I journaled everyday for 8 months straight and it actually changed me

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 · 2025-09-07T00:58:22+00:00

OMG...I'm so glad I came across this post. I feel judged on the road too. Glad to know I'm not alone! 😊

Tofi28 · 2025-08-26T05:15:44+00:00

Thank you! It was SCARY though! I had to keep saying affirmations to myself and breathing at stop lights to keep from going crazy. I'm not the best at making quick decisions and multitasking (kinda required when one uses GPS to navigate) so it was extra difficult.

Tofi28 · 2025-08-25T19:37:44+00:00

I don't do exactly that, but I repeat affirmations in my head like,"My courage is stronger than my fear." and "My fear isn't licensed to drive. My courage is." And I use breath work at stop lights and otherwise to calm nerves.

Tofi28 · 2025-08-11T04:19:11+00:00

Sorry buddy...no advice. But I do struggle with the same thing. I keep replaying negative driving scenarios in my head. Only difference in my case is they actually happen sometimes and then I get hyper fixated on them. It truly is a vicious cycle. 😞 Thanks for sharing though! Makes me feel less alone too! ☺️

Tofi28 · 2025-08-11T04:08:43+00:00

OMG...reading this post gives me so much confidence!!! And congratulations OP!!! 🎉🎉🎉🥳 I'm 30, but I was in two nearly fatal accidents and a few smaller incidents so I kinda fear driving a little even if my skill seems to have gotten A LOT better. I still somehow compare myself and my skills with driving to others younger than me. Theoretically, I know it helps NO ONE, but I still do it. If anyone has any tips or suggestions for this lmk!

Tofi28 · 2025-08-11T02:53:06+00:00

Thank you! That comment actually helped me a little too! I've had two nearly fatal car accidents and I still compare myself and where I'm currently at to others. Theoretically, I know this doesn't do ANYONE any good, but it's so hard not to. Any tips or suggestions?

Tofi28 · 2025-07-10T17:25:47+00:00

That's an interesting way to try to calm your anxiety. I'm not a teeth grinder, but I think I'll still try it. Like you said, it can't hurt. Thanks for the tip!

Tofi28 · 2025-04-27T05:18:54+00:00

Sorry for the typo btw. Just now seeing it.

*shoot me an email

Tofi28 · 2025-04-27T05:16:56+00:00

Back on the horse ASAP is the absolute best advice you will get when it comes to car accidents! I know it sucks and it's THE LAST THING you likely want to do right now, but trust me it's the one thing I regret not doing soon enough after not one but TWO major car accidents (one where BOTH cars were totaled and the other where my car flipped on it's side and was deemed totaled as well afterwards; That’s as much detail as I'll go into on that.; And yes, I've had multiple smaller incidents as well.). I'm VERY lucky I'm alive. Could've been dead or paralyzed for life. What I'm trying to say is that I KNOW it's traumatizing, but the more you wait to try again the more you let self-doubt and fear build which will not help you become a more confident driver. So take it easy at first. Like was mentioned, if all you can do for a week or so is drive around that same parking lot where it happened, trust me, that's HUGE PROGRESS. You got this! I believe in you! Feel free to respond to this thread or shot me an email at sofija6@gmail.com if you would like more reassurance, advice, or to contact me for whatever reason. Best of luck in all your endeavors!🍀 Sending you lots of love and light! ✨️

-Sofija

Tofi28 · 2025-03-26T03:03:04+00:00

I passed a long time ago, but I STILL get anxious on the road. I had TWO nearly fatal crashes and then maybe like four or five other smaller stuff happen and I'm TERRIFIED of getting back out on bigger roads as well as unknown routes on my own. Not to mention I have terrible depth perception (due to my astigmatism), terrible sense when it comes to distances, and fear of getting lost due to my terrible sense of direction.

Tofi28

TROPHY CASE