The Safe Driver

Helping those with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and driving

I am obsessed with driving in such a manner as to help keep us safe on the roads. That obsession is a good one, but there are other obsessions which are not as positive. There are many obsessions and compulsions many people must deal with daily. Having Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder – OCD – can take a serious tole on many of us. OCD is an anxiety disorder which brings uncontrollable, unwanted thoughts along with repetitive behaviours forcing someone to feel compelled to complete. If you have OCD, you probably recognize that your obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours are unreasonable, although you may feel you cannot resist them, even though you are constantly trying to.

There is no question it affects our daily lives and routines. In many cases it may look a little unusual and perhaps unnecessary to an outsider who does not have to deal with it or know much about it. Having some form of OCD can be serious and should not always be taken lightly. Keeping these compulsions and obsessions to yourself may not be in your best interest. Working with a professional Cognitive-Behavioral Therapist – CBT – can really help change someone’s attitude and behaviour by focusing on their thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes they have and how these processes relate to the way they behave. Working with a CBT is a positive and helpful way of dealing with their emotional problems.

There are different forms of obsessions which affect many people. They include contamination, exactness, and a need for perfection. Compulsions range from washing and cleaning, checking (doors, locks, etc.) and include arranging things in a specific order. As an outsider looking to someone who experiences these obsessions or compulsions, it is important to realize these compulsions and obsessions are part of who they are.

I think we all have some form of OCD in us, some of us will not even realize it, but it is there. How many times do you check to see if the stove is off before leaving the house, or check each of the doors and windows before going to bed or leaving the house? Yes, that is OCD. As in many things in life, admitting your obsessions and compulsions to your loved ones can help you safely and successfully deal with them, including while driving.

Dealing with OCD as a driver may have additional or different driving anxieties compared to other drivers. There are a few tips you can perform to help you cope when it comes to OCD and the driving task. The first step is to identify what triggers your thoughts which bring on your obsessions and compulsions. Keep track of that list and do your best to avoid as many of those triggers as possible before and while driving. Another tip, as strange as it sounds, is to constantly be exposing yourself to what triggers your OCD so you can learn to resist the urge to complete your compulsive practises. This is known as ‘exposure and response prevention’ – ERP – and is a basis of professional therapy for OCD. Yes, I know that may seem contradictory, but it can help.

Using a fear ladder can also help. List the fears from 1 – 10 and make challenges to yourself. For example, if one of the fears you have while driving is fearing you’ve just hit a pedestrian each time you’ve hit a large bump or pothole, drive all the way to your destination instead of driving around the block to see what you’ve just hit. Mirror checks will help you realize it was a bump and not a person. Continuing to lower the fear number from a high number to a low number can help you work out your compulsions and obsessions but start with low fear numbers and work your way up. Emotional rewards can fuel more opportunities for success.

Avoid criticizing them. Avoid being angry with someone’s OCD or tell them to stop performing their behaviours. They can’t just suddenly stop, and the pressure to stop will only make the behaviours worse. And if they could stop, don’t you think they already would have stopped? Be as kind and patient with them. Do not play along with their behaviours. Support the person, not their compulsions.

Be positive and clear during conversation. Find the humour. Laughing together over the funny situations can help them become more detached from their OCD. And finally, do not let OCD take over their life. Sit down as a couple or a family and come up with a plan as how you will all work together to tackle their symptoms.