I was wondering if anybody else has trouble with bridges? For the most part I can go through my days without panic/severe anxiety, but big bridges, driving on certain interstates and a few other high places really give me problems. I don't think I could drive over the bay bridge in Maryland if I had a million dollars waiting for me on the other side. I even have an extremely hard time riding over several bridges. It just feels like I am going to lose control and jump out of my skin. If anybody has a strategy for dealing with this I would love to hear it!
robin

Robin,

Yes, I have a fear of bridges and high places. When going over a bridge, I never drive in the outside lane, if I can help it. I distract myself by looking at the license plate on the car in front of me and try to figure out a phrase that goes with the letters on it. I have never been over the Bay bridge in Maryland, but my Pastor once told me a story about riding with a friend who had a panic attack on that bridge and he had to drive from the passenger seat.

There's a bridge outside of Tampa. It is a gorgeous piece of work, but I got up to it and could not drive over it. I had to pull over and my son drove over it. What is really wierd is that I had no trouble driving over the seven mile bridge in the Florida Keys. There are times when the bridges in Pittsburgh do not bother me, but one bridge that just opened, the Hot Metal Bridge really makes me panic. I'm not sure if it is the bridge itself or the structures that are beside it. They look so ominous. I drove it once and I will never drive it again.

One thing that I did find that helped me, was to learn a lot about bridges. I now know all the different types of bridges, and can identify them. I look at the structure to see if I can find the points of compression. The Smithfield Street bridge always fascinates me because it is the only bridge like it in the world. No one knows how it works, they only know it does. I am trying to take my fear of bridges and turn it into a fascination about bridges.

I don't know if this helps at all.

DW

Hi Robin and DW,

Bridges really throw me for a loop too. I can do some bridges but others stop me cold. DW, thanks for your "tips"; I'm going to try them next chance I get.

As for the Bay Bridge...crossing it has become one of 2 major goals I have. The other is to go to the top of the Empire State Building. Both of those were UNTHINKABLE for me before I started the program. Now they seem more and more possible with each lesson I complete. I'm not ready YET but at least I have hope now that the day will come.

HOOOOORAY for us!!!!

CC,

I don't know if I can do the Empire State Building just yet. That definitely would be a great goal. I'm working on desensitizing myself as far as heights are conerned. I stood on roof of a building in Philadelphia this summer and was really surprised that I enjoyed it and enjoyed the view. I also used to have this thing with tunnels, but I am getting better. There are four of them that I have to drive through when I go to see my son. We make games about tunnels too. I think the more you do it, the easier it becomes.

I am so glad that there are other people in the world that fear bridges and heights. Who knows, maybe one day we will get it all together and not be afraid to go anywhere or do anything.

Take care

DW

DW,
I love your upbeat attitude! That takes us all much farther than anything else. I will try your trick about the license plates when I drive. Like you, knowing that other people have these fears and continue to drive with them and deal with them makes me feel so much more confident.

In reply to where we live, I live in western Maryland. Allegany County to be more specific. I grew up in Monroeville and the Churchill area. I haven't lived in Pgh for 11 years, but we come home at least once a month. It's always a bit of a challenge for me to go over some of the bridges in Pittsburgh. I can ride over most, but worry about getting stuck in traffic. It's funny, but when you start saying your fears out loud or write them down, they lose some of their power. They sound kind of funny. Somebody on this site mentioned a movie with Robert DeNiro called "Analyze This". It's about a mobster who has panic attacks. Sometimes when I have a problem, I try to think of that and I can't help but laugh at myself.

About 5 years ago I drove to Pgh once a week to complete a panic program with a counselor in Edgewood. It was fantastic and really changed my life. I used her program in conjunction with Attacking Anxiety. The two together made all the difference to me. I just feel now like I'm ready to spread my wings more and take on some things I have been avoiding for awhile.

Talk with you soon!

Robin

Hi Robin, My name is Sue and I also live in Md. The bay bridge was the first place I ever had a panic attack. At the time, I had no idea what it was, I just know that we were coming back from a great weekend and the beach and I was about half way through the bridge (at the top where you can see the downslop curve leading to the end of that danged bridge) when all of a sudden I felt soooo light headed and just thought I was going to pass out. I was 20 years old at the time (now very 30something) As time has continued on I fear so many things. All bridges, tunnels, the beltway, 97, Rt 100 295, you name it. If it is a major road, I avoid. Forget the Key bridge. I hate any elevated road and even once your off the bridge the dang road is elevated for miles. This is the only time i have panic. It is never in a social environment, not when I used to work, not even staying home alone. Just driving, and I hate it. How crippling it has become. I just can't seem to "get over" it. (See the joke ) I think my problem is that if I don't think I have a quick escape route, that upsets me and throws me into panic. I don't even like an overpass.

