There is a lot of wisdom in these posts here. I want to add one thing.
Fear keeps you alive. (a lady who rode HER bike around the world told me that)
Follow your fear. If it's those clipless things, take 'em off. you have lots of time
to put them back on later. Right now you need to get comfortable on a bike.
Later on you can try all sorts of alternatives. You're not alone. I'm 54 and I
don't find falling down amusing, so I do not have my feet anchored in by any mechanical gadgets. If and when i do I will probably try the frogs because they seem to have the least number of "haha I fell down 2x today" stories.
I have cages on my Raleigh and those power grips
http://www.powergrips.com/

on my new Bianchi bike. You might like those. I've never felt "Caught" or "stuck" in them, yet on a 184 mile trip that i did last weekend, my feet never came out of them when I didn't mean them to. They work.
good luck
Mimi