I am new to this, and really hope it helps. I have pretty severe driving OCD. It has definitely gotten progressively worse. Every bump in the road I hit, every bicyclist, every-time I have to drive on the highway I constantly worry that I hit someone or caused an accident. Some of the rituals I have been experiencing include driving around the “scene” multiple times, checking my rear view mirror (a lot), checking the local news to see if there were any accidents in the area. I have to have my husband confirm there is no damage on my car... it’s endless. To put it plainly, it is beyond exhausting. It’s also pretty lonely as the majority of people I tell have no clue or just look at me like I have 10 heads. If anyone else goes through this my heart is with you, it’s awful.

I get this 100%. This is also my personal nemesis. The good news is that you are still getting out there and driving!! My driving issues have gotten significantly better through ERP although I am still attuned to every single bump. Make your fear hierarchy. I would suggest cutting out watching the news and asking your husband to check first. For me it has been hard to not redrive the route and to quit obsessively checking the mirrors.

My therapy homework a while back was to say “I have hit someone and I don’t even care” each time I felt a bump. This practice helped me realize just how often I was having these worries (sometimes several times a minute) and how absurd it is to have these thoughts as frequently as I do. Finally another thing that helped me that I read was by redriving the route or obsessively checking we are actually more distracted and therefore likely to have an accident. This spooked me into wanting to get over my compulsions.

I also have this!! I’m currently in outpatient treatment completing ERP and it works and would highly suggest it. I’m much better than I was even two weeks ago. Don’t fall for your compulsions and sit with the uncertainty, and just remember you’re going to feel worse before you get better with ERP.

I gave up driving for a couple of years since mine got so bad. Now I am back driving and even sometimes enjoying it. I have even done 2 motorway trips! Thinking of getting my own car next year x

I wish we could share our hierarchies on this app. It would be nice to see other’s ideas. I realized I had also been unconsciously selecting busier roads so that if I hit a person someone else was likely to stop and help them

Ohhh thank you so much for responding. I am going to follow your therapy homework I think. It’s like my mind never turns off, how exhausting it is:( I feel comforted that I’m not alone!!! Thank you again!!

I am so appreciative of the advice! Driving is a necessary evil, and I have got to get through this... I just have to get strong enough to resist the compulsions!

Oh that’s awesome! You are all giving me hope that I can get this this!!

I’ve done that too!! I figured then I wouldn’t have to worry about backtracking. It’s amazing how the mind works. I definitely had compulsions today, but thankfully they were as bad as they normally are

Werent**