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Re: I'm tempted to take this opportunity to poke fun at New Yorkers. Vivien Send a noteboard - 13/12/2011 09:58:55 PM
But instead I will empathise, because I also was afraid of driving. It was so bad that I had to leave my house hours earlier than I needed to, because otherwise I'd scare myself sick and wouldn't be able to go places.

The trick is to just totally immerse yourself in the fear until it goes away. Anxiety and phobia experts call that "flooding." It's what you use in exposure therapy. Essentially, you'll exhaust yourself being scared, and then you will realize that you aren't actually scared any more. Of course, you'll be miserable while you do it, but them's the breaks.


Anxiety disorders are fun, yeah?


It's really hard to get over this because I feel like it's not just anxiety- it's not an irrational phobia like being afraid of spiders or getting struck by lightning. I don't particularly like spiders but I know the odds are really low that they will kill me, or cause me to kill others. Car accidents are real, not imaginary, and also highly likely. Of all the sudden bad things that can happen, it's basically the likeliest one and it's what we should be most terrified of. We're a lot more likely to die in a car than in a plane! I'm also afraid of making a mistake and causing an accident and worst possible scenario: killing someone.

The only way I see myself driving is by not thinking about the consequences. I guess what I'm saying is: why isn't *everyone* scared of driving? Do they just think that nothing bad will happen to them, they're invincible?

Your anxiety: how did leaving the house hours earlier help? Maybe you left at a time where there'd be less cars on the road?

