WHY DO I FEEL SUCH A FAILURE?

I am a 42-year-old woman with an 18-year-old daughter. I have a low-level clerical job. My problem is that I have failed my driving test six times. This may sound trivial but my brother passed first time at 17 and my sister, who is an engineer in the army, also passed first time and my mother second time. It makes me feel dreadful as that is the story of my life – nothing comes easily to me. It’s got to me so much that I am now on antidepressants. I have had counselling for low self-esteem and the counsellor said I was a good person but probably one of those people who are inept at many things, which made me feel worse. My friend says I should ignore everyone’s sarcastic comments and go on a residential driving course. She is also encouraging me to go in for a singing competition as the first prize is a car. Singing is one of the things I can do. You really should enter that singing competition. Even if you don’t win, I am sure you would do very well and it would be good for your confidence. I am sorry you had a bad experience of counselling. You sound like a lovely person, I think you just lack confidence. I would try another counsellor, so contact the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (itsgoodtotalk.org.uk). Also, I wonder if you have dyspraxia, which is a condition similar to dyslexia but causes problems with coordination and organisation and is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of; contact the Dyspraxia Foundation (dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk). If you would like to continue, don’t give up on the driving. Your friend sounds great. Listen more to her and less to the negative people in your life.