ADD and driving

[halo0073]

Does anyone else have trouble with driving? I was only diagnosed a month and a half ago, at age 36. I have never been able to get my driver's license. I have had my permit  several times, but everyone I know just thinks I am so weird that I can't drive. They think I am being stubborn in not doing it. Everytime I drive it is beyond nervewracking for

Comments

[indy_md]

when i'm by myself i'm fine but the minute i get passengers in the car i'm making stupid mistakes everywhere and nearly getting into an accident. i guess the limit of my attention is just me and the car, a passenger is too much for me. i do drive with passengers occasionally though and i've never had an accident but friends prefer they do the driving instead and think i'm a bad driver. but really, they don't see me when i'm fine by myself in the car. so the answer to your question would be yes and no. one thing that has made a difference is medication. i have never been a good parker. i'll angle park or drive into a slot but i will never parallel park or back into a slot. a few weeks ago at school, after i had taken my medication, there was a parking spot i wanted but i wasn't angled right to drive in so i back in instead and did it perfectly! maybe with the right medication you can get better at driving.

[themachinestops]

Yeah, I had the same problem with passengers in the car, or the stereo, when I was on my permit. I couldn't abide anyone talking to me, driving was hard enough without adding conversation to it. And no music/radio, ever! Oh man, I was such a FUN person to be in the car with.

[halo0073]

That's my problem too. I just know I could teach myself how to drive all alone in the car instead of with other people. Not sure how to manage that though since I have a 2 year old and a 5 year old.

[codeman38]

Heh, I don't think I could handle driving alone either-- there's too much stuff that I miss, to the point that it's helpful to have someone else in the car to alert me to it! -_-;;

[themachinestops]

I'm 28 and don't have a license. At first I thought it was just due to my vision (I have really horrible near-sightedness and poor depth perception), but looking back, a whole lot of it was due to problems with mental focus too. Paying attention to two+ things at once is a pretty important part of driving, and that's something I have issues with. Also, there's trouble "getting the gears shifting," altering plans like not being able to change lanes because of an unexpected driver, which I could never get the hang of. And there were just things I totally blanked on, like signs. I never knew what the speed limit was (because that would require reading while driving, not gonna happen), so I always drove a lot slower than I could have which I'm sure pissed a lot of people off and made me more likely to get in an accident.

When I was on effective medication a few months ago I was raring to get my license because I thought I could pass, even though I'd only be cleared for daytime driving because of my eyes. It would have been something,

[halo0073]

Yes, I did take lessons a few years ago. The guy told me I need at least $300 more of lessons, but it did help get my feet wet. I am taking Concerta 36 mg now for about a month. It helps a little but not enough as I still get frazzled when too many things are requiring attention at one time. My 2 small children let me know multiple times a day where I am at with that issue ;) I started with Adderall but side effects were pretty bad for me. I am weaning off of Cymbalta now and after I am stable for a bit, my doc says we can go up on the Concerta.

[_unsure]

Yeah, I'm 22 and no driver's license... there really is a social stigma to it. I feel way more embarrassed/awkward about telling people I can't drive then telling them I have ADD or depression. :/ It's very job-limiting for me also.

My brain just seems to shut down because there are so many things to pay attention to at once.This, exactly. I just get all sweaty and shakey and I can't wait to be done. Even if I manage to get to the point where I'm feeling okay about things, then like, I'll end up having to deal with another car or forget to check my blindspot - and then I get overwhelmed/stressed and my brain shuts down

[halo0073]

exactly!!! People constantly feel the need to ask me about it, or tell everyone they know. It's sooo nice to hear someone else understands

[pet_lunatic]

I can't drive for reaons similar to yours, plus some eyesight problems. I had a lot of lessons and failed two tests before I gave up. I have no desire to drive; public transport does me pretty well! Driving is far too stressful and there's too much traffic on the roads to make it that much of a benefit, anyway!

[_kommando_]

i'm 24 and i don't drive. i may attempt it when i am back on strattera, but as of right now, i have no plans. and yes, people are rude about it and it has limited job opportunites, especially since i live in a very car centred city- public transit sucks.