Having trouble with parking

Magenta

OK, so I've had my full licence for 2 years now. Passed my test first time within a few months of getting my learner's permit.

I still have awful trouble parking. I have almost a phobia of hitting another car.
I always try to reverse into a space, because that's how I was taught, and I prefer this because I can use my mirrors. But if it's in a busy car park, the fecker behind me is usually driving so close to me that I don't have the room to reverse back into a space, and they are usually trying to edge into it themselves by then.
I'm terrified of parallel parking, because I always feel that there won't be enough room for me to pull back out. Even if there's loads of room when I leave the car, some fecker might park right behind me while I'm gone.
I'm terrified of shopping centre car parks because they are full of children running around, running within 2 feet of the back of the car while you're trying to reverse.
And I'm terrified of driving into a regular car park space (the slanted ones aren't as bad) in case the car can't turn tight enough and I hit the car beside me.
What can I do??? I'm thinking of sticking two wheelie bins about 8 foot apart and practising manouvering between them and trying not to knock them.

Please no smart comments, it's only fear of hitting someone else's car. I'm not bothered about scratching my old yoke!

**Timbuk2**

Don't worry, this is very normal. Even people like you, with full licences, can find it hard as it isn't part of the test, thus the driving instructors don't bother teaching you how.

If you can reverse into a space, then driving into it should be even easier - you just need practice. If you are driving straight in, it's ok to swing outwards a bit and then turn sharply, so you are approaching it at a straighter angle (it's hard to explain this). I would reverse into most spaces, unless I am going grocery shopping, as I'll drive straight in so the boot is beside the driving lane in the car park, as it's easier to put stuff into it.

Definitely try with traffic cones if you are nervous, as it won't matter if you knock these over. When I started, I drove down to an empty car park with my dad and practiced over and over, not doing great. However, in my experience, it's easier to do when there are cars each side of you, as you can see from all angles if you are inside the lines (as if there are no cars, the white lines disappear from view once you line up!

For parallel parking, go to a road that has a lot of parked cars but little traffic (e.g. a residential street) and keep practising parking behind another car, but taking it slowly to make sure you don't hit anything