Application Question

[Catholic]

I recently moved to another state and applied for a transfer of my driver’s license. One of the questions on the application asked whether I had ever been diagnosed with a mental disorder, and if so, whether I had been restored to normal.

I responded “no” to the question, but I feel very dishonest. Although I have never been formally diagnosed with any condition, priests have suggested counseling for me due to scrupulosity and once a priest/psychologist remarked that I had an obsessive compulsive neurosis based on a message I sent him via the web. The one counselor I met with simply referred me back to a priest.

Although I have confessed the sin, I feel guilty over breaking the law and lying on the application. My condition helps my driving more than it hurts, since it leads me to be extremely cautious and proactive (I haven’t had an accident or ticket in all my 9 - 10 years of driving). Out of spite I do things like take my eyes off the road for an instant, and I get nervous when changing lanes, but these are more like temptations in the midst of extreme caution.

I was thinking of getting “cleared” by a psychologist, so to speak, depending on the cost. Any comments would be helpful.

 

[Lazerlike42]

Catholic:

I recently moved to another state and applied for a transfer of my driver’s license. One of the questions on the application asked whether I had ever been diagnosed with a mental disorder, and if so, whether I had been restored to normal.

I responded “no” to the question, but I feel very dishonest. Although I have never been formally diagnosed with any condition, priests have suggested counseling for me due to scrupulosity and once a priest/psychologist remarked that I had an obsessive compulsive neurosis based on a message I sent him via the web. The one counselor I met with simply referred me back to a priest.

Although I have confessed the sin, I feel guilty over breaking the law and lying on the application. My condition helps my driving more than it hurts, since it leads me to be extremely cautious and proactive (I haven’t had an accident or ticket in all my 9 - 10 years of driving). Out of spite I do things like take my eyes off the road for an instant, and I get nervous when changing lanes, but these are more like temptations in the midst of extreme caution.

I was thinking of getting “cleared” by a psychologist, so to speak, depending on the cost. Any comments would be helpful.

I really don’t think you did anything wrong. For one, you haven’t been formally diagnosed, and for two, the people at the state don’t care about folks with OCD but with more problematic disorders, and would almost certainly ignore it if you wrote that you had OCD.

 

[coyote]

I’m not convinced that that is a legally appropriate question, or that those who do have mental disorders that might affect their driving will even check the “yes” box.

What actually is such a question intending to ferret out about the applicant? I’d be more worried about how such information will be used by the agency than whether I should or should not answer with a “yes”.

 

[puzzleannie]

I wish they would ask drivers license applicants in this state “Do you have a death wish?” and reject those who say “Yes”. that would eliminate a lot of our traffic problems.

 

[Catholic]

I guess my concern is that if I would happen to get into an accident - even if it were not my fault - filing a claim to my insurance company might be a bit dishonest since my license may be invalid.

 

[Benedictus]

I wouldn’t worry about it. The driver’s license people aren’t concerned with scrupulosity, and you can’t really be diagnosed with OCD based on an internet message.

There’s a cute little saying that helps deal with situations exactly like your driver’s license question:

If asked, don’t lie. When in doubt, deny.