Tips on staying calm when very nervous

LilTerryWhite

Same for me!

MrsStepford

Bach's Rescue Remedy pastilles - sugar-free, alcohol free. Amazon or Holland & Barrett

sstevo19

MrsStepford wrote: »

Bach's Rescue Remedy pastilles - sugar-free, alcohol free. Amazon or Holland & Barrett

Thanks for the suggestion. I've got the pastilles, the lozenges and the spray and it only seems to work for a few minutes. And the sugar free sweeteners normally make my nervous stomach worse, so I've stopped using them.

dellio

I'm a bit late to this thread, after being a lurker for some time without ever signing in!



Anyway, I just wanted to share a few anecdotes with you. After a few lessons with my first instructor, and after stalling a million times at a particular junction, I was told 'I don't think driving is for you'.

I would get so worked up and upset every time I went out in the car my head would pound. The instructor informed me there was 'nothing wrong' with never learning to drive and that it's 'safer for everyone' if 'people like me' weren't on the roads. For real. She advised me that 'eating bananas are good for nerves'.



I got a second instructor who was brilliant. He was very patient and put me at ease. I really do think this is the key. I'm a crazy anxious person, I manage to just about curb my social anxiety. I found by vocalising how I'm feeling (at every opportunity!) it helped me get a grip in the situation. There were times he had to tell me to shut up.



On the day of my test, I reversed into a bush. THIS WAS ME PARKING UP READY FOR THE TEST!!!

I somehow managed to pass! I echo everyone else who has said you need to push yourself in order to improve your confidence. I truly believe that you don't become a confident driver until you have passed your test. And bloody hell, if I can do it, anyone can. I am STILL nervous driving on unfamiliar roads and don't even talk to me about motorways. You have to be realistic and really pinpoint what it is exactly that is making you nervous.



On another note, my sister dosed on Kalms tablets the day of her test but they made her drowsy. So drowsy that the examiner failed her because her speeds were akin to someone who was driving a hearse! She has since passed her test.



Good luck, get out there!

sstevo19

Thanks dellio

My instructor is lovely and patient. I think my nerves get the best of me most of the time so I mess up. But I will pass my test. If I can control my nerves, I do well. But if I can't, I don't do as well. I've actually had a motorway lesson about a month ago and it was actually alright, pretty nerve wracking at first, but I settled down by the end of it.

On my last lesson I was a nervous wreck. I had a mock driving test, and I wanted to be sick minutes into it. I'm finally going to commit to using Headspace to try and stay calm in my lessons.

I'll get there eventually.

dellio

I totally recommend Headspace!



Don't forget to come back and let us know when you have passed

sstevo19

Thanks dellio I'll definitely let yous know when I've passed my test, I think I may shout it from the rooftops, haha

My driving lesson today actually went a lot better than my previous one. I used Headspace last night and for a minute or two this morning before my lesson, and it helped