Hit and Run OCD: Signs and Symptoms
Hit-and-Run OCD:
Hit-and-run OCD is a subtype of OCD in which someone experiences obsessions around hitting a pedestrian or animal while driving, or feeling as if they already hit a pedestrian or animal and can’t remember the accident. Doubts can be present on if a person has hit someone and compulsions may follow to check to make sure that they did not hit someone. Compulsions are aimed at finding 100% certainty that they did not hit someone. The compulsions to find that certainty fuel the OCD and keep the person stuck. Hit and run OCD can be seen as a form of harm OCD. Hit and run OCD can lead to a person avoiding driving, being near cars or other drivers or even avoid going outside. It can be extremely limiting for someone to give up and avoid driving because of this fear. Like many aspects of OCD, the compulsions can lead to a life that gets smaller and smaller.
Hit and Run OCD Doubts:
How do I know I didn’t kill someone? How can I be certain?
How can I tell if I actually hit someone? Would I see it? Would I hear it or feel it?
If I did hit someone and didn’t stop and take responsibility, will I be charged with leaving the scene of an accident?
If I’m this doubtful, I must have been driving carelessly and am clearly at fault if I did hit someone.
What if I go to jail?
How could I ever live with the guilt of having taken a life? I could never forgive myself. My life would be over.
I just noticed that I may not have been fully paying attention the last few minutes while driving. Maybe this means I hit someone and am not aware of it.
These obsessions and doubts kick start the OCD cycle. A person struggling with these obsessions might feel some emotional reaction such as distress, guilt, or anger. By reacting to the emotions and obsessions and engaging in a compulsive behavior, OCD offers short term relief from this obsession but continues to keep the person stuck.
Hit and Run OCD can be triggered by either internal or external triggers for example:
Running over something in the road
Hitting a pothole
Hearing sirens or brake screeches nearby
Driving on a busy road or past a cyclist or jogger
Looking down at your radio for a moment
Common Hit and Run Compulsions:
Avoidance of driving
Checking my rear-view mirror often
Driving back to see if a body or animal is in the road.
Checking my car to make sure their aren’t dents or blood stains.
Reviewing in my head images
Rumination.
Driving very slow
Looking up and researching to see if there are news or police reports about accidents where I was driving.
The recommended treatment option for all types of OCD is a form of cognitive behavioral therapy called exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy. ERP works by exposing you to the things that trigger your obsessive-compulsive cycles as well as learning how to resist compulsive behaviors. As a licensed mental health therapist trained in ERP, I will assist you through the exposures and how to implement effective response prevention measures. If you feel that OCD has had a negative impact on your life, you might consider counseling and ERP to learn how to handle it more effectively. Please feel free to reach out for a free consultation, where we can discuss impacts of OCD and benefits of counseling/ERP.
