How to deal with gephyrophobia? the fear of crossing bridges?

Question

I know it a unusual fear but I don’t know how to deal with it. I know it’s stupid why you would be afraid to cross a bridge. It doesn’t make any sense but I am going on vacation soon and we are driving and I know were crossing bridges. I don’t have time or the money for a therapist so I need help. I get anxious a couple of weeks before I go the moment I get into the car the day of the trip all I can think about is when will we cross the first bridge I start to panic. Then when I actually when we cross the bridge I start sweating my heart feels like its going to pop out of my chest. I get dizzy and I can’t breathe as soon as I am over the bridge I am fine everything comes down and I can start to relax until the next bridge. I am not afraid of height or water so don’t know why bridges but your suppose to relax on vacation but all can think about is when I will have to cross the bridge when we drive home. I need a quick fix I only have a few days until we leave please help me.

Answer 1

This used to happen to me a lot, too. I still have nightmares about bridges, not many people understand. Even I don't understand.

What seems to help me is when I see a bridge coming up, I close my eyes well before we get there and keep them shut long after we're over it (if I am the passenger). Yes, I know I'm on a bridge, I can feel it, but I'm not sure how far over I am, that seems to help.
Then I think about why I am afraid.

Have I ever been off the side of a bridge in a car? No.
Have I known anyone who has? No.
What are the chances of me dying on this particular bridge? Very, very slim.
Breathe slowly and steadily, too.

Answer 2

Don't look left, don't look right, don't look down, don't look up; just focus completely on the way ahead and any potential obstacles that may require negotiating. Start now with something close by and easy, then work your way up in stages over the next few days. Concentrate some of your awareness on breathing regularly just before you come to a bridge, but nearly all of the rest should be on driving and the road ahead. Ask for quiet from others (every time!), just while crossing bridges, so you won't be distracted.

Answer 3

you're suffering from a phobia, it truly is a stunning good, continual worry of circumstances, gadgets, activities, or persons. the major symptom of this disease is the intense, unreasonable favor to circumvent the scary difficulty. A study with assistance from the nationwide Institute of psychological wellness (NIMH) found that between 8.7% and 18.a million% of individuals struggle through from phobias so that you're literally not on my own. Agoraphobia is the rigidity about being in places or circumstances from which get away may be perplexing (or embarrassing) or in which help gained't be available contained in the progression of having an unpredicted or situationally predisposed Panic attack or panic-like indicators. Agoraphobic fears usually contain function clusters of circumstances that include being on a bridge and a great number of others. Phobia may be dealt with with assistance from experienced therapists notwithstanding it isn't ordinary to get more effective.

Answer 4

are u the only licensed driver going on vacation? cos u can get sum1 else to drive and take sleeping pills on the drive there, and back. i know this is only a quick fix and wont actually help u deal w/ the problem, but u mentioned that u didnt have time to seek treatment. i think this is really affecting ur life, and that it would be wise to invest in your mental health.

Answer 5

I used to have this fear when I was little, and the only thing that got me over it was driving over bridges when I was old enough to drive. Otherwise, I would recommend a blindfold. (providing someone else is driving, of course.)

Answer 6

cross tons of huge bridges eventually you will get used to it (that is wat i did)