Perfectionism

[kuhtreen]

Please excuse my complaining, I just need to vent.

I feel like I have to do every little thing absolutely perfectly, you know? Especially when driving. I'm just learning how to drive. I have my permit, so when I go places with my parents, I'm the one driving. The moment that I make a mistake, I get so embarrassed and frazzled. Sometimes, I actually want to cry. I feel like all the other drivers around me are thinking what a horrible driver I am, even if the mistake isn't that big.
I've only been driving a few months, but I feel like I have to drive like I've been doing it for forty years. I know that no one expects me to be perfect since I don't even have my license...
I'm just so hard on myself. If I didn't drive perfectly, I just hate myself for it and I get in a bad mood.

I'm saying this all now because it just happened. I drove my parents and myself to dinner, and I just can't accept the fact that I made more than a few mistakes. My mom even commented that I need to get my "touch" back. I can't let it go. I never want to drive again, but I know I have to.

I just knew I wouldn't be able to stop thinking about it tonight unless I got it out of my system. So thank you for allowing me to vent. :roll:

 

[karut]

It's just something you need to keep practicing at. It's easier to practice on less traveled roads at first because city driving can be very stressful if your new. No one's a perfect driver. I'm sure everyone's made their fair share of mistakes while driving or there wouldn't be any car accidents. I almost got a D in driver's ed because I'd get so flustered at having to drive with everyone watching.

 

[2Crowded]

Relax...u will get the hang of it...those little mistakes you made you will learn from & get better cause of them...keep at it....ask to drive more often..when ever you get the chance...the more you do it...the better & more relaxed you will be...relaxing is the key really....when you are nervous & or tense...thats when mistakes usually happen I figure...concentrate on what you are doing & try to block out those thoughts of other drivers examining your skills...they really probably arent thinking much at all about you..they just want to get where they are going as fast as they can....the more u do it succesfully the more calm & relaxed you will feel ='s better performances/more confidence in the future.

 

[sabbath92002]

When you're driving down the highway at night
And you're feelin that wild turkeys bite
Don't give johnny walker a ride
Cause jack black is right by your side
You might get taken to the jailhouse and fined
You've been arrested for driving while blind

Now just the other night with nothin to do
We broke a case of proof 102
And started itchin for that wonderful feel
Of rollin in an automobile
You could say we was out of our mind
And let me tell you we were flyin while blind

Then they had us up against the wall
Hey its only blood grain alcohol
And there aint no cause for alarm
We aint out to do nobody no harm
How could anyone be so unkind
To arrest a man for drivin while blind

 

[chris87]

I know how you feel. I felt the same way when I was learning to drive, and I still get upset when I do something dumb, even though I have my license. If I make a mistake, I can't stop thinking about it. Just keep practicing and you'll become more comfortable. Don't stop driving...I put off getting my license for over a year, and it caused me a lot of grief and embarrassment.

 

[Walk]

Give it a few months and you'll get the hang of it, it'll just be a common thing.

 

[Akira]

I'm kind of the same. I have an 'if I can't do it perfectly, then I won't even bother trying at all' attitude. My mother ended up forcing me to take the driving test for my license, and my parents tried to force me to drive as much as possible while I had my permit. Even today, I never drive anywhere.

 

[Moonie]

I'm not going to lie- I was (am still- sort of) a stinky driver. I got too nervous and worried about what the drivers behind me thought. And there was this one time when my mom even said when I turned, "I bet the driver behind you is happy." I started crying! I hated driving. I failed my drivers test a couple times, too.

Let me just say, I think I didn't actually learn to drive until I got my license and drove alone. I was a little bit more relaxed- than having someone sitting beside me making snarky comments. Ifelt like I was learning again. It took me a couple years after getting my license to actually become comfortable with the road. Some major roads/situations still scare me. But, I am much, much better than I was when I got my license about 7 years ago.

 

[Walk]

For me, it was worth going through the learning phase of having the occasional person/jackass honk at me for making a mistake.

Driving gives me a sense of peace, of mental relaxation. I live in the Los Angeles area and driving up to San Francisco was pretty cool. I'd prefer doing it with friends, but c'est la vie. I did it with family though. I'm thinking of driving to Miami when my semester is over. As weird as it sounds, I'm actually tempted in doing it alone.

 

[GloomySunday]

Looking on the positive side of the situation, at least you care about your driving.

Here in England there is a terrible culture of 'Boy Racers' who get drunk and drive recklessly and at high speeds, without a care or thought for anyone. I would personally would feel safer crossing the street knowing that there were more people like yourself who care about their driving.

Don't be too hard on yourself. No one is perfect, but we can always try to do our best, in all things, not just driving. And that's not a bad thing.

 

[weak]

Please excuse my complaining, I just need to vent.

I feel like I have to do every little thing absolutely perfectly, you know? Especially when driving. I'm just learning how to drive. I have my permit, so when I go places with my parents, I'm the one driving. The moment that I make a mistake, I get so embarrassed and frazzled. Sometimes, I actually want to cry. I feel like all the other drivers around me are thinking what a horrible driver I am, even if the mistake isn't that big.
I've only been driving a few months, but I feel like I have to drive like I've been doing it for forty years. I know that no one expects me to be perfect since I don't even have my license...
I'm just so hard on myself. If I didn't drive perfectly, I just hate myself for it and I get in a bad mood.

I'm saying this all now because it just happened. I drove my parents and myself to dinner, and I just can't accept the fact that I made more than a few mistakes. My mom even commented that I need to get my "touch" back. I can't let it go. I never want to drive again, but I know I have to.

I just knew I wouldn't be able to stop thinking about it tonight unless I got it out of my system. So thank you for allowing me to vent. :roll:

You're not alone. When i first got my permit I was the same way. I was driving in the city for the first time and nearly hit a pedestrian, the guy totally flipped out on me and rightfully so but the whole thing was pretty traumatic for me. One bad experience can be really deterring but with time you'll regain your confidence and get the hang of it.

 

[noblame4]

NOBODY starts out as a good driver. I read somewhere that it takes at least 2 years to develop normal reaction time and depth perception for driving. That's why insurance for beguiner drivers is so god-awful expensive.

Also, try driving by yourself sometime and I think you'll notice a marked improvement. I'm a confidant driver and I've been at it for years, but I revert back to student when my folks ride with me. (With my papaw gripping the dash and growling "WATCH OUT!" everytime he sees a stoplight coming up on the horizen.)