Driving test in two weeks: Dealing with nerves

Idjit

Hi all,
I have my first ever driving test booked, it's in two weeks. The nerves are mounting more and more each day. I haven't got my own car so I'm relying on my instructor to have time to do lessons with me (he's unfortunately very busy so only managing a lesson a week so far).

My problem is that the more I think about the test, the more I want to cancel it and forget the whole thing. I really want to get my license and when I booked it I felt confident but that was awhile ago and that confidence has shrivelled again.

Does anyone have any advice on keeping a cool head in the time leading up to the test? I'm so afraid I'll do something stupid and crash just out of nerves, has anyone else felt like this?

Thanks.

AndyBoBandy

Jade182 wrote: »

My problem is that the more I think about the test, the more I want to cancel it and forget the whole thing.

Don't think about it, try to remain calm, go with the approach that whether you pass or fail, your life will not change in any great way, it's only a little plastic card.

Good luck.

dereks

Best of luck. I'm going to do a test in summer and my biggest fear is nerves. I think everyone is nervous, you just have to try and relax as much as possible though i think.

I know easier said than done

Redser87

Andybobandy wrote: »

Don't think about it, try to remain calm, go with the approach that whether you pass or fail, your life will not change in any great way, it's only a little plastic card.

Good luck.

Excellent advice. You have managed to get yourself to places until now without a car and full licence.
And breathe. There are lots of guided relaxation techniques available online, but I found deep breathing to be very helpful in the run-up to my test, and stopped at lights etc I would take a deep, steadying breath... helped me anyway and I passed second time!

Idjit

Thanks for all the advice guys. I got a meditation app for my phone to try and steady the nerves!

ProudDUB

Andybobandy wrote: »

Don't think about it, try to remain calm, go with the approach that whether you pass or fail, your life will not change in any great way, it's only a little plastic card.

Good luck.

Yep. You are just going for a wee spin with someone that you have never driven with before. That's all. You are not facing a firing squad, or doing your Leaving Cert Irish oral, or being asked to do something truly terrifying like pick up a spider. ( :eek: )

You won't be asked to do anything that you didn't know about well in advance, that you have been (I presume) preparing for and practicing, such as the three point turn. You won't be asked to do some funky race car driver manouver, that you didn't cover in lessons. You are just going for a bog standard 20 minute drive with your new friend. If he thinks you did a great job taking him for a wee spin, he'll give you a little piece of paper saying so. If he doesn't, he'll just tell you areas that you need to improve on & you work on those areas when you sit the test again. That's it really. 'Nowt to be nervous about at all !

gerrybbadd

Try to think of how you're feeling now, and will all this be important in 5 years time. In 5 years, you'll look back, and wonder why you were so worked up. Why it all seemed so big of a deal.