I hope one day we all can be at peace with ourselves and have no limits placed in our minds. I know for me it will take a long long time (if ever) to be able to drive with complete freedom. I find myself crying alot over the depressed feeling of these boundries I live in. What life must be like for those who don't have these fears, and how I long to be like them. I think you are the first person I found that also lives in Md. Are you working? I used to work at the National Security Agency, but the trip to and from work got to be too much for me. It was sad to give up such a great career, but I didn't know what else to do. Anyway, I know I am rambling on,(it's because my husband is out of town for the superbowl GO RAVENS!!!) but if you would like to e-mail me please do so at sbjp6986@aol.com.

Robin, DW, and CC...

Hi, I don't know how far you have gone on the tapes, but on my set of tapes, tape 10 specifally talks about a man with a fear of bridges. Something to look forward to and I beleive it's a very common fear. It's all about control, surprise surprise. We all have limitations to overcome, and I am thinking of you all with the very best of my positive, heartfelt energy! Good luck!

Chantal

Robin and Roughwaters,

When my panic attacks began to return about 6 years ago, I had a major attack on the parkway, and then the next day in downtown Pittsburgh. I couldn't even drive home. For an entire year, I did not get behind the wheel of a car. That was totally unlike me. I drove everywhere. Finally, one day when we were out at the mall, I told my son to drive to the car dealer. I bought a van. For some reason I feel more secure in it than in a car. It was not a cure all, but it did give me my independence back.

I am blessed in the fact that all three of my jobs are within walking distance of my home. I could not stand being dependent upon people all the time. I knew I had to do something. I was determined not to allow this condition to rule my life. I took it one step at a time. That's the way we have to approach it, and rejoice with every success.

Remember to be kind to yourself. You deserve it. Some day we will all drive over that bay bridge and enjoy the view.

DW

YES YES I DO IT MAKES ME SWEAT JUST THINKING OF IT! I think that is why i sit in my home all the time I live about 1 mile from a bridge and I have to drive over it to go anywhere so I have choose for a year now not to drive. And i get very upset with myself for not going just staying at home I hate it so I did drive over it the other day with my husband in the car when i did I tried to look around at the trees the birds but still looking at the road of course because where i drive over this bridge the speed limit is very slow. I use to drive over it all the time i have lived in this area all my life! ONe day I had a panic attack well you know the rest of the story there! I tell myself also im going to feel the fear and do it anyway! mrs M

Mrs. M,

I can relate your story. It is just amazing how just one incident can change our whole life. How long is the bridge that you have to go over? Looking at the birds and the trees is a good diversion, especially if you try to categorize them in some way. I guess I always try to make sure there is a real mind engaging activity when I have to do something that causes me anxiety and panic. I feel that if it is too simple, my mind can wander, and I have instant what-ifing. I'm glad to hear that you drove the bridge again. It is just possible that the more you drive it, the easier it will become.

I know that for me it is true. The area that I live in has 1700 bridges that are 1/4 of a mile or longer. Needless to say, I can't really go anywhere without crossing a bridge. Some of them are now so familiar that I do not think twice about them now, and a few others, I avoid like the plague. Thank goodness there is usually more than one bridge to get to a place.

It sounds to me as though all of us who have posted on this thread have goals as far as bridges are concerned, and we will meet our goals and exceed them. I am looking forward to the day when I can drive, see a bridge, and go over it without a second thought, except maybe, "look how beautiful everything looks from here."

DW

Bridges..........YIKES..............

I too have a problem with bridges. I'm scared of them. I went over the Chesapeake Bay Tunnel Bridge(the one that is 16 miles long) years ago when I first started with anixety....Full Blown Panic Attacks the whole entire time.. I couldn't catch my breath my heart was beating faster and faster.I was a passenger in the car. What a terrible feeling. But I made it.

I love the beach and in order to get to the beach you must drive over a bridge... There are four different ones.. I take the one that takes me out of my way...I get scared everytime. But I drive it...I don't know why? Maybe because I can't stop on the bridge or because it is over water....

Needless to say I don't do it very much. But I hope that one day we will all be able to drive that bridge, drive that freeway and not be so afraid of it.

Best of Luck to Everyone!!

Thanks everybody for your responses. I'm glad to know that I am not alone with this fear. It is interesting to read all of the responses. We all have fears of bridges and i'm assuming that we are afraid that we will need to get off the bridge for some reason or we have a fear of "going crazy" and driving or jumping off the bridge, but not one of us has had anything remotely like that happen. I guess what I am trying to say is that maybe we (myself Included) should look at the history of our fears. It is almost like we are wasting our time fearing the bridges and the highways, etc because it always turns out the same. We feel scared, choose to let our racing thoughts scare us, nothing really bad happens, we ruminate and obsess about the fear and then we have to drive over the bridge again and repeat the cycle.
I don't know exactly where I am going with this, but as Dr. Phil on Oprah would ask "Is this working for us?". I think the answer is no. There must be a better way to break the cycle. I suppose listening to the tape about obsessive thinking is helpful and knowing that we will not act on our fear is important. Even though they feel scary and no matter how many times we feel them, we will not act on them.
robin (sorry if this rambles, just thinking out loud)