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NSSP: Driving Vivien - 13/12/2011 05:15:41 PM 1764 Views
I'm tempted to take this opportunity to poke fun at New Yorkers. Ghavrel - 13/12/2011 05:20:14 PM 1252 Views
Re: I'm tempted to take this opportunity to poke fun at New Yorkers. Vivien - 13/12/2011 09:58:55 PM 1188 Views
Re: I'm tempted to take this opportunity to poke fun at New Yorkers. Ghavrel - 13/12/2011 10:37:47 PM 1179 Views
Re: I'm tempted to take this opportunity to poke fun at New Yorkers. Vivien - 13/12/2011 10:50:38 PM 1260 Views
Your first instinct was right, trust your instincts. *NM* random thoughts - 14/12/2011 03:16:51 AM 514 Views
I failed my first test. Nate - 13/12/2011 05:49:58 PM 1362 Views
I would love to drive on empty country roads. Vivien - 13/12/2011 10:08:35 PM 1166 Views
I had to take the driving test 3 time before I passed (posted at the wrong place ) Linda - 13/12/2011 11:43:44 PM 1305 Views
Congratulations on passing it! Vivien - 14/12/2011 12:18:18 AM 1154 Views
13 yrs old. FalonDeathwatchGuard - 13/12/2011 06:02:22 PM 1387 Views
Seriously? Why? At 13 you should have had some awareness of the danger you were posing to others Vivien - 13/12/2011 10:27:59 PM 1287 Views
Re: Seriously? Why? At 13 you should have had some awareness of the danger you were posing to others FalonDeathwatchGuard - 13/12/2011 10:37:41 PM 1132 Views
Probably just a difference in perspective. Kids sneaking a vehicle for a jor ride is pretty common. everynametaken - 15/12/2011 03:51:30 AM 1260 Views
Yeah it is! vroom vroom vroom!! FalonDeathwatchGuard - 15/12/2011 03:26:28 PM 1308 Views
I don't blame you at all for not wanting to drive in NYC. Macharius - 13/12/2011 06:28:26 PM 1404 Views
Re: I don't blame you at all for not wanting to drive in NYC. Vivien - 13/12/2011 10:29:20 PM 1275 Views
It must be harder to overcome that natural fear in NYC. Sareitha Sedai - 13/12/2011 06:44:28 PM 1241 Views
Yeah, absolutely. Vivien - 13/12/2011 10:32:25 PM 1358 Views
Or drive your drunk sister home from a party. *NM* Aeryn - 14/12/2011 05:27:01 PM 614 Views
Driving IS overrated. Jacob - 13/12/2011 07:01:02 PM 1229 Views
Re: Driving IS overrated. Vivien - 13/12/2011 10:43:09 PM 1083 Views
Isn't it traditional to fail your first test? Or is that just around here? Legolas - 13/12/2011 08:14:01 PM 1221 Views
I wouldn't think so Dark Knight - 13/12/2011 08:25:36 PM 1109 Views
I'm not in any state. Legolas - 13/12/2011 08:31:30 PM 1180 Views
Re: I'm not in any state. Vivien - 13/12/2011 10:56:38 PM 1140 Views
It's rare to pass on the first try here. (according to driving instructor) Vivien - 13/12/2011 09:44:39 PM 1293 Views
I think it depends on where you live Isaac - 13/12/2011 09:11:13 PM 1133 Views
Re: I think it depends on where you live Vivien - 13/12/2011 09:34:30 PM 1311 Views
I know Texas talked about doing away with it because the failure rate was so low random thoughts - 14/12/2011 03:15:11 AM 1194 Views
When I was in New Jersey... rebelaessedai - 13/12/2011 11:30:59 PM 1203 Views
Maybe they're the ones who couldn't hack driving in NYC? *NM* Vivien - 14/12/2011 12:21:09 AM 639 Views
I wonder how many people that have been driving for years and years would fail if they had to take Tashmere - 14/12/2011 12:03:55 AM 1261 Views
Oh I think most people with years' worth of driving experience be fine. Vivien - 14/12/2011 12:27:09 AM 1393 Views
I was even rather nervous about taking lessons and failed my first ironclad - 14/12/2011 08:30:25 AM 1336 Views
I love driving. Avendesora - 14/12/2011 03:24:59 PM 1258 Views
Re: I love driving. Macharius - 14/12/2011 05:44:57 PM 1105 Views
Avendesora - 14/12/2011 06:02:42 PM 1378 Views
I thought it quite clever, actually. Macharius - 14/12/2011 06:54:27 PM 1075 Views
Me, too. aerocontrols - 18/12/2011 04:31:29 AM 1166 Views
Drive safely! Avendesora - 18/12/2011 04:58:01 AM 1254 Views
Re: Me, three. Palatine - 18/12/2011 07:37:55 PM 1219 Views
Re: Me, three. aerocontrols - 19/12/2011 06:10:20 AM 1117 Views
Welcome home. *NM* Palatine - 19/12/2011 04:41:26 PM 559 Views
Did you ever attend a driving school? *NM* Palatine - 14/12/2011 05:29:33 PM 561 Views
I don't think so. Vivien - 15/12/2011 05:22:09 AM 1281 Views
Oh. ironclad - 15/12/2011 08:32:59 AM 1335 Views
Yes, you did. Palatine - 15/12/2011 04:44:48 PM 1177 Views
Re: Yes, you did. Vivien - 16/12/2011 12:25:30 AM 1211 Views
Re: Yes, you did. Palatine - 16/12/2011 04:42:40 PM 1394 Views
That's not a sign. Aeryn - 14/12/2011 05:29:36 PM 1241 Views
I take exception to this. Stephen - 14/12/2011 06:29:40 PM 1174 Views
Whoa. rebelaessedai - 15/12/2011 07:21:52 AM 1274 Views
Fewer cars on the road. Fewer double-parked cars. *NM* Aeryn - 15/12/2011 06:25:21 PM 500 Views
Also: you have no fear. *NM* Vivien - 15/12/2011 11:59:34 PM 617 Views
LOL! You guys are funny. rebelaessedai - 17/12/2011 06:52:22 AM 1257 Views
Also, you can tell when there's someone around the corner, because of the headlights. Tim - 19/12/2011 04:18:26 PM 1219 Views
Oooh, that's a good point. Vivien - 19/12/2011 05:17:16 PM 1333 Views
It's more pronounced and important in the countryside where there are no streetlights. Tim - 19/12/2011 05:51:25 PM 1329 Views
In the country there are deer aerocontrols - 20/12/2011 05:53:17 AM 1214 Views
Oh yeah, forgot about those. We don't have that many left, and only up in the Highlands. *NM* Tim - 20/12/2011 10:18:41 AM 684 Views
Driving tests are far harder in the Netherlands, from what I understand Helene - 14/12/2011 05:34:38 PM 1141 Views
For what it's worth NYC takes some getting used to. Tom - 14/12/2011 06:43:38 PM 1069 Views
Re: For what it's worth NYC takes some getting used to. Macharius - 14/12/2011 07:05:20 PM 1133 Views
don't worry i fluffed my practical test up today Yunalesca - 14/12/2011 08:24:56 PM 1239 Views
I'm older than you and there's no way I would have willingly gotten behind the wheel at 17. Vivien - 15/12/2011 05:12:29 AM 1166 Views
I found driving nervewracking until I got to do it by myself. NZ has a great system, IMO. Rebekah - 15/12/2011 01:48:19 PM 1104 Views
It's really not that bad Praziquantel - 16/12/2011 01:03:43 AM 1232 Views
Amusing (to me) comparison to sex risks. Vivien - 17/12/2011 05:50:16 PM 1265 Views
That last part: just a joke. Vivien - 17/12/2011 06:06:43 PM 1262 Views
Re: Amusing (to me) comparison to sex risks. TaskmasterJack - 17/12/2011 06:07:51 PM 1278 Views
No. But it is true that my risk aversion coefficient is too high. Vivien - 17/12/2011 06:49:33 PM 1079 Views
Isn't learning to drive in NYC sort of like aerocontrols - 18/12/2011 04:21:47 AM 1199 Views
Finally! The right word. Vivien - 19/12/2011 02:19:53 AM 1106 Views
Re: Finally! The right word. TaskmasterJack - 19/12/2011 02:51:51 AM 1061 Views
No problem. aerocontrols - 19/12/2011 06:36:59 AM 1503 Views
Don't worry about it it. I'm sure you'll get over it eventually. Bergioyn - 18/12/2011 09:58:59 AM 1208 Views
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