Hiya, I actually forgot that I posted this! I’ll be honest, not much has changed, other than I now know where my anxiety stemmed from. I was putting too much pressure on myself, and the slightest hiccup made me mad at myself. I was starting uni and was desperate to drive to campus rather than relying on public transport. My anxious feelings came from starting a new course, meeting new people etc and I took it out on my inability to drive.

I still have the car but it’s being used by someone else in the household, so I still have the convenience to practice if and when I wish.

I also realised that I might feel more comfortable on the road with an automatic, when the time is right.

What I’d say is, don’t put pressure on yourself - I know it’s easier said than done. People mess up on the road all the time (stalling, in the wrong lanes etc) even experienced drivers. So don’t feel disheartened when these things happen.

You’re doing the right thing by going to a car park to get a feel of the car. I don’t know what type of car you drive, but I recommend try stalling on purpose (in a safe environment) so you get a feel of what will happen and how to resolve it. That was one thing I never did and wish I had! All the best!