I drive a really old truck on narrow streets and I keep getting really scared that I am going to hit another car without realizing it and get charged with a hit and run. My car shakes a lot and I keep getting scared I hit someone and didn’t notice. I should have stopped this time and checked.
Hi! I also have hit and run OCD. I understand you. What I decided to so once and for all to mostly stop having compulsions (sometimes, it’s still very hard and I give in) is to understand that this is a side effect of my OCD, that the fear isn’t a fear I should actually be feeling and that the distress isn’t a distress I should actually be feeling. Why? Because here is the logic : if you hit someone, you have to see them first. It’s impossible to run over someone without seeing them lying on the road or standing in the middle of the road. You would would see and hear them slam into your car if an accident happens. This is something that you can be CERTAIN about. OCD looks for certainly all the time, but we can never be 100% sur of everything. Some might say this is a compulsion, but I do not believe it is. For me, this logical explanation made me understand that my OCD is very manipulative and makes me want to believe things. I do not recommend analyzing, trying to comfort yourself, seeking constant reassurance or any other sort of compulsion. I do recommend my trick because it helped me. Hopefully it helps you. And NO, you shouldn’t have stopped and checked. You did a GOOD JOB to keep on going. You won this round against OCD. You didn’t give in. I am proud of you. You know you are diagnosed with OCD, so you need to understand that this anxiety disorder wants to play with your mind and wants to make you doubt. You know when you have this thought, it’s your OCD. Stay strong! Sending positive vibes your way.☺️
It’s the same thing with a car. It’s impossible to have bumped into a car without feeling the impact of the accident. Believe me, you can understand that you would have stopped if something like that happened because you would have felt it and people would have seen it happen and came running right away. This too is OCD! After this logical explanation, this should help you not be afraid or doubt so much anymore.
@Overcoming this anxiety disorder Thank you. Today it was particularly bad I was passing another car on that street and I thought I felt something after I had already passed them and I was like it’s just ocd. But now I still feel like I should have stopped and waited to make sure. Sometimes I am scared that I am going to let something slide thinking it was just ocd. Idk now I feel like I’m just letting my mind run.
@lilykronky What I felt was towards the front of the car on the right so I would have seen what I would have hit. I feel like my ocd is responding less to whether or not I hit something, rn it’s more like I’m doubting I actually have ocd and if I am just using it as an excuse. Which is also not logical especially cause I washed my hands like 5 times before cooking today cause my contamination ocd had also been bad lol
@lilykronky You seem like a very delicate and sensitive person. Knowing that, logically, someone like that does not blame an accident on OCD and does not use OCD as an excuse. You know that. You would see a person standing or even on the ground. It’s not possible. This is your OCD talking. A person cannot magically appear on your car from the sky. You can feel a pothole, garbage on the ground, a speeding bump, a difference in the hight of the pavement. It’s not possible to use OCD as an excuse in this matter because you wouldn’t doubt in have having an accident if you actually had one (car or person). If it happened, you would know. Therefore, you can’t be “using OCD” as an excuse because there is no using it if there was no accident. I don’t know you but someone who is in contact with reality cannot have a traumatizing event happen to them without remembering. The doubt is a symptom of the OCD. Doubting you actually have OCD is also a symptom of OCD. You have to believe and trust the diagnosis. Have faith, some days are harder.😇
I have this theme among others I couldn't drive again a few months ago.. Through ERP I am driving again and moving again We did a lot of work for this.. Videos of hitting people in a car.. Imagining it was me and over and over till my brain got over exposed and over many days and weeks of exposure and key here.. Response prevention its easier to manage... But you have to keep doing the erps and fight back against OCD.. If you haven't reached out to an OCD specialist that might be an option for you.. They got me driving again and not checking the car or the area.. Listening to news or going back around the block etc.. Before ERP I was severely limited I have other themes I am tacking with next I wish you healing
@donnocd I wish you healing too. OCD sucks. I stopped ERP for a while cause my insurance doesn’t cover it but I need to get back into it. I have been giving in wayyy too much lately.
Trust me you'll know when someone hits you or vice versa.
Does anyone else have irrational fears? Every time I arrive somewhere after driving, I have a lot of anxiety thinking I may have hit someone with my car. Even though I know I would surely notice if I did, I can’t shake the feeling ?
Ocd about hitting someone while driving and not realizing? And guilt over being a distracted driver (I changed the radio while driving many times). Any ever have this? I want to go back to the street I was driving on to make sure no one is hurt
Anyone else feel like they hit someone with their car this morning on their way to work and have to go back and check 8 times before they made it to work? Or is it just me? Asking for a friend 😐
Share your thoughts so the Community can respond
