Hi all, I do have driver's anxiety and I am motivated to learn how to drive. It started when I first took lessons from an instructor that wasn't so patient at all on my third lesson. She was shouting at me, and felt the anxiety. I didn't know how to control the car like steering ,making correct left and right turns, how the gas pedal by controlling the speed and braking. What would be the best exercises?
On my 3rd lesson last Sunday, it was my fault that I wasn't prepared for the lesson because I attended on writng a food blog. Then went on my 3rd lesson with the instructor immediately without any rest. I admitted and was sorry, but treating me this way is so unprofessional of him. He should thank me that I pay him for teaching the things that I don't know, and how to approach it.
So when I went inside the car, I put on my seat belt, adjusted my seat forward and height to see over the dashboard. I am a short driver. Then made sure I adjusted the side mirrors and the rear mirror. Then I ignited the car's ignition, and waited for my instructor to back up and get ready to turn out . When he noticed that I was steering too quickly. I heard from him"What happened to you? you were doing fine on your second lesson because I was relaxed. Now, you are nervous again". Throughout the lesson, I felt very uneasy but I was trying to relax while driving on a straight line. He kept on saying,"Don't hold the steering wheel tightly. But I wasn't. Then another is that don't crept up multiple times on checking if both sides are clear. He taught me, but in an unprofessional and hostile manner. Ok, I get it. I just didn't how to do it. So I know for a fact, that I needed to still control the car and how to steer the wheel.
Even though I made a mistake, I was trying to composed myself, but his unprofessionalism and intensity was more demanding.
After the end of my lesson, he told me,"why do you always plan your lessons at 5pm? I said to him, that was the only available time that the office has given me. So I knew too late that he was a popular driving instructor because he shows you the whys and hows. Then he said,"I have a lot of students that want to book me". I thought why are you thinking this way, when I needed some help on learning how to drive.
After the lesson, I felt so irritated, mad and even shouted my family about my experience. I knew that I had driver's anxiety -all throughout the experience.
After a talk with family members, they told to schedule multiple driving appointments with him every other day to learn other driving skills. I know I have a long way to go until I am ready for the driving test. I don't think I am proficient yet but eventually get there....
So yeah, then my other brother called me and asked how was my driving lesson. So I told him the whole experience that I had with him. He confided me, that this is ok since you are new driver and asked me if the medication that I had before gets me drowsy. I said NO. I take propanolol. but I am using it with caution.
My driver's anxiety is getting too close to the curb, next to parked cars and afraid of making wide turns. Finally, on my third day- I had a rough day-it was stressful, irritating and frustrated. I was considering changing instructors, but on my fourth, I will talk to my instructor about the experience I had with him was unprofessional, not considerate to my needs and will be motivated to learn how to drive. And it is going to take me more time to hone and sharpen my driving skills. No family members will practice with me, and have no friends to practice with me either. So I am actually stuck with a driver instructor since he is knowledgeable, experience but I don't he has dealt someone like me who has driver's anxiety. So if you have any suggestions, I am open to them. Thanks for your support.