I struggled with driving anxiety for almost 10 years. It’s the reason why I put off getting my drivers license until I was 25. But within a few months of my buying my first car, I used 4 simple steps to overcome that fear.

Related: Buying Your First Car When You Have Social Anxiety

My Experience with Driving Anxiety

Like most people, I started the process of getting my drivers license when I was 16. My dad had me practicing around the neighborhood and empty parking lots. But it was to no avail because the furthest I got was getting my learner’s permit. I made up excuses as to why I couldn’t get the 50+ hours of driving that was required to take the road test. Then before I knew it, my learner’s permit had expired and I was now in my early 20’s.

Feeling the pressure of being an adult without a license. I would every so often go back to try to get it. But every time I would let my learner’s permit expire because I was too afraid to take the next step.

The times when I was behind the wheel I would have flashes of losing control of the car and crashing into the guardrail or another vehicle. I feared everything from not being able to keep the car between the white lines to somehow being wrong about what the signs on the road meant.

My entire body would shake whenever I drove. I would hold tightly to the wheel with my eyes glued to the road. Unwilling to even turn the radio station or pull the visor down when the sun was in my eyes.

On top of that, I was dealing with social anxiety. So I was embarrassed of people seeing me through the car window (LOL). Or them laughing at me if I made a wrong turn (they wouldn’t even know if I did or didn’t 🙄). Driving felt like it would kill me one way or the other. But thank God I have overcome all of that! Now I can drive anywhere no matter the distance! Well…besides crowded cities lol.

4 Simple And Practical Steps To Overcome Driving Anxiety

1. Pray

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.”

2 Thessalonians 3:16 (ESV)

I talk about prayer a lot on this blog. That’s because prayer works. I’ll be the first to admit that it works slow sometimes. But rest assured that God DOES hear and WILL answer (1 John 5: 14-15 & Matthew 7: 7-11).

Before driving anywhere, I would first ask God to get me to my destination safely and back. I’d ask that he would ride with me, keep me alert, and help me to make good driving decisions. The entire time I would be driving; I would also be praying. Then when I would make it to my destination and back home, I would thank him.

This brought me a lot of comfort and I know God is the reason why I no longer feel afraid when driving. I know that no matter what happens while I’m on the road. That he will be with me and will make it okay either way. The same goes for you!

Review:

1. Before pulling off, pray.
   • Example: God, please be with me as I’m driving to ______. Help me to make it there safely and back. Please help me to be alert and to make good driving decisions and to react in the way I need to. Thank you. In Jesus name, Amen.
2. As you’re driving, keep praying.
3. Every time you arrive at a place, thank him.
4. During the other times you pray – don’t forget to ask him to help you get over your driving anxiety.

2. Get Inspired

Notice the other people who drive.

Before I finally got my license. There were times when I felt like I was simply incapable of driving. Like maybe it just wasn’t for me because my fear of it wasn’t going away. But over time I was able to pull inspiration and motivation from other drivers.

First, from my 4’11 cousin who drove around in a big truck as if it was nothing. Then from silly things like Calvin sitting on a tire to drive Tracy home in the movie Like Mike. Even though that was a fictional scene that didn’t even go smoothly (he made it back to that hotel tho 😆). I still felt like if he could do it, so could I!

Even more so. I ended up coming across a YouTube channel (Its Kashmiere), where she shared videos on how she was able to do things without having arms. When she posted a video of her driving with her feet, it was an eye-opener for me.

Seeing how she wasn’t letting anything stop her and how easy she made driving look. Let me know that driving was not off limits for me simply because of my anxiety. She was probably my biggest motivator.

The Video: Driving With My Feet! – Its Kashmiere

If you have your own car, you can also make it a more inviting place to be by decorating! That way you actually want to be in there and will enjoy riding around in it.

Things You Can Do:

• Get some air freshers from Bath & Body Works. They smell much stronger than normal car fresheners and you can get a super cute holder for it!
• Put flower clips in your air vents to bring in a pop of color.
• If your car interior has deep enough groves. Add some LED molding for even more color.
• Add inspirational messages to your rearview mirror that way you get a quick reminder of whatever you need to hear while driving.

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3. Get Determined

Why do you want to drive?

Is it because you hate public transportation? Hate having to ask people to take you somewhere? You need to get back and forth to work?

For me, it was all of the above. Plus I had a couple of bad experiences with Uber the year before I got my license. One where I’m pretty sure I was about to get kidnapped and the other where I had a driver who was under the influence. I knew I NEVER wanted to have to take another Lyft or Uber ever again after that. So I decided driving anxiety would no longer keep me from driving.

I had also gotten tired of being stuck at home all day and knew I needed the freedom of being able to drive whenever/wherever I wanted.

So think about how you feel when a friend drives you to a party and you’re stuck there until they’re ready to go home. Or when you’ve been waiting 30 minutes for your ride to pick you up from work. In those moments you were probably wishing you could drive yourself, right?

Figure out your why. Let all those annoyances and frustrations fuel you. Let yourself be so desperate to have independence and reliability – that you have no choice but to push through your anxiety.

You May Also Like:

• How I Started Forcing Myself Out Of The House

4. Drive!

“Ain’t nothing to it, but to do it.”

– Wallace From The Tv Show Martin

If you ever watched the show Martin, you might remember the scene of Martin and Wallace singing this phrase, as Martin sneakily kicks him out of his house. It always makes me laugh, but it’s sound advice forreal.

Honestly, the only way to get over your driving anxiety is to drive. If you drive every and now then and wonder why your anxiety isn’t getting any better. It’s because you keep taking multiple weeks or months off from driving! You aren’t giving yourself a chance to overcome it. By not driving, you’re just sitting with your anxious thoughts making yourself feel worse. I promise that the more that you drive, the easier it will become!

How You Can Start:

1. Bring a passenger you feel comfortable with.
2. Don’t listen to music while driving. If you do, choose something that’s chill (stay away from fast songs!).
3. Drive only short distances OR
4. Drive places that give you an incentive to go.
   • Grocery store cuz you or your pet need snacks, gym because you want to lose weight, etc.
5. Drive often! At least 2-3 times a week to start.

Final Thoughts

I hope these steps will help you overcome your driving anxiety! It won’t be a one day process. Maybe not even a one month process. But before you know it, you will be switching lanes and road-raging like all the other drivers out there lol 😊. You got this!

Share your tips on how to overcome driving anxiety in the comments below!