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Learning to drive is overwhelming

Donnie'sEyebrow

Hello,

I recently got my license (on my 3rd test attempt) and I'm starting to realise how overwhelming I find driving to be.

Sometimes I enjoy it - it feels good to be good at things - but other times, especially driving home after work or a late night event where I've been masking for hours, it's incredibly stressful. I usually cry on the drive home because everything is so overwhelming and I can't stop without stopping the car, but even then I wouldn't be in a suitable place to calm myself or feel better. Not until I get home.

I think this is a result of:

A. Being worried about how other people perceive me on the road

B. My overworked brain having to process the constant information about the road ahead and around me

C. Not being able to easily 'let go' of small mistakes I make

D. All of these things together distracting my thoughts! Making me worry I'm going to crash

I am still yet to start frequently driving home alone (one of my parents has been coming with me each time). So my experience driving could either get better or worse as I get more independent - I'm willing to find out! But driving is starting to become something I dread. I guess I really would just love to know that I'm not alone, it's hard not to feel isolated in my experiences a lot of the time.

I also feel like people who tell me "it'll get better with time." aren't understanding the complexity of my experience.

Thank you to anyone who reads this and/or shares their experience, it makes me feel less alone as an autistic person in a NT world

Parents

  • I can drive but it is energy intensive, I’m better on journey’s that I know well and when the roads are quiet. Driving at peak times, in unfamiliar places or complex road systems (inner cities with one way systems or weird roundabouts) is particularly stressful. Also night driving with all the lights, I can find it hard to process. And parking, not knowing where I can park when going somewhere or not being able to find parking is overwhelming. 

    On days when I’m low energy, driving would be a pretty difficult challenge for me, and even on good days can leave me drained of energy. I’ve been driving consistently for probably 8 years now, and yeah, it can still be a struggle. I think it’s about knowing yourself and not overcommitting. If you don’t need to drive, don’t. Stick to short journeys that you know well. Avoid peak times.

    You’re definitely not alone in this struggle

Reply

  • I can drive but it is energy intensive, I’m better on journey’s that I know well and when the roads are quiet. Driving at peak times, in unfamiliar places or complex road systems (inner cities with one way systems or weird roundabouts) is particularly stressful. Also night driving with all the lights, I can find it hard to process. And parking, not knowing where I can park when going somewhere or not being able to find parking is overwhelming. 

    On days when I’m low energy, driving would be a pretty difficult challenge for me, and even on good days can leave me drained of energy. I’ve been driving consistently for probably 8 years now, and yeah, it can still be a struggle. I think it’s about knowing yourself and not overcommitting. If you don’t need to drive, don’t. Stick to short journeys that you know well. Avoid peak times.

    You’re definitely not alone in this struggle

Children
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