Good on you for pushing past the fear factor.
I am on a similar position but a wee bit further down the track.
To deal with the panic attacks I would sit on the bike for 5mins till my breathing calmed down, then start the bike and wait till my breathing calmed down, then pull out to the end of the driveway and wait till my breath... well you get the idea.. Then rode down to the supermarket/round the block/to the dairy etc. Just short rides to get me going.
The next time it would just be a little bit easier etc. Personally I found being on my own made this process a lot easier. Having someone there telling what I needed to do just made it worse. I felt way too much pressure to go too fast too soon.
Now the only big anxiety I have is on roundabouts and the motorway. I had a lesson on how to ride safely round roundabouts recently and that has helped heaps.
Then the man lured me onto the open road with promise of a weekend away etc and after actually doing that, at my own pace a couple of times, I have to say I feel lots more confident.
Anyway, good for you, there are lots of supportive people out there and you sound like you have done the hardest part already.
Feel free to pm me if you want to chat. (sorry to sound like oprah) You are not alone.
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