Getting My License

So I've been trying to get my license for over a year. I finally got some time to go down there and do it, and when we went out to practice the driving bit apparently I scared myself so much that I (being me the writer) left.
2 problems I can see...

1. seeing tail lights in front of me is mildly to really badly triggering... it depends on my state of mind... and then when I do see them- I get all worked up about them and it gets bigger and worse in my head.

2. I have lots of problems seeing in the dark, and just seeing in general (i wear glasses) so that makes me way over anxious (scale of 1-10 i'd be a 27) which makes everyrthing else worse.

BAH! How annoying.

When it's just me driving in the parking lot it's not as hard, there's no other cars and I have the radio or someone beside me to distract me... but when I get on the roar I get so tense (thing strings on a violin) I have gotten muscle spasms before.

Shadow has encouraged me to post this and it's taken a while and I'm not really sure what I'm asking or saying so i'm just going to press continue before I think about it too much. It'll be my suprise for her.

Hi Dragonskin

Well done for posting this!

I share the eyesight problems - my sight is really poor and I wear glasses / contact lenses to function - with out them I am nearly blind. But because I know my glasses correct my vision I don't worry about that specifically when I am driving - I guess it never occurs to me to worry. And night vision - well, it is always difficult to drive at night, I find, but a lot depends on the roads. It has taken me years of driving to develop the confidence that I can drive in the dark.
caroline

(((((((((((((dragon)))))))))))))

thank you so much for posting this, it was very brave of you to post about something that makes you so nervous. i know that you can do this! hopefully we can figure out a way to work through these triggers so that they lose their power. i wish it were easier.

i'm sure we'll think of something that will help.

-shadow

Good for you! I enjoyed reading this. Of course, you won't have to drive at night if you don't become comfortable with it, right? (And you don't test at night.) I'm not sure having the radio on, or another person to distract you is really a good idea...you might wish to rethink this. Everyone who drives gets nervous when they are being "watched" or tested. I am in danger of losing my license due to my disability. Something I am going to offer to my MD, if she pushes this, is for a separate evaluation. (People who know me say I drive fine, and both my physcial therapist and psychologist say I'm not impaired enough to stop yet.) BUT I know I will be SO nervous if I do that...and I've been driving safely for nearly 40 years! It's just natural.

(((((((((((((((((dragon))))))))))))))))))

bearhugs
Fuzzy

Thank you and I will try to get my license soon. it's very scary though. i don't like brake lights, they scare me. they get really bright and red and scary.

dragonskin

<font color="purple">Hello. I was scared when nona got her license buuut now almost every body drives. I do not drive. I am only 9. jj