I need to stop being a paranoid driver

lulu_92

I passed my driving test in August 2014. I drive about 60 miles a day and I'm constantly paranoid of everything!
- The car behind me being an unmarked police car
- running a red light (even though I know the light was green)
- being flashed by a speed camera (even though I'm doing the speed limit)

I know that if I'm driving well I have nothing to worry about but I'm constantly scared that I'm doing something bad

For example, earlier I was at a box junction. There was some traffic and the light was on green so me and the car in front drove over the line (which is a bit further back from the junction and traffic lights than the lane next to me). I remember driving so I was level to the stop line for the other lane. So when the light went red, the traffic subsided so we could carry on before the other way started driving. Yet I am so scared that I ran the light!

I know I probably sound insane but I don't know what to do, or if this is totally normal anxiety.

benje302

You will find its just a new driver thing. Now you no longer have a driving instructor next to you, you will question most things.

Just drive with care and you should be fine.

Remeber, you only learn how to control a car to pass your test. Now you lern how to drive.

Stay safe and good luck.

Ben

Mojisola

lulu_92 wrote: »

I passed my driving test in August 2014. I drive about 60 miles a day and I'm constantly paranoid of everything!

If you've been driving 60 miles a day since August, you should be a lot more confident.

Are you like this in other areas of your life?

lulu_92

Mojisola wrote: »

If you've been driving 60 miles a day since August, you should be a lot more confident.

Are you like this in other areas of your life?

I am confident in my driving skills. I'm not scared of driving in fact I enjoy my commute.

I've always been fairly anxious about stuff but never to this extent. It is driving me mad.

Mojisola

lulu_92 wrote: »

I am confident in my driving skills. I'm not scared of driving in fact I enjoy my commute.

I've always been fairly anxious about stuff but never to this extent. It is driving me mad.

Perhaps you should tackle the issue as a general anxiety issue then - CBT, perhaps.

SailorSam

benje302 wrote: »

You will find its just a new driver thing.

Or maybe it's a women driver thing ............

....... I'm getting my coat.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

lulu_92 wrote: »

I am confident in my driving skills. I'm not scared of driving in fact I enjoy my commute.

I've always been fairly anxious about stuff but never to this extent. It is driving me mad.

If you suffer a small amount of anxiety in everyday things, a jump to a big responsibility like taking full sole control over driving responsibilities can have a big impact over anxiety levels, overthinking things such as did I jump that light, did I pass a speed cam doing 32 in 30 zone and what if get a ticket etc is pretty consistent with increased anxiety. see your GP is my recommendation and discuss the increased anxiety levels with him/her/them and see if theres a in surgery therapist that may assist in some anxiety control therepy you can try out.

lulu_92

Thanks everyone I was even worried about posting it on here for fear of looking like an idiot :rotfl:

I do feel like my anxiety has increased recently. Maybe it's to do with how much my life has changed in a year, (leaving uni, new job in a different area, passing my test) or how much it will be changing soon (buying a house, hopefully starting a family), I don't know.

I do feel better for putting it out in the open so thanks

Teapot55

If your driving instructor who helped you pass your test is someone you feel you have a good relationship with and if you can afford it, how about booking another lesson with him/her just so you can have a 'check-up' on your driving?

This way you can

(i) put your mind at rest
(ii) correct any bad habits you might have developed
(iii) learn a few advanced motoring skills that were not needed for the test but might enhance your driving and your peace of mind.

Strider590

What you need to do is keep a good pace and stay confident. What a lot of drivers do, is they stop paying attention, they slow down, people tailgate them, they feel intimidated, they loose confidence, their driving worsens and i think it's very hard for them to get out of that loop.