I HATED driving & was a nervous wreck for my first ten lessons. Started doing them one a week Then 2 a week & started to gain confidence. Was in a bad crash years ago so was always nervous passenger. Stick with it. It's worth every min xxx
(passed first time after 20 lessons)
Hi Lil Cherry, first of all 'Well Done' on continuing with the lessons even tho it is so hard for you. I started my driving lessons when I was 40. I kept dropping hints to DH about learning to drive. Also as his parents were generous about presents I even hinted that he suggest a gift of lessons from them! As you may gather DH doesn't pick up hints, even
obvious ones
I eventually asked myself why I was doing this and discovered that I
did want to drive but was just too nervous and anxious but at the same time realised that only I could make this happen. I arranged for 10 lessons immediately. I was petrified (of course) but I kept at it even tho' my friends didn't encourage me :sigh:
I decided to use a logical approach which works for me and took a good hard look at other drivers and realised that driving was just a skill they had learned and not a talent special to them and therefore anybody could learn to drive. When other drivers beeped at me or when I made a mistake, I forced myself to see that I was learning this new skill and therefore would make lots of mistakes because I was a learner and not yet proficient.
After the 10 lessons, the instructor insisted that I try driving alone, explaining that it is better to do this asap so that no passenger can see my mistakes! I didn't take my test immediately, I even cancelled the first one
. After about 18 months, I took several pre-test lessons and drove around the testing area several times a week. I think that this was the *key* for me as I was so familiar with the area, that on the day of the test I was able to just concentrate of driving. Incidentally I live in Wicklow and it has the 2nd highest failure rate in all of Ireland and I passed 1st time!!!
So remember you can do anything you set your mind to. Accept that you are anxious, but your desire to drive is stronger. I really wish you the best of luck. Remember it is just a skill that you are learing and "practice makes perfect"
Marian xx