Driving and merging

So I pretty much can't drive. Oh I can get in a car, turn on the ignition and go somewhere. I have a license and glasses and gas in the tank. Yet still, I can't drive, because every time I have to merge or make a turn through a lane of traffic or something, I literally cannot trust the turn signal that I've just turned on to signal that I am turning. I just don't believe that anyone is going to stop for me or that they're even going to slow down.

I've had my license for 8 years now, but I hardly ever drive anywhere because I'm just too afraid to merge or anything else. I don't trust the other drivers. So how on earth am I supposed to get over this? How am I supposed to be able to judge when someone is going to stop and when they aren't, especially when I'm half convinced that every driver on the road is completely nuts?

If anyone has any advice or tips I would really appreciate it.

Did you have driver's training? This might be a way to give you additional confidence.

I would not drive on the highway for the longest time because I was terrified of anything over two lanes. I still hate it cause the highway gets pretty congested and can be a real pain in the booty. You just constantly have to be aware of your surroundings and your blind spots and adjust your speed accordingly. Always signal long before you switch lanes sometimes you have to speed up or slow down in order to merge or switch lanes. BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS ALWAYS.

don't worry some day you'll get used to it and boost up your confidence. If anything practice on days or times of the day when traffic is light.

Hugs

-Trish
"Don't curse the rain, without it things don't grow. Instead find the beauty in it."

If you develop certain good driving habits, like always keeping the circle around you clear - ie, don't drive alongside someone, don't tailgate, and keep your blindspots clear - then if something happens and you have to make a sudden move without thinking or looking, you can be fairly certain you won't hit anyone. Find a book or something on "defensive driving" - there is a lot you can do to protect yourself from the other crazies on the road! I put over 100,000 miles on each of 3 cars (total over 400k), only one (minor) accident.

This is something you could address in therapy with a therapist who treats phobias and anxiety disorders. They would have the training to help you with the anxiety you experience around driving.

My husband drives me nuts because he won't use his turn signals; does not want the other people "helping" him or second guessing what he is going to do, when.

The other cars are doing a pattern; they aren't going to suddenly change their pattern. When you are getting off or on the road, usually there are cars in front of you merging and he line of cars they are merging into is aware of that and are doing an every-other-one pattern. Do you sew or weave or "build" anything (including letters, papers, anything with editing)? You learn the patterns.

I am afraid to drive our boat because there are no "roads" in the water and one can't see the depth, etc. I'm not afraid of the other boats but I am afraid of getting lost or going the wrong way around a buoy, etc. There are rules there too but there aren't as many other boats that one can "guess" the pattern.

To be honest I don't trust other drivers to do anything up to turning into a horse and invading China...

Just got to do the right thing, and hey, I have airbags so hit my car I don't care!

Perhaps you should get some professional driving instruction and let the instructor know one of your problems is merging.

You should turn your turn signal on 100 feet before you change lanes.

I don't trust other people either so I try to avoid driving during the rush times when people are going to and from work.

Ah, another rendition of "Hit me, I'm paid for!"

Did you have driver's training?

I had a class and some instruction on driving back when I started, but that didn't really do anything to instill confidence in me about the sanity or awareness of the other drivers on the road...

I understand how you feel because I have issues with driving, also. My therapist and pdoc tell me I have to keep going out in my car or else the phobia will worsen. My therapist has been working with me on the way I think and encouraging me to say more soothing, positive things to myself instead of ruminating on what I am afraid will happen. That's worked to ease the anxiety somewhat.

I think I read it's the 100th anniversary of the stop sign. so there did used to NOT be rules. you can go online and read the traffic rules for your city and state, also bicycle laws. it's very interesting.