So I got my driver’s license in October 2023. I had over 50 lessons and still didn’t feel ready, but my instructor thought I was. I went into the exam expecting to fail, but I actually passed.
The first time I drove my dad’s car afterward, it went really, really badly. It was a much heavier car than I was used to, and I stalled multiple times, holding up traffic. I could feel myself panicking: my pits were sweating and I was close to crying, hearing the honks of the drivers behind me. After that, I only drove maybe three more times, and then I stopped driving completely for over two years.
Now, I’m starting a new job this Monday, and I’ve been given a company car. It will be an automatic car instead of a manual, which is what I did my driving lessons in back in 2023. I chose the option of getting a company car because I wanted to face my fear and get over it. However, now that my start date is getting closer, my anxiety has actually increased again.
I did take three refresher lessons in April, and they went better than I expected, but I think that’s mostly because there was an instructor sitting beside me who could step in if needed.
Now that I’ll have to drive on my own again, I’m already dreading it. Does anyone have tips for next Monday?