Overthinking every minor driving incident

[DandyTaupeHiker]

I passed my driving test last August and have only really been driving to work, shops and the odd long trip as we live in a city and don't really go outside the city.

I would be a really anxious person anyway but I often find myself ruminating on small things after I get home and park up. For instance, yesterday, I was at the biting point on a small hill waiting to take off once the last car on the road went past, but lifted the clutch a bit too soon so the car moved forward the smallest bit, but in my mind I was panicking "what if I had hit that car driving past me?" and kept watching back the dashcam footage etc.

I know it's irrational after I have my moment on it but it's so exhausting and can impact my mood for hours.

Anyone else like this?
And any tips?

I would consider myself a safe driver but overthink every little thing.

I think this is normal in the beginning. You just need to build up your confidence driving until things come naturally to you. Just keep driving as that’s the only way to get experience and confidence.

This is how my generalised anxiety disorder manifested. I would ruminate, perform safety behaviours (like when you’re watching the footage back over and over again), convince myself I was going to go to prison, lose my home, job etc. it’s absolutely exhausting. I had a private course of CBT and it changed my life. I really wish I’d done it sooner. If you’re generally anxious I really really recommend looking into it

I have OCD and I went through a phase like this. I’d hit a pothole and think “what if I hit someone”. Pass a cyclist and think the same. I used to go back on my route and check the sides of the roads/watch the news for hit and run stories/ beg my mother to come with me to redrive route to check for me etc. it’s incredibly anxiety inducing and it feeds on itself- my advice is to try not to give into the compulsion to check the dashcam footage. It’ll be agony at first but this anxiety will pass xx are you diagnosed with OCD?

I was like this when I passed OP, and I can be very anxious generally in all areas of my life. I’ve been driving 5 years now and I don’t worry about stuff so much now. It will get better.

In my opinion, you don’t learn to drive until after you’ve passed your test and you’re out there on your own learning how to deal with all the experiences by yourself. Your instructor just teaches you how to get through the test.

You’ll be fine, but keep trying and don’t give up.

@NotaCoolMum I would find myself thinking similar things like going on Google maps and checking the road markings and comparing where my car was and if I was too close to the white line or over it to actually hit the car with the small movement on the clutch. I actually did that with the dashcam footage yesterday checking my position at the junction and looking at how much space there would or been from my bonnet to the cars wheels driving past me.

I have been on antidepressants for a few years and on various ones but I haven't been diagnosed OCD, and to be honest I wouldn't even know where to start getting a diagnosis.

I developed mine when I was 30. Had showed “tendencies” when I was younger ie small insignificant rituals etc, but it got out of control at 30. I’m not saying you have it necessarily but it’s something to pay attention to. (I spoke to my gp who referred me).