how do i get over a fear of driving?

[Kumquat]

Seriously though, whats scary about it?

[Ad Bot]

[IkeTheGeneric]

but when i'm anxious i can't think and my head starts to spin.

Which is why you need to get comfortable with driving. Avoiding driving is just going to feed that fear.

[hillkill]

Seriously though, whats scary about it?

realization of how in my hands i'm holding a deadly weapon and the fate of mine and other people's lives could be at stake, and i don't think i could live with myself if that ever happened.

[Donnies Catch]

dude jeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeez
its driving a car man its not that bad youre really just over exaggerating

[Clownfish]

dude jeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeez
its driving a car man its not that bad youre really just over exaggerating

yea this
you're driving a vehicle not the 9/11 flight
besides it's pretty hard to actually kill people accidentally with your vehicle
the real concern is insurance costs

[ßlöükfáce]

start in parking lots so you can figure out the basics first. you can even practice parking too, but make sure the lot has no cars
bonus if you can find a lot with parallel parking

[hillkill]

ik it shouldn't be so substantial, but i can't shake that no matter what.

[e-maxx]

Look at it this way OP i daily drive a 30 year old car with 250K miles on it. Never once has the car endangered the life of me or the people around it, the chance of that happening on a more modern car is substantially lower

[Teneksi]

I know it sounds blunt and unhelpful, but driving is really the only way to feel better about driving. The more you practice it, the more automatic it becomes, and the better you can focus on anything out of the ordinary. Watch the road ahead, and assume other drivers are distracted. This will make you a very safe driver. Wait for gaps in traffic you know are safe. This will mean some uncomfortably too-long waits, but you'll get better at judging how much time you have.

You'll get much better at every small detail that driving requires (but only if you practice).

Keep in mind how much is invested in safety features. In the unlikely event that you crash, it will probably only be the car that suffers. Fatal crashes happen when people go way too fast for the conditions, and I'm guessing you won't be speeding.

[Steve5451²]

drive on back roads until you get the hang of it.

[Rednakin]

i don't believe in psychological medicine (don't even get me started)

mrw

You must be confusing legitimate scientifically proven methods like psychotherapy, antidepressants and serotonin/dopamine supplements etc. with homeopathy and "alternative medicine" (kooky new age BS).

I'm not on antidepressants yet, so I can't personally vouch for them, but there are lots of cases where they have worked. You mostly only hear about the nightmare scenarios.

[TheArmyGuy]

Put a brick on the gas pedal so you have your foot available for the brake at all times.

[hillkill]

Relevant

You must be confusing legitimate scientifically proven methods like psychotherapy, antidepressants and serotonin/dopamine supplements etc. with homeopathy and "alternative medicine" (kooky new age BS).

I'm not on antidepressants yet, but my psychologist tells me that medication might be required for treatment of my situation, so I can't personally vouch for them, but there are lots of cases where they have worked. You mostly only hear about the nightmare scenarios.

i've taken antidepressants once, but will not again. they make me feel absolutely no emotions.

[ultimamax]

not a driver's license, a temporary license (the one you get before an actual driver's license)

i dont know about your state but in mine you cant drive without an adult until yuo get your real license..

make one of your parents teach you how to drive

[hillkill]

i don't want to drive with my mom ever again considering what happened.