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Learning to Drive

Pandoren

I'm learning to drive at the moment because it's something I need to do, especially to work (I live in the country) but I am absolutely hating it... I get such bad anxiety about starting the lesson, hours or even the day before it's due... makes me want to go and hide instead of doing it (and fyi, things like "you'll have so much freedom once it is done!" have been said ad nauseam). I've just booked my theory test as well...

:(

  • I found driving instruction moderately uncomfortable, you are suffering more than I did. Do others have/have had this issue? Perhaps a NAS driving school would be possible?

  • Well, the problem there is that I don't know what he can do to make me more comfortable!

  • Given that the instructor is partially Autism aware, is there opertunity to discuss how lesson format could be made more appropriate to someone with an ASV? This would benefit you, by enabling you to learn desired skill in greater comfort, the instructor, by allowing the possibility of him/her continuing to earn by teaching you, and hypothetical future students...  

  • Have you made your needs known to the instructor? Avoiding small talk and/or personal inquiry, speaking unambiguously and presenting information in a fashion you are comfortable with etc. If the above has been discussed without benefit, would you be more comfortable with another instructor?

    keep at it, driving is by far the most comfortable way to travel and infinitely preferably to public transport if one has issues of anxiety.

  • Thanks both.

    The problem with the rewards thing is that there is nothing I really enjoy that I could use as a reward.

    At the moment I would like a green and white classic mini... although I know I can't afford a car! (I am entertaining the idea of naming it *** Turpin... lol)

    We've had a talk... I wasted half an hour of my lesson a couple of weeks ago wanting to leg it and cry so we talked... I hadn't told him I had Asperger's so it was a surprise when he said he'd already realised. As for another instructor, I feel that the odds are I will not get on with another person either so it'll probably be a waste of time changing and also especially since I've now done 18 hours it might push back my progress to start again with someone else.

  • Hi- could you maybe focus on a reward for each driving lesson that you attend.  Choose something that you really like - I chose a bubble bath and every time I finished my lesson I had my bath with special bubbles that I chose for this occasion only!  Chose something you would like to be rewarded for attending each lesson. Focusing on that might also shift your focus off how awkward or difficult the lessons feel.  Try- I hope you can find something that will help you get your driving licence coz it will be worth in the end. I love my little blue car...... Picture your favorite colour car and it might spur you in a bit.

     Good luck