I’m terrified to drive
I just tried to post on r/disability but apparently I don’t have enough karma so I’m trying here instead
I’m 18, turning 19 in 2 days, and I have yet to get my license. It’s not like I just don’t want to or I have “anxiety” around driving, it’s that I’m genuinely terrified I would be unsafe behind the wheel.
I have a few diagnosed conditions, and a whole lot of other issues that haven’t been diagnosed or examined by a doctor. I’m diagnosed with POTS, but my main concern is suspected narcolepsy (that cars are usually a trigger for, I tend to fall asleep like 75% of the time when I’m in a car), seizure-like episodes that are accompanied by loss of muscle control after (and sometimes at random), and dissociative amnesia (forgetting where I am, where I’m going, what I’m doing, and how to do something I’ve done dozens of times before, as well as just spacing out in the middle of activities).
I’m not looking for any armchair diagnosis, I just don’t know what the next steps I should take are. My family has been wanting me to get my license all year (i didn’t get my permit or license at 15-17 because I was barred because of how much I pass out, but syncope isn’t my main concern now because I can usually feel that coming, the other stuff I can’t most of the time). I’d like to be independent and be able to go where I want when I want instead of having to burden my family for a ride every time I want to go somewhere and not be stuck in my house 5-7 days a week anymore, but safety is my main priority. I don’t want to go get my license then end of hurting myself, or worse, hurting someone else in a car accident that could’ve been avoided.
Any advice would be appreciated. I’ve been thinking I need to talk to my PCP first and foremost but I don’t currently have one so it would be a completely new doctor and I’m so worried about not being taken seriously since I’m not diagnosed with anything that would prevent me from driving. I guess I’m mainly looking for advice on what to say to a doctor that would get them to look into it, or provide a referral to someone who can. Thank you in advance!
P.S. I’ve done a lot of research on what my symptoms could be but I know doctors tend to hate when you think you know what’s wrong with you, so i didn’t specify, and I’ll probably try not to name any specific conditions to a doctor so they don’t immediately write me off