gaining confidence?

Question

I passed my driving test last week, first time i took it.
My problem now is confidence, i know this will come with time, but am finding myself dreading getting in the car already and its only been a week.
Does anyone have any ideas on what i can do to try and get over this, because it is really starting to upset me.
It took me 15 years to pluck up the courage to have lessons and go for my test, and now i have done it, i feel like i cant drive.

Answer 1

This is a common problem. Remember to start trusting in you self. Your uncertainty to drive is due to a lack of trust in yourself. The best thing is to tackle the traffic daily as much as you can. The more you experience driving especially driving amongst other car's the more confidence you Will get. It does take time.... Remember, when you are in traffic, you are part of the traffic, it's not them against me. A parking lot practise session will help you to practice the technique but it will not give you the confidence you need to drive in traffic.

Go For it, remember, most of us have expensive insurance and don't mind using it now and then...

Answer 2

Here are a few things to try.

1) Your mind is sending you "message units" telling you it is difficult to drive. Start sending yourself message units that it is not difficult to drive. My 15 year old daughter has her permit and she drives very well already. It is not that difficult to do.

2) Tell yourself you can overcome this feeling, but that you will do it in small steps to gain confidence. For example, just drive short trips. I recommend going in the middle of the day, when traffic is lighter as opposed to rush hour.
Drive on suburban streets as opposed to main highways.
Drive on Sunday mornings when traffic is light.
Soon you will get bored with driving on side streets and will want to venture out.

3) Give yourself a reward for driving somewhere. Rather than just drive to drive, the beauty of driving is that you can pick a destination, say a mall, and then go there and get yourself an ice cream or buy something for yourself.

I used to be very quiet and shy, and now some people say I am outgoing. I got that from years of practice.

4) Drive with a friend and ask that friend to give you some encouragement. That will also build up your confidence.

5) Try a hypnotist--from personal experience I know hypnotism can be helpful. It is not going to make you into a NASCAR driver overnight, but it will give you an edge on overcoming your anxiety.

Hope these tips help -- millions of peope drive every day because it is not that difficult. That fact that you took lessons and passed the times the first time and are taking your time gives me the impression you are more conscientious and careful about driving than most people. That to me already makes you a very qualified driver.

Answer 3

You need to gain driving experience, but don't just jump in the car and go on the M25....you are only a beginner..take the car out on your own, never mind all this about some one with you, you passed the test, not them, go out early on a Sunday Morning and get some miles under your belt...it won't happen overnight, but the more miles you do the more you will like it. Keep a diary if you like so that you can log any mistakes, we all make them, the thing is to learn from them....enjoy it and don't listen to the supposed great drivers....

Answer 4

You take a deep breath, get into the car and tell yourself you can do it. Try driving small distances by yourself, maybe jus up and down the road you live on then go for furthur distances. you will soon get use to drivng by yourself. Dnt panic or worry just be calm. You could also try driving with a friend in the car . It will take you time to get used to being by yourself but take it slowly and dnt think you need to race around. Drive slowly and how you practised in your lessons. your obvioulsy a good driver if you passed first time. Good Luck and let us know how you progress

Answer 5

I would not drive with anyone else; I has this problem when learning to drive a stick shift. I just drove for a few hours around my neighborhood, practising different turns, and get a few odd looks from the neighbors. If you bring someone else along, they will probably make you nervous; go by yourself, somewhere that isn't busy, and you will only have to apologize to yourself when you make a mistake!

Answer 6

Well the thing is my friend... You need to let it out if you had Emotional Damage than (Depending on what type of Damage it is say Anger or Sadness) then play a game or listen to Music that suits your mood. For example watch a Violent movie if you have anger in you are sad watch a comedy to cheer you up Play a Game like Hellentry to Let your Power out on the enemy or play the sims to play around...Listen to heavy metal...or Techno.. Gaining Confedince is hard.... but Fixing Emotional Damage is somthing else i dont think Confedince is what you need

Answer 7

experience and confidence comes with time. dont rush into it and expect to be driving a 100% perfect. you will make mistakes mistakes and more mistakes, the trick is to learn from them and remember for next time. i have been driving for more years than i care to remember and sometimes, even now i think to myself that i could have done this and that better when out on the road. remember that all the other cars on the road are just like you, just trying to get from a-b.

good luck...........

Answer 8

Get in your car and drive, drive, drive. Drive at night, in the rain drive all the time. The more you do it, the more your driving skills will become part of your long term memory. Then you don't need to think about what to do, you will automatically do it. At that point, you will actually enjoy driving.

Answer 9

it feel like you've saved me wasting my five points in asnwering this problem, basically I have passed since jan and I cannot sit and drive like a normal person, its not liek I do not want to drive I do but everytime I think I have to drive alone I feel i cannot, but however soon I will purchase a car and I will drive I have to pluck teh courage to do so

Answer 10

Drive with someone who has experience and won't freak out when you don't do everything correct, they will tell you what you should and shouldn't when it comes to driving, and eventually it'll become second nature.