- Date posted
- 2y
I almost acted on an intrusive thought
I struggled and beat harm ocd a couple years ago and it hasn't really affected me since. The other night I had the worst episode I've probably had and now I feel like I've backtracked right back to where I was, except worse. I was just driving on the freeway, going fast, listening to music after a really long day at about 11pm. I had a thought about letting my car swerve and crash but I've had thoughts like that a million times and they don't really affect me anymore. However I actually felt the intense urge/feeling like I was about to. Like I wouldn't feel "right" until I did it. It was an itch I needed to scratch. My heart rate spiked, my hands got sweaty and I felt like I couldn't breathe and was restraining myself from letting go of the wheel. It was all happening so fast and in that moment I really thought my life was about to end. The lack of control I felt was actually horrifying. It felt like I was being possessed by the urge but the real me was screaming for help. I've struggled with thoughts like this and felt "urges" in the past but nothing to this extent. I tried driving on the freeway again the next day (I think I'm only triggered when going fast because that's when I have the potential to actually cause damage) and my brain went into that mode again because that was how it felt the last time I drove. I had to get off the freeway and take backroads. I'm terrified. I have to drive for work and literally don't know what to do. I know leaning into the thoughts/ not running away from them is good, but that genuinely makes me feel like I'm gonna do it. Like the moment I say "ok I'll just do it" as a form of ERP I feel like I WILL do it. I don't trust myself. If anyone has gone through something similar to this extent, I'd really appreciate any support or advice. I'm also going to look into therapy again, so I think that'll help a lot too. However it's gonna take a bit of time to find someone so in the mean time I'm really not sure what to do :/