I Have Wasted So Much Money

"After a conversation about a year ago with Julian, I started my journey with Ride Drive. For the first time I had found someone that actually understood how I felt. I had tried a counsellor, a hypnotist and a phobia clinic, to which I might add was extremely expensive, and actually set me further back with my phobia.

The driving phobia started with motorways
and then spread to dual carriageways

My phobia was motorways, which I realised was quickly spreading to dual carriageways and sometimes just ordinary roads. Why or how the driving phobia manifests itself I don’t really know, but I was going through a lot of trauma in my life and I suppose it had to come out somewhere.

I had been driving for many, many years and to be confronted with something that I had absolutely no control over now affected many aspects of my life. I was absolutely petrified to go on a motorway, but because I couldn’t stand the feeling of being out of control, I kept making myself do it. Every time I tried I would end up a quivering mess on the hard shoulder and hating myself for being so weak. I had now got to the point that if anybody mentioned a motorway the panic would start. I decided that the only way to deal with this was to confront my fear head–on, but I needed help because I couldn’t do it alone.

Owning up to being scared of driving on a road makes you feel foolish

So, here starts my journey, I was very nervous and also feeling a little foolish, after all who can be scared of a road, but the feeling was very real. I had my assessment with Steve who believed that I could conquer this phobia and instilled that belief in me.

We very quickly built up a friendship and I had every confidence in him. He is an amazing guy and I am full of admiration for him, so many times I slipped backwards, but he never gave up on me. We started by building my confidence on ordinary roads. Steve has such a passion for driving that it started to rub off on me as I began to see things in a new light, and actually started to enjoy driving again. I have been on a skidpan and speeded around an airfield, which really did boost my confidence. That part was relatively easy, but the motorway driving wasn’t.

A lot of time was spent driving up and down the motorway,
working through the phobia

I still felt that I wasn’t in control and the car was controlling me, but we spent every session driving up and down the motorway and sometimes I would be okay and another time the wobbles would come back. I think this is something I am going to have to live with, because the fear never really goes away, and as Steve said, I just have to learn to control it.

I have to say that we had lots of laughs and plenty of tears (that’s me, not Steve) along the way, but I have now reached a point, a year later, where I have to go it alone and I know I can do it. I have had a few dodgy times and I still keep to my comfort zone on the inside lane, but I am determined to get better and better and to feel comfortable overtaking again, which is where my first panic attack started.

Steadily getting over the fear of driving on motorways

It has been a long journey, but it has been worth it. A year ago I couldn’t drive up the slip road without having a major panic attack, and now I am going from strength to strength. Every time I go out in the car it is a new journey and Steve has made me realise my abilities in that I know I am a good driver. I am so grateful to Ride Drive, but especially to Steve, my special friend, as without him I couldn’t have done it.  He is the best teacher I could have asked for. I now really enjoy going out driving and one of these days I may be able to say that about motorway driving.

Lesley.

You Are Here – Home Page » Customer Feedback » Lesley’s Story

This page was last updated
Monday, 10-May-2010

Stop Panic Attacks on The Motorway – Ride Drive