I couldn't find my way out of a paper bag

Mnay people know I work in Genetic Research and let me tell you, as soon as a gene is uncovered to help those of us who lack the ability to get their bearings I am all over that shit. Seriously, I lack that basic gene that lets you know where you parked your car in the mall parking lot. When I am suppose to go left...I go right. It's a disease people and I need a cure. I tried aggressive therapy. I used to purposely drive on back roads and get lost so I could get over that panick and find my way out. I am much better, panick wise....I still get lost.
So last night I went to a colleagues defense party (yay for her for completing her doctoral degree). Anyway, I had directions and had no problem finding the place. My downward spiral began when it was time for me to leave. I foolishly had forgotten to ask the mapping program to reverse teh directions for me. (One characteristic of the genetic defect is the inability to reverse directions in my head while driving). I got SOOOOOOOO LOST!! I was almost in tears. I knew I was in trouble when I started to drive by a lake (OK I turned around and backtracked. I knew I had made a critical error early on) Start again and OH shit....there's that freakin lake again.
I turned around again and got back on track. When I was suppose to go right, I went left. I tried to fix it and ended up making it worse. I eventually found my way back. I was so tempted to call E and bitch him out (solely because I was scared adn mad he wasn't driving so I wasn't in this mess). As it turned out I found my way home without shedding a tear and it only took me 58 minutes (it should have only been 30 minutes tops).
Zeeks, I hope this will give you some insight as to why soem women won't drive into places. In my case it's only places I have never driven before. I have a lot of anxiety buuild up when I have to do it and I really have to talk myself into it. I am better, but it has taken years of forcing myself through it. I didn't go to a party one year because I was afraid of driving somewhere new to me adn I always regretted it. I won't let that happen again even if I do have to send out an SOS to get home. lol!!