can ocd mess with your memory?

[confused892]

I suffer from hit and run ocd. I can never be sure if I have hit a pedestrian or not when I was driving because I can't remember not hitting them. Does ocd mess with my ability to recall memories?

[shank8712]

hi, how u doin? i would like to introduce myself as a sufferer of ocd too....so particularly with this type of ocd, the more u picturize this and keep reassuring urself by building these scenarios it will worsen your condition. DO NOT REASSURE YOURSELF. THIS IS THE FIRST STEP. THIS WILL TURN OUT TO BE YOUR MANTRA, TRUST ME...THE MORE U TRY TO REASSURE YOUR MIND AND BRING TEMPORARY RELIEF TO YOUR ANXIETY THE MORE YOU ARE GIVING THE BLOODY OCD TO TAKE CONTROL OF UR LIFE. LET THEM ROLL INTO YOUR MIND. BE A SILENT SPECTATOR, BE NON JUDGMENTAL, DO NOT REACT TO THESE THOUGHTS, BE BRAVE AND COURAGEOUS.CAUTION:INITIALLY DOING THIS WILL BRING ABOUT SOME ANXIETY BUT KEEP PRACTISING N YOU WILL SUCCEED.  TRY ENHANCING YOUR KNOWLEDGE ON COGNITIVE BEHAVIOURAL THERAPY. ALL THE BEST...

[hopefulforfuture]

Dear friend
As a long term OCD sufferer currently this is the only OCD i too am significantly worried about . Have you tried SSRI medication . Heard its useful  .
Cognitive behavioural therapy also helps  ...

[confused892]

It is really difficult for me to get over these thoughts and to recognize them as irrational but I will continue to try.

[JGF25]

Picture the scenario in your head.  Picture yourself hitting a pedestrian with your car.  First of all, you will see the pedestrian and slam on your brakes.  When the impact occurs the pedestrian will fly up onto your hood or bang off the car and land somewhere.  Your car would be damaged, you would hear all the noises associated with hitting a person, people around you would stop.  When you visualize this, and you realize you don't recall hearing all of these things, then you have to know that it is an irrational "what-if" thought that your mind has made up.  There are all kinds of consequences of you hit somebody and drive away.  Trust me, the people that do this know they hit somebody or something.  We take scenarios that we think would truly mess up our lives, and we start to believe they are real when in fact they are just made up thoughts.  This is what a person with OCD does.  If it isn't hitting a pedestrian it will be something else.  So keep up with the therapy and I'm sure you will be able to learn ways to help yourself get over these thoughts.