[blogland forums] anxiety is loving ripping me apart

[hillkill]

(heads up, the way i word this isn't probably going to be too fluid)

i usually have been pretty good about anxiety these past few months, but lately it's been not good.

some of you may know that i've been looking for a job and putting out apps left and right. well i finally got a call from a restaurant. they need a busboy. i was thinking "hell yeah i can do that". however, during the interview i was asked if i had a license, and i said no. the interview ended, and the guy told me "i don't think you're right for this job if you don't always have 100% reliable transportation." i was pissed. apparently not having a license deems you unworthy for a job, even if your parents give you rides. it made no sense to me.

after a few days of being pissed, i thought about getting my permit again and trying to learn to drive. however, i delved deeper into this and it has been giving me panic attacks just thinking about getting behind a wheel. just today, my crush told me that after school she has drive time. i asked her if she was going on the main roads today and she said yeah. it sent me into a mild panic attack knowing she'll be on the main roads.

so yeah, i have to figure out how to overcome this. i can't let it keep holding me back in life.

[Ad Bot]

[Mega-Bear]

I was very afraid to learn how to drive myself. It's scary being in control of a hulking 2-ton bomb! But after having my license for four years or so I'm not scared at all anymore. You just have to normalize it through lots of exposure and practice. Spend a lot of time driving in empty lots, like find a huge abandoned lot and just go crazy. forget around a bit. Then practice in your neighborhood and work your way up to more busy roads. Practice will make you more comfortable. It's not super useful advice I know but there's not much more to driving other than getting experience behind the wheel. Good luck and sorry about the interview.

[Nonnel]

are you taking any medication? or just weed?

[The Resonte!]

is there any deeper reason to your fear of driving? is it fear of going out of control and dying

[Insert Name Here²]

I know one way is to simply face your fears when it comes to things like this. It what I do and it helps.

[hodot]

didn't you mention that something happened with a family member, op

[gr8dayseth]

driving really isn't that bad tbh
like it does seem scary at first but once ya get goin and practice on the roads a bit you'll be a-ok

It's not super useful advice I know but there's not much more to driving other than getting experience behind the wheel. Good luck and sorry about the interview.

[King of the Bill]

Best of luck, dude. Anxiety has been destroying me the past few days too over a different matter.

[IkeTheGeneric]

You just have to build up that confidence by driving a lot. There's really nothing else to it. If you keep telling yourself you can't do it, then you won't do it. If you don't do it, life moves on and you don't get your license, so you have to try.

[rambo1220]

I'll be driving soon and I feel the same man, driving on my towns main roads doesn't sound fun at all, but I know a ton of people who felt the same way but it's so normal to them now that it's second nature, once you start driving a lot you'll understand.

On the part about your job, that's just whack, I don't drive and have one and my parents give me rides every day, if the establishment itself feels weird about hiring people without a license then that place doesn't sound too great to begin with. I'm not sure what's around you but try applying for retail atm, I'm at a natural foods store and it's great here, working at a restaurant sounds like wayy too much for me, but trust me, retail is way more lax and forgiving.

hope things straighten out bucko.

[e-maxx]

watch this fullscreen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSMCfPASImQ

[hillkill]

is there any deeper reason to your fear of driving? is it fear of going out of control and dying

i have a hunch it has something to do with my dad being killed by a car, but it doesn't feel like that's the reason.

i just overthink things. i imagine in my hands i control a 2 ton mass of metal hurling down the road. i'm afraid i might kill myself or someone else.

are you taking any medication? or just weed?

i don't smoke weed anymore or take meds

[hillkill]

watch this fullscreen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSMCfPASImQ

see this only makes me slightly nervous because i know it's a video. if you guys are wondering, i don't feel any anxiety when i'm a passenger in a car.

[ßlöükfáce]

what is it that makes you feel anxious? is it that you feel liable for passengers' safety when you drive? or is it the same thing about cars being able to kill people? or is it crashing in general?
just make all your passengers wear seatbelts, don't think about that car weapon stuff, and practice on the small roads until you get a good feel of the car

i dont know much about anxiety but try not to think too much of the stuff that causes it if you can

[Nonnel]

i don't smoke weed anymore or take meds

see if you can get anxiety medication. it's worlds better.
also practice driving in parking lots and stuff so you can get used to it. if you can get rid of your association between cars and death/pain/etc., you'll be cured.