Hello, I'm new to this website but I feel (no idea why) this is the right place to share my feelings and ask for any help. Excuse my English - not from English speaking countries.

I'm 23 years old and I'm having big difficulties with something other people around me take for granted - I'm afraid to drive a car.

I got my driving licence when I was 18 years old and I was really excited about driving. I knew I'm not the right person for the "car community" (for me it is/was just a mean of transport, not a passion) but I thought I will just drive and being, I don't know, okay with that.

I drove a few hundreds kilometres but when I drove more and more, I started to feel less confident about my driving skills. I have no idea what happened but maybe it caused my mistakes on the roads and almost a crash (although it wouldn't be something horrible, the situation wasn't that bad and thanks to God everything went fine). I don't trust the car I drive, I don't trust people on the roads. I just hate everything that relates to cars.

Suddenly I realized I'm not the "car material". But franky I wasn't when I started so... It was pretty normal. But back in the time I was confident about driving. Now I'm not. At all. And it drives (hah, irony) me crazy for couple of reasons...

I'm telling myself that car isn't that important. Even if I'm a man and everybody counts on the situation I will drive. I'm telling myself that means of public transports are enough to take me whenever I want. But people around me (even my family) can't understand that. They constantly push me to driving and I'm scared to tell them how I feel.

And now my girlfriend (22 yo) decided to get her driving licence. I'm proud of her in any way and I love her so much but I can't deal with the fact that she will drive and I won't. It supposed to be me who drives, not her. Plus I'm afraid what friends and family will say about that. "She drives and you don't. That's not the way how it supposed to be" (and talks like that).

For me this situation is really depressing and I don't know what to do. I'm really not sure I will sit behind the wheel ever again, because when I feel that it's not the right thing to do (the worst scenario, I can hurt or kill someone on the roads, God!), I'm not doing it. Period. But I can't deal with facts I mentioned previously.

Can someone "help" me how to deal with it? Or am I the only one who feels that way? I'd be very thankful for any reaction on this matter.

Thank you so much a have a nice day!

F.

EDIT: I just realized I published it in the wrong category. I'm sorry about that and if anyone can move this post to the related category, I'd be glad. Thanks.