vanblah

It really depends on what is making me nervous or anxious. Can you be more specific?
Identify what is causing the stress and either eliminate it or come to terms with it. Coming to terms with it can be a challenge, especially if it's irrational.

Jinnkai's point is a pretty good one. Just remember that it won't happen immediately, it takes a while to be able to control your emotions, especially if they are irrational. And you're never really in total control of them no matter how hard you try. Sometimes, they sneak up on you. Also, not all anxiety is emotional or irrational. His point about a stranger following you is good ... being nervous in that situation is a very rational, non-emotional reaction to a source of stress. However, if you are ALWAYS nervous when someone is behind you then that may be irrational.


20 years ago I was in a head-on collision on an interstate. It was around midnight and I was behind an 18-wheeler who suddenly slammed on his brakes and swerved right. Naturally I pulled to the left, only to see what had caused the truck driver to slam on his brakes: a drunk driver on the WRONG side of I-70. I didn't have much time to do anything other than pull hard to the right; unfortunately the idiot, drunk-driver heading right for me pulled to the left. We hit nearly head-on doing around 60 MPH. We were both driving giant station wagons--no one was seriously injured. However, we were all pretty shaken up, including the truck driver who I remember standing at my window asking if I was all right.

It took me about 6 months to be able to drive comfortably at night; and at first I didn't even try it. I still get a little nervous passing trucks at night. I couldn't eliminate the need to drive at night so I had to come to terms with it. It took a while, but I was able to.