Scary ocd thought of opening the car door mid driv

I hear how terrifying this is. Being housebound for two years because of this fear is incredibly heavy, and I’m really sorry you’ve been living with this. What you’re describing is a very common OCD fear: “What if I lose control and do something horrible?” These are intrusive thoughts, not impulses or intentions. Intrusive thoughts do not cause actions. They are random fear signals from an anxious brain stuck in threat mode. The fact that this thought horrifies you is actually evidence that it goes against your values and who you are. Avoiding driving brings short term relief, but it teaches your brain that the thought is dangerous, which keeps the cycle going. That is how OCD slowly shrinks people’s lives. I’m wondering, since you’ve been homebound for two years, what kinds of help you’ve tried so far. For example: therapy with someone trained in OCD and ERP, joining an OCD support group, or reading books to learn how OCD works and how it’s treated. Healing is possible. Many people recover from exactly this kind of fear with the right kind of help. You are not broken or dangerous. You are stuck in a fear loop your brain learned, and it can be unlearned.

I’ve had similar intrusive thoughts not regarding what you particularly said, but definitely other scary stuff. Unwanted thoughts about dangerous situations that I know logically aren’t true and would never occur. With medication and grounding exercises it’s gotten better. I hope you find your way out of this these OCD chains, I never thought I would but I’m making progress.

I feel a lot of horrible things and constantly worry I’ll swerve off the road or a bridge. It is pretty constant but, driving isn’t an option for me. I definitely disassociate which isn’t great either. I’m sorry it is so debilitating.