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Driving OCD Wonder if I should just give up my license

Sep 11, 2021
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I keep making possibly dangerous mistakes, today I didn't yield to a pedestrian at a crossing. I had checked for people while approaching it, stopped at the stop sign right in front of it, but as I was about to move on a pedestrian appeared from between parked cars and I stopped, they stopped, I started moving, they started moving, stopped again and they decided to just walk to the next crossing in the parking lot.

From where I stopped the crossing lines were blocked by my hood and could only be seen on the top right corner of my hood a bit. I didn't realise I was at a crossing and was confused by why they were trying to cross in front of me, thinking 'Hey the crossing is back there, not here.'. I saw them start walking down the side of my car to get past. And now my brain is insisting that when I started turning (right after the stop sign) I might have gotten close to them, which isn't how turns work unless they're practically against your car.

This week has been bad for me driving wise and I feel like I'm dangerous by accident. It makes me feel so guilty and angry with myself, I've been driving for years, why do I suddenly suck so badly? I'm so glad the guy didn't get angry, and my anxiety is insisting I might have clipped him somehow which is extremely unlikely. But that doesn't stop me from carefully checking my car for any indication that I did.
 

Blaise N

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I keep making possibly dangerous mistakes, today I didn't yield to a pedestrian at a crossing. I had checked for people while approaching it, stopped at the stop sign right in front of it, but as I was about to move on a pedestrian appeared from between parked cars and I stopped, they stopped, I started moving, they started moving, stopped again and they decided to just walk to the next crossing in the parking lot.

From where I stopped the crossing lines were blocked by my hood and could only be seen on the top right corner of my hood a bit. I didn't realise I was at a crossing and was confused by why they were trying to cross in front of me, thinking 'Hey the crossing is back there, not here.'. I saw them start walking down the side of my car to get past. And now my brain is insisting that when I started turning (right after the stop sign) I might have gotten close to them, which isn't how turns work unless they're practically against your car.

This week has been bad for me driving wise and I feel like I'm dangerous by accident. It makes me feel so guilty and angry with myself, I've been driving for years, why do I suddenly suck so badly? I'm so glad the guy didn't get angry, and my anxiety is insisting I might have clipped him somehow which is extremely unlikely. But that doesn't stop me from carefully checking my car for any indication that I did.
Hello my dearest friend!
Welcome to CF!,My name is Blaise,and I too suffer ocd at a terrible severity,But I as a believer have experienced triumph after triumph while having OCD.And surprisingly your situation sounds almost exactly similar to mine.My driving isn’t as perfect,I’ve dinged my car up a significant lot,and totaled the fender driving on a snowy road that wasn’t plowed and slid into a tree.One of the biggest problems I’ve faced as a OCD sufferer and a driver is anxiety and intrusive thoughts behind the wheel.

However I want to remind you of verse Matthew 19:26,as well as Matthew 7:7,combine those two and you get a marvelous equation,pray and ask the Lord for help in calming your anxiety and trust in him behind the wheel.One thing I’ve had to accept is if I wreck,it’s in Gods will,If I injure myself or someone else,it’s for a deeper future greater good.Remember John 13:7 and Romans 8:28?,combine those two to that second part and you get another marvelous equation.My friend trust in God and Love him unconditionally and he will lead you through this for your greater good!
 
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timewerx

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I have OCD and it does make driving more stressful and worrisome especially if you're driving in a crowded city with chaotic traffic.

What might help is insurance with better coverage and possibly using front and rear view camera with recording. That would help give peace of mind.

What I did is avoid driving as much as I can and maximize use of bicycle to commute and run errands. My bicycle is equipped to carry groceries and other heavy items. Better insurance did helped me immensely once but I can't afford good insurance anymore so had to minimize driving
 
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Mari17

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I keep making possibly dangerous mistakes, today I didn't yield to a pedestrian at a crossing. I had checked for people while approaching it, stopped at the stop sign right in front of it, but as I was about to move on a pedestrian appeared from between parked cars and I stopped, they stopped, I started moving, they started moving, stopped again and they decided to just walk to the next crossing in the parking lot.

From where I stopped the crossing lines were blocked by my hood and could only be seen on the top right corner of my hood a bit. I didn't realise I was at a crossing and was confused by why they were trying to cross in front of me, thinking 'Hey the crossing is back there, not here.'. I saw them start walking down the side of my car to get past. And now my brain is insisting that when I started turning (right after the stop sign) I might have gotten close to them, which isn't how turns work unless they're practically against your car.

This week has been bad for me driving wise and I feel like I'm dangerous by accident. It makes me feel so guilty and angry with myself, I've been driving for years, why do I suddenly suck so badly? I'm so glad the guy didn't get angry, and my anxiety is insisting I might have clipped him somehow which is extremely unlikely. But that doesn't stop me from carefully checking my car for any indication that I did.
This sounds like a very typical type of obsession, and I've had worries like these before! Here are a couple of questions I have:
1) Do you think it's a good idea to give something up out of fear/OCD?
2) Have you been able to learn any mental strategies to help you deal with your OCD?
 
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