fear of driving high bridges

About 2 years ago I had a very sudden and acute fear of driving over bridges. It came out of nowhere! I was pregnant with daughter at the time and was very swollen/off balance with the pregnancy. It felt like my car would just go over the side and I was petrified. Since then, I have avoided bridges that I deem 'too risky' - low sides, very high, feeling like you aren't touching the ground, etc. I feel as if I'm crazy!

It got nothing but worse with every passing mile and there were a whole lot of bridges and overpasses to contend with. I was too scared to pull over and stop and too scared to take a hand off the wheel to call my husband and tell him I needed a break, so I kept going. By the time I pulled in the driveway at home, it took a good five minutes to pry my hands off the wheel. My shrink told me to focus on my breathing and consciously breathe slowly and deeply as soon as I feel the panic start.

Boy, can I relate!! MANY of us can! This goes hand in hand with panic. " I am known as the "back roads" queen because I can get to just about anywhere on small streets and county roads. I always feel like I need to have a place I can pull over". Me too! LOL. I HATE highways. I explored this fear with my therapist years ago, and she explained to me that the fear stems from our basic fear of becoming "trapped" somewhere, with no option of "escape".

For reference I did not have any of these problems as an young man under 30, it all started when I was about 30, I still remember the surprise episode that I associate as my first panic when driving. I think my fear of flying happened around the time I earned my first electrical engineering degree (with high grades) and I realized engineers (and pilots) didn't in fact know everything.

I have a friend that had a fear like this of bridges, they went on vacation and it was very difficult for him. His wife told him "with all the bridges we have crossed, you've made it safely...this one will be no different". He said it made sence to him and with that thought, it made it easier and easier for him to cross bridges. Look at all the turns you've made with no issues, remember this and see if it helps.

m not alone on this 2years ago I was driving on the second fast lane of the high way at a fast speed of about 140km/hr then I felt like I saw something crossing the high way and as if I was feeling dizzy then I had to put my hazards on in the middle of the highway pulled over then I was fine then after 2 days this dizziness started I couldn't drive with a speed of over 100km/hr until now I don't even know what to do now as I can't afford to go to these expensive doctors

I know it is due to the fear of driving and thinking I will pass out. I went to the doctor and he gave me medication for the axiety, but I still have the light headness while driving. I don't have this problem outside the car. However, I do get headaches on the left side of head. I am concerned since it is progessively getting worse. Unfortunately for me, I was recently laid off of my job and no longer have health insurance. Any suggestions.

I have the fear of falling from anything high.. I'm scared of heights too I guess. They go hand in hand, but falling is a greatest fear... SNAKES... but we don't really have deadly snakes where I live, just random garter snakes that live in forests and swamps. I can't look at pictures or see them on tv, I shutter... I'm afraid too of losing my loved ones...

I highly recommend the follwing resources to help you over-come this fear of driving. In my opinion they are priceless and well worth the money. If you can afford them, I would order them today so you can get your recovery on the road. They have been instrumental in my recovery and I actually keep them in the car with me, just in case. 1) The Driving Fear Program - www.drivingfear.

Except a lot of people sound like they are actually affairs of driving in and of itself, while they are having an episode. For me i feel like the whole attack revolves around physical symptoms I experience that my mind manifests into a anxaity attack. I'll feel my chest tighten up, then I'll get short of breath, I'm arm or fingers will start to tingle, I'll feel a warmth come over my chest even with the AC blaring.

Wow, did anyone see me screw up)... I have a fear of Trucks, heights and bridges, from an accident on a bridge, with a truck. I had forgotten, until I had some significant driving issues, that kept getting worse. I was molested as a young teen, and I had issues with the high school, much later, then problems with schools in general. It was because I did not ask for help, when I was a kid. Then I let things go.

I have just completed a lot of dental work. Most of my molars have been crowned or replaced with bridges in the last 3 months. 5 Crowns and two bridges in the upper left and righ and lower left and right area of my mouth. We began this work at the end on December 2005 and finished March 22 2006. Through out the two to three week waiting periods between temporaries and permanent pieces I have had continuous jaw pain. My dentist thought perhaps I might be alergic to temporary cememt.

I dislike/fear high places, not including being at 35,000 feet in an airplane, and have trouble going up on my extension ladders outside to work on my two story house. I have had trouble driving over high bridges, especially those with flimsy-looking guard rails. The best I can offer is face it. On the airplane issue I too was very frighten about flying even though I had served in the Navy Air Force.

it is fun isn't it.........I've been in a 3 seater, son driving, he flies jets now, and did the "jump out of a perfectly good airplane" thing, which he won't do but I really enjoyed that. Isn't the world beautiful from up high?

Have way to much drugs and buzz. Past out only to wake up with my husbands and my old friend from high school on top of me. I ran out and never looked back. I can't remember that night. My husband came home from the army and him an I had sex. I told him what happened and he thinks I just cheated on him. When I am already depressed about what happened. So I got tested and tested positive for chlamydia and negitive Afro HIV. That was about a month after it happened.

I live in a town that has at least 9 bridges, so have plenty of chances. (Once I was going about 35 mph on a bridge posted 45, and a guy drove on my tail in a big truck, and leaned on his horn the whole way across. Needless to say, this did not increase my comfort level.) One of the bridges that I can actually use is now closed for over a year for repairs, so I have to do something. I'll try the distraction and the ice and the a/c, and see how it goes.

You are not actually fearful of driving or travelling itself, but rather the fear of losing control if you have another panic attack. This is because when we have a panic attack, the first thing we want to do is to retreat to our "safe place", which for most people is our home. The further away from our comfort zone, the more uncomfortable we feel.

It started back in March, when I had to wean off of cymbalta. All of a sudden, I never have it driving to work, but at work I travel some, maybe 50-100 miles in a given week, plus it is about a 15 minute drive to work. Even when I go get my daughter from her mom, anxiety. When I drive to the mall about 30 minutes away, anxiety. It usually cripples me to the point that I have to take a 7.5 mg of clorazepate, and I hate taking them.

I too struggle with panic attacks and the fear of them returning. Have you talked to your dr about this? You might want to consider talking with a therapist. I do know that if you let the fear take over your mind it is only going to get worse. The best advice I can give you is to talk to someone and try to face the fear. Get back in your car and go for a drive even if it is only around the block. Each time you do it it will get easier. You have to take your control back.

i am worse since starting the prozac. i can barely function at ALL...and my thoughts are really obsessive and consumed by fear of death...sometimes i cannot separate one thought from another...it's like a big mushpot of terrifying thoughts...and the muscles in between my shoulder blades tighten up really bad..then it runs up thru my neck to my head....

It not just driving any more it's being alone, always need someone to be with me...Feeling sad for no reason..heart racing, pain in left arm and shoulders tension and the list goes on..just want to feel better!!

Maybe its the post traumatic part, but I have an intense fear of flying and driving over bridges, and amusement park rides. All of these things and more I did before the bleeding episodes. Dont know if its anxiety or if its something else. Anyhow, if youve read this far, your amazing :):):):) I guess I felt a history was needed to explain how/what I feel and why.

i was driving confidently for the last 8 years. suddenly start to fear driving especially curves...now i could not take the vehicle in the middle of the road..i try to avoid and automatically i drive on left side of the road instead of straight...so i loose balance..i am sittiting also slightly towards left...this problem is giving me sleepless night...please advise me..........

Fear of driving high bridges

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