I don't think I have dyslexia, but I've had this problem my whole life, and now its a REAL problem?

Ever since I was a little girl, I could never tell me left from my right. I went to Catholic school and always made sign of the cross with my left, and when someone tells me to turn left, I get confused and sometimes turn right.
Okay, I know that 19 is old to start driving, but I am just starting. I drove several times around my neighborhood and when came to intersection, my mother would say <turn left> and I'd go right.
I have a tiny birthmark on my right, so I have to look at my hands when i am confronted with left/right. I have been tested for IQ three times, and no one ever said I had dyslexia. I don't see letters backwards or anything.
I'm scared because when I drive, I can't examine my hands each time i am told to go a certain direction.
Will this be a problem? Does it sound like a mild dyslexia or something else? Am I safe to drive (based on this problem)?

Edit: This is how I rock...: I've had this problem all my life, its not stress

it might be dysPRAXIA. i recently found out that i've had it for 26 years and it's only just been picked up now i'm at uni. i always misjudge right hand turns on my bike, and have a habitof always saying the opposite direction to the one i mean. it's a pain in the behind. check the links below for more information on dyspraxia, also known as a dcd, developmental co-ordination disorder.

i only found out cause i went to a lecturer citing depression. the disabilities services checked everything out and it's made my life so much easier knowing that there's a reason why i'm different.

you are just being stressed out. ask your mom if you can just drive on your own. see if you can turn which way you want to turn. maybe get some directions to go some place and see if you can follow them. or read the directions first and try driving and see if it helps out. other then that all you can do is hope you turn the way you are supposed to.

edit-its the stress during driving. im sure you can drive somewhere if you want to? if you want to turn left when you are walking do u still turn right or do you turn left? when you are driving along im sure that you wont be stressed by your parents telling you how to drive and which way to go.

I would suggest you to have a space orientation test. Verbal abilities are different than space orientation ones. For example, I am good at talking but bad to remember where things are or how to get somewhere.

Maybe if you drive with your space orientation problem you may get lost or have an accident if you go the wrong way on a street. Beware of the direction you take and have always company!

im sorry to hear that. i dont think its like a full blown dyslexia if u dont have trouble with letters but maybe a mild case or even soething totally different. it doesnt sound life threating or anything but it will cause u some trouble driving. maybe u hould tape or write "R" and "L" on your dashboard of your car to help u. if this really bothers you, go and get another test. im sure your fine but better to be safe than sorry right? i think u are "safe" to drive just drive places u know VERY WELL and u wont have a problem. : ) ~xoxox

Your problem may not be dyslexia although there are variations on it. You could be suffering from several problems that can cause an inability to differentiate between left and right. I would suggest you talk to a doctor about this as there could be a medical cause (i.e. RAS/Hypertension). It could cause serious problems when driving but should be treatable whether it is a form of dyslexia or something else.

You really need a dyslexia test it sounds like.

http://dyslexiatest.weebly.com
http://dyslexiatesting.weebly.com