety with driving a vehicle. I am a college student and I'm majoring in psychology.
I recently moved to a new city (the one my college is in) and found a job working with people with mental disabilities for the summer although this involves driving them to their appointments, and getting them involved in the community.
Recently whenever I think about driving or get behind the wheel I become terrified that I will get into an accident and my heart starts racing. I have had several bad experiences with driving and have always tried to be a cautious driver. I recently had a small fender bender which was uneventful but this most recent incident terrifies me. I have thought about quitting my job even though this is a great opportunity for me because of the driving involved.

No. No. No. Do you really think that quitting your job is the answer? C'mon, college girl, you're smarter than that

You have and a few bad driving experiences and now you have become anxious about it

You shouldn't be concerned, all women are bad drivers (kidding!)

My niece does exactly what you do with the people with disablilities. They need you!

If you start NOT doing things because of your anxiety, you will begin to do even less things than that because anxiety will keep playing you. Kinda like a playa

Understand that it is anxiety, NOT DRIVING! That causes you to feel as you do

You just have associated the two. Dont let the anxiety win.

Keep on getting in that car of yours and keep ramming into other vehicles like you are supposed to do being young

[Mr Jingles]

I second NixonRulz suggested attitude and approach.

Have you heard of gradual exposure therapy? This therapy could be helpful for you in order to face this driving fear but in a way that won't make it traumatic.

[psychgirl]

QUOTE=Mr Jingles;209387]I second NixonRulz suggested attitude and approach.
Have you heard of gradual exposure therapy? This therapy could be helpful for you in order to face this driving fear but in a way that won't make it traumatic.[/QUOTE]

I have and have been trying to an extent on my own. I still have my job and drive to training everyday its about a ten minute drive. But every morning im afraid to leave and dread going because of the drive. I review which is the brake and which is the gas every time before i drive and drive at a solid 20mph for fear of an accident. Its exhausting and I am refusing to drive the two hours back to my hometown for my bfs moms birthday because i dont want to be on the road.

[Mr Jingles]

Good, I'm glad you've heard of exposure therapy. Fear locks us into patterns of behavior. Gradual stretching can really help. The key is gradual; anxiety causes us to judge ourselves as lazy, etc and then it becomes easy to over do it. Please be kind and patient with yourself.