- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
Uncomfortable Morning of Driving
Driving on highways with oncoming traffic, turning with oncoming traffic turning, driving past/oncoming semis, or narrow roads has been something my OCD has made me uncomfortable with for a while. Driving is a big part of my everyday life, so it's something I can't run away from. My one job, driving is centered around driving completely. It takes a lot of courage honestly. I try to almost welcome the uncomfortability. It's scary and hard but I know avoiding it will only cripple me. So when driving, if there's turn lanes with opposing turn lanes, I will turn in the lane closest to the other turn lane. If it's a 4 lane high way, I will drive in the lane closest the the other side of the road. If I'm on the interstate, I will intentionally pass a semi. All of that is uncomfortable and scary for me. But I feel I have to bring the uncomfortability to me. Sometimes I choose not to drive on the closest side, or turn lane because my OCD can also latch onto my intent for exposures and turn it into a compulsion. Well with the uncomfortability around driving my OCD tries to send ALL sorts of alarms. "Did you move the wheel?, Did your hand move? Did you move towards the car? Were you too close to that car? Was that turn too close to the oncoming car? Did you move the wheel when passing the semi?, Did the wheel move because you hit a bump, was it the wind, was it you?, and the list goes on😅. I put that emoji because the OCD is so ridiculous that I'm like like, "come onnn OCD...is there anything else you want to hit me with?". I made a promise to myself that I wouldn't let my OCD take from me. That's why I continue to face the uncomfortability head on. But by no means is it easy. It's really hard. Because any of those questions the OCD tries getting me stuck with, is hard to not fall into OCD's trap and let those questions get me to ruminate and start catastrophizing. It tried doing that to me this morning. Today the wheel felt "heavy" and of course the OCD tried "poking me" repeatedly. Basically like, "hey...hey...I'm talking to you! I know you hear me!". But here's the thing. I have to ride the wave. I can't throw in the towel and be like my day is ruined. I have a lot more driving to do today and I will get through it. "Riding the wave" is a very useful tool for me. It's essentially a reminder that the anxiety and fear will pass. Just how a wave forms and gets high but comes down into shore. That's what I try to remind myself of in moments like today. I hope we all can become stronger with being comfortable uncomfortable. That's a big goal for me. Because I feel achieving that will take the power away from The OCD. There's no rush though. I know WE can all achieve that. Day by day, guys. 💚