Should I Really Drive?

Originally published in Youth Allied By CFIDS, Summer 1997

It's hard enough being a teenager, but when you add the effects of an illness like CFIDS, it makes everything more difficult. You're probably at that age where your friends are all starting to drive. You want to also, but you don't know if you should. Before making your final decision about driving or learning to drive, here are some of the questions you might ask:

• "Drivers Ed. - Will I make it through?"
• "I'm feeling okay today, but should I really drive?"
• "What do I do if I start to feel bad while I'm out driving on my own?"
• "All of my friends are driving, so why can't I do it also?"
• "What if I just don't have the strength to do anything, but I need to get to the grocery store?"

If even just one of these questions sounds familiar, you may want to consider the views of other YPWCs before you get behind the wheel.

Choosing to drive:

"CFS has really made it hard for me to drive all the time. I can only drive about 10-20 minutes at a time. My eyes are really sensitive to the sun. I have to concentrate extremely hard on everything going on around me, plus driving. I think one of the hardest things about not really being able to drive is always asking other people to drive, plus waiting until they have time. Also, driving around and exploring things used to be one of my favorite pastimes." -Amy, age 23

Choosing not to drive:

"I still don't drive because I choose not to take a chance. I forget how to do things while I'm in the middle of doing them, and I forget where I am. I don't want to endanger people because of these memory problems, so I choose not to drive." -Jennifer, age 19

A parent's view on driving:

"Parents should definitely use caution when deciding whether or not to let their YPWC drive a car. Although I trust my daughter's judgement when she tells me she is having a good day and feels up to driving, I limit the amount of time she spends behind the wheel." -Gail, parent of a 17-year-old YPWC

The responsibilities of driving:

"I think that when you are learning to drive while having CFIDS, which I did, you should take many things into consideration. Like, will you feel up to taking on responsibility for everyone in the car and on the road? Are you in a good physical and mental state so if, all of a sudden, a car speeds out in front of you and you must stop with no time to think, will you have the mental ability to think fast and the physical ability to break fast? Driving is a huge responsibility when you're sick, especially with something like CFIDS. These are just a few of the many questions that I ask myself before I get behind the wheel." --Jen, age 16

If you have ever been in any of these situations, then you know what these and other YPWCs are going through. If you're not to the age of driving yet, then try to remember these statements and, when it's your time to drive, really think hard about what these young people have said.

Whether you are choosing to drive, like Amy, Jen and me, or you are choosing not to drive, like Jennifer, please know that you are not alone in your decision. If you're choosing not to drive, there will be a day when you'll have the chance. Maybe not today, next week, month or year, but someday, you will be able.