Driving anxiety

Any other mums very anxious drivers?? What are we doing about it? I have 2 kids under 3 and don’t drive, won’t drive, scared to drive. When I was 17 I was in a really bad accident (I wasn’t driving lol, drunk driver crashed into the car I was in) and I ended up breaking my femur, taking 2 years to relearn how to walk, never mind drive. I’m now 25, passed my driving test 2 years ago (automatic, and because I do see the importance of having a license with kids) before I had my 1st wee one and haven’t sat behind the wheel since. It petrifies me and I don’t know what to do about it. I have literal panic attacks thinking about it, even right now typing this is making me anxious. The thought of having the kids in the car with me scares me too. The thought of round abouts and merging into lanes and country roads petrifies me the most. I just don’t see a time where I’ll be confident enough to drive. I always thought once I’d have the kids I’d do it for them and I’d take them on days out and to the park and beach and more but I don’t unless I’m with my partner or mum because I can’t get there and public transport with double prams is a nightmare. Also, the school they will go to is a 40 minute walk from my house so I’m going to have to either drive or move, and driving is the most reasonable (not realistic) option. Is anyone else in the same/ similar predicament or am I just a big baby 😅😅😅

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Is it just when you are driving? Can you build up slowly to doing the things that scare you the most- eg a few minutes drive to the park before tackling roundabouts and Country roads etc

It sounds like you’re suffering from PTSD from your previous accident. I’d speak to your GP to get referred for help in dealing with the previous trauma. You’re not being a big baby at all, you need to get to a place where you feel calm and confident or it would be dangerous to be behind a wheel especially with little ones in the car

You’re not alone! I passed my test 4th time when I was 18, drove for about 2 and a half years. I hated driving and would get so anxious all day if I had to drive somewhere later. I would only drive to the same few places I felt ok with, and would often take very long ways around to avoid certain routes. However I did manage to drive 240 miles including motorways a couple of times to visit my husband (then bf) at uni! No idea how I did that 😆 But I had many prangs, bumps and scratches and even crashed into the back of someone once 😔 (thankfully we were both ok). So when my car packed up just as I was finishing college I decided not to get another one as I could get the bus to and from work. Nearly 14 years later I haven’t got back behind the wheel because I’m too scared but also because I think I’m so bad at it. My sister in law is actually a driving instructor so I could have extra lessons! But no way do I trust myself to drive my children around.

I also get dizziness which concerns me. My husband really wants me to drive again because he’s fed up of being the only one who can get us around. My brother is trying to get me to take it up again too as our mum is having chemo and he’s the only one who can take her to appointments etc. But I just don’t feel able to do it. I have started using the bus that goes around the town which has enabled me to do more with my boys but the bus fare cap has been lifted and it’s a £6 return just to go a few minutes into town! I do feel isolated and dependent on others but I’m so much happier not driving at the moment

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