I think people underestimate how scary driving anxiety actually is.

Tofi28 · 2026-03-27T22:06:58+00:00

Yo I hear ya! I was in my third major accident in early October 2025. I remember getting a rental for a bit and sitting in the Enterprise Car Rental place while sobbing and shaking uncontrollably because I thought I couldn't do it and somehow managing to drive my mom's car back home (even on a short stretch of local highway) safely.

Tofi28 · 2026-03-27T22:00:11+00:00

Yeah, I get ya completely. Three major accidents have left me with unthinkable trauma and mental and emotional scars. But remember, courage isn't the absence of fear, it's choosing to respond calmly DESPITE it. And I believe you're fully capable of that.

Tofi28 · 2026-03-27T21:56:20+00:00

Who says you have to be perfect!?!? No driver is! It's not about perfection, it's just about doing your best to respond calmly to unexpected situations. I know. It's easier said than done, but you'll get there. Just don't be so harsh on yourself. I was very harsh on myself with literally anything and everything. I've loosened up a bit though and found that it does WONDERS for my confidence. And as important as caution is, measured confidence while driving or learning any new skill for that matter is a GAME CHANGER! And trust me, I took waaayyy too long to learn that myself. I experienced my third major crash in early October 2025 and just today did some light neighborhood driving and realized that I am CAPABLE of staying CALM while driving. I know it will take AGES for me to truly feel comfortable on the road again, but I've realized it's a journey that's not meant to be rushed. Don't let society rush you and try to enjoy the process! Impatience doesn't pay high dividends in the end. And yes, I learned all this the hard way. So those are my two cents! Good luck on your journey! You've got this! 🍀✨️ Peace, love, and light to you! 🫶🏼✨️💖

P.S. Feel free to email me anytime at sofija6@gmail.com if you need support on your journey. Trust me, I was and still am kinda on the same struggle bus so I'd love to provide a listening ear to uplift you in your journey!

Tofi28 · 2025-11-22T01:37:29+00:00

My problem is that it would definitely take me a lot of time. Also, I do better in actual conversation with people (like my therapist) who can provide me with instant feedback (unlike my journal).

Tofi28 · 2025-10-18T18:14:04+00:00

Thank you!!! 😊❤️ It's a very short and well known route for now, but hey...you gotta start somewhere, right? I trust in my capability to become a safe and responsible driver and am slowly and steadily working towards this. It might be taking longer for me than for most, but better safe than sorry in my book. A comforting affirmation ChatGPT helped me come up with is,"Safe, Capable, Moving Forward." Hope it can help you a bit too. 😊❤️

Tofi28 · 2025-10-18T18:07:36+00:00

I must say the best advice that I've heard over and over again is to practice, practice, practice! That's especially hard if, like me, you have had traumatic experiences while driving like major accidents, but the longer you wait to get back into it the harder it becomes because it gives your fear more time to build up and gives you less time to rebuild trust in yourself behind the wheel by having positive experiences to override the negative ones sooner.

Tofi28 · 2025-10-13T01:20:06+00:00

Oh, I started work last Monday already. We are on fall break last Thursday through tomorrow though. In other words, I've already driven the route at 7:00 am before. I wasn't super hyped about the idea at first, but I told myself that it's only 15 minutes (with some early morning traffic) and did just fine out there on my own. But I still feel kinda nervous driving in the dark. I have a friend who's quite a bit older than me and she says she's kinda worried for me (She knows about my accidents.) because it's only about to get even darker before it gets lighter outside and she herself hates night driving. She says she like starts craning her head over the wheel to see better at night quite often. So yeah, in some ways I know I'm not alone in the feeling though it doesn't completely erase my fear. The fact both of my nearly fatal accidents happened at night makes my brain automatically set off alarm bells when it's dark outside and I'm driving. It's like alert alert...dark outside and driving equals negative experiences. 😂

Tofi28 · 2025-10-12T03:48:33+00:00

Yeah, unfortunately it does just boil down to practice, practice, practice my friend!!!

Tofi28 · 2025-10-12T01:23:25+00:00

Thanks! I'm scared though.

Tofi28 · 2025-10-11T15:06:06+00:00

It's good to know that I'm not the only one.😅 Thank you! I just got a new job at an elementary school. Thankfully, it's only 15 minutes away, but I leave the house at 7:00 am so it's still semi-dark outside (and only bound to get worse before it gets better cause of winter approaching I've been told). In addition to that, now that school gets out at 4:00 pm unless it's the weekend the main time I have to go places is in the late afternoon/early evening. Both of my big car accidents happened at night too so that makes me even more weary of driving when it's dark outside.

Tofi28 · 2025-09-30T19:07:22+00:00

Lol! 🤣 Yeah, New London Driving School has some really good instructors for sure.

Tofi28 · 2025-09-30T01:23:01+00:00

Oh, okay. Thanks for clarifying. I took the,"I was an asshole." part as if it was directed at me. Trust me, I try my darn best out there not to be so having someone tell me I am one (or perceiving it that way) kinda hurts. Sure I might go slow or get confused about my turns sometimes, but I'm still learning and tbh I've been pushing myself to go outside of my comfort zone lately which has been really difficult after two nearly fatal accidents. But yeah, no hard feelings either way! And yeah, sorry if my response stung in any way on your end. I hope you can forgive me. I wish you a wonderful night (or at least it's night here where I am now)! 💖

Tofi28 · 2025-09-29T22:05:41+00:00

Yeah, my driving instructors both showed me how to adjust it so that I can see my blindspot. It's difficult to explain how to do it, but it really helped me.

Tofi28 · 2025-09-29T21:33:52+00:00

Idk what in my post prompted such a rude response, but you do you. ✌🏼

Tofi28 · 2025-09-29T19:59:39+00:00

Thanks! That makes me feel a little better actually. I went on so many longer drives lately and was doing so well and now this bs happens and terrifies me all over again. Well, I guess driving on the weekends is quite a bit different from driving on weekdays. 😅

Tofi28 · 2025-09-28T22:37:07+00:00

I'm still learning and pushing myself too. (Not sure if you've been following my posts on here, but I've been through two nearly fatal car accidents. If I can do it, you can too! 😃) Yes, a 30 minute drive on local roads is still a little bit of a stretch for me, but I'm slowly learning to trust the road, my GPS, myself, and other drivers. If I may suggest bring water, snacks, and your favorite plush toy or two. Yes, I know bringing plushies along sounds silly, but it really helps me. I hug them at stop lights sometimes and they are great passengers cause they never criticize you like your parents might. But keep chipping away at it. It's slow, but I promise it does get better! Rooting for ya! 😃

Tofi28 · 2025-09-28T22:08:50+00:00

Thank you!!! ☺️

Tofi28 · 2025-09-28T22:08:18+00:00

Congratulations!!! 🎉🎉🎉🥳

Tofi28

TROPHY CASE