Ocd and driving

[Gwen_Stacy]

This has only started in the past few days where i’m scared that i hit someone (a pedestrian) without knowing it and then partake in a hit and run. today was the worst day… i was navigating the map on my phone and not paying attention to the road and then my brain filled with thoughts that i hit someone. the radio was quite loud so i don’t know if i would hear anything but i didn’t feel a bump or hear a scream and when i turned around and drove back through the road i didn’t see anything but i’m scared i missed it… i was looking a the wrong side of the road or i just missed something and i did hit someone and now i am spiraling and scared that i have hurt someone without knowing it and also ruined my life without being aware of it

[SCC1]

I hope this is okay to say, but when you went back to check if you had hit someone and didn't see anyone, that is a good thing. If you had, there would have been emergency crews there. This isn't really an "OCD reply" (I don't think), but it is one way to think about what happened.

Your OCD will make you think you hit someone, and it is a real fear. I am not downplaying that experience in any way. It may play over and over in your mind, but in the simplest of terms, the example I gave, might be of SOME help.

[Gwen_Stacy in reply to SCC1]

do you think i could have possibly missed seeing emergency crews or not paid attention to the right side of the road. i’m sorry if this sounds silly … my sense of logic has seemingly been dislodged from my brain. i’m just scared and spiralling

[SCC1 in reply to Gwen_Stacy]

No, I don't. If they had to come, no matter which side of the road you were looking at, you probably would've seen them. They would have had to pass by you or come from behind you to get to the person (who you really did not hit).

The logic you are referring to, HAS been "altered" because of the OCD, so we can't make much sense out of what may be true. Your thoughts are telling you that you hit someone, and that you missed seeing the emergency crews. The logic part is distorted, because if you really had hit someone, there would be emergency crews, and you would have seen them. The fact that you didn't see them is a positive sign, because you didn't hit anyone.

[Dolphin_08]

I'm so sorry to hear what you're going through! I know first hand the pure terror and fear that OCD causes, and it sucks and nobody deserves it. OCD will make your fears feel extremely real, and that is why you feel as though your sense of logic has gone out the window. But I can guarantee you that you didn't hit someone!

When I started learning how to drive, I made a promise to myself that I would keep OCD out of the car. And even though it can be hard to control, straight up telling myself that my car is an OCD free zone has been very powerful in limiting the intrusive thoughts that I experience whilst driving. However, there was one moment when I was driving at night and I have a very frightening and terrifying intrusive thought. I immediately went home and removed myself from the situation. I think that, especially when it comes to something such as driving, you want to be as safe as possible and really limit the intrusive thoughts you have whilst driving - this could be through a number of ways, including seeing a professional for help!

I hope this helps in some way. You are so strong and you can overcome this!

[Gwen_Stacy in reply to Dolphin_08]

Thank you so much for reply and the support! you have helped a lot.

[Rougefleur]

Rest assured that this is a common OCD fear. I have experienced it many times over the years and in the past would often go back and check the spot where I sensed I may have hit someone. Of course I never had, it was just my OCD trying to keep me off balance and ruin my belief in myself. My daughter would ride with me at times and if I suddenly noticed someone waiting to cross after I had already passed by them, I would ask her over and over if I might have hit them. It became maddening for us both. But now I am able to feel the fear if it arises (and it has subsided quite a bit except when I am extra stressed for whatever reason) and when it does, I simply tell myself that it had actually happened, I would have seen and heard obvious signs of an accident. Then I continue on my way. OCD has a way of making you believe the strangest things at times, but if you give yourself a few minutes to connect with your rational self, it's effects usually start to fade. I know that can be hard to pull off when you are in a state of OCD panic, but the whole idea is to not let it take full control of your thinking--these fears seem real at the time, but they are only negative thoughts trying to freak you out in the end. Try not to give them so much influence over you. A therapist can help you to defuse them by suggesting techniques whereby you can focus on more positive, rational thoughts when this happens.

[Gwen_Stacy in reply to Rougefleur]

Thank you so much for your reply. It really has helped me a lot. My apologies for not responding sooner

[Rougefleur in reply to Gwen_Stacy]

You are very welcome, Gwen_ Stacy, and just to prove that this struggle can be ov- ercome, I recently had a recurrence of this OCD trigger when I parked in a place that later became unexpectedly crowded with children from a summer camp, and I had to convince myself that I could handle pulling out without causing a disaster. I talked myself out of panicking, struggled to stay connected to my rational side, was very cautious, and was able to drive off without going back to "check". You will be able to do it too if you keep giving yourself the support you need and deserve.

[KatJ1982]

As Rougefleur stated, this is a common fear. I have thought this many times. I would try to fight the urge to turn around and check, but I always failed. I never hit anyone. It was always my OCD. It is also your OCD. You would know if you hit someone. There would be no question.

[Gwen_Stacy in reply to KatJ1982]

Thank you so much for the reassurance

[Battlepope]

I had this problem years ago. I would be driving and I didn’t see anybody, I didn’t feel anything, or hear anything but I would swear I hit someone. So I would circle back around and around again. It was maddening to say the least. My OCD wouldn’t let it go. As far as how to get to a place where it isn’t an issue, there are options like doctors or therapists and I’m neither. But if you hit a squirrel you feel it. So you’d definitely feel it if you hit a person. You didn’t hit anyone. You’re ok even though you may not believe it. I know from personal experience that’s cold comfort but it’s what I have. I hope that thoughts stop torturing you.