I have just developed a irrational, frankly STUPID fear of motorway bridges.

[Judydoes2]

I say just, probably in the last few months. The first time Inoticed any anxiety about them however was about two years ago while my DP was driving us over a particularly high, wide one somewhere in Shropshire and it just made me feel fearful, the realisation that we were SO high up. But that didn't develop until recently and now I am very anxious while driving (or being driven) over one.

I don't really know why.

Just driven cross-counties and each time I came to one I panicked somewhat. I won't drive near the edge, I am careful obviously but I stay near the centre, to the point the car's bumping on the white lines.

Not right.

I cling onto the steeering wheel. It's almost like 'Call of the Void' but not quite as I am not thinking about driving off the edge, more like stressing in case a large vehicle was to come too close and/or and bump me off the bridge!

I've been driving twenty years-WHERE has this come from? Also a generalised fear of heights. Thinking about heights makes me anxious now never used to, and recently a relative was over from a different country and wanted to go up Blackpool tower-we did visit but I was NOT happy and while all the rest of my family tottled about having a good look, I went STRAIGHT back down in the lift as soon as I'd got up there!

I can avoid things like that-but what about this motorway bridge thing?! I drive a fair bit-I don't want to be like this. Any tips? Anyone shed any light on what has happened that this is suddenly an issue?

I cycled over the Golden Gate Bridge when I was early 30s. Could never do it now. The horror 😱

I’ve experienced similar anxieties over the past few years that were never there before - I don’t particularly like driving under motorway bridges, extreme fairground rides give me the fear and I’m no longer very good with flying despite having done a lot of it when I was younger.
I did a bit of reading up on it, and the concept of being more aware and accepting of your mortality came up a lot.

I have this, an irrational fear that developed out of nowhere, along with a generalized fear of heights and even flying.
Regardless of where it came from practical advice on how to manage is what you need. One is distraction. Music to sing along to or chat to the other people in the car is a good help to me. I also visualize it ahead of time and stay calm and breathe slow deep breaths. Also try to feel "grounded" and safe in the car. Your car is your safety and your "ground" if that makes sense and then it matters less than you are high. I know very well how disabling and terrifying it can be, I am sorry, I hope this helps.

Thank you everyone-I will listen to that @cornflakegirl ! I'd kind of forgotten about CrowdScience.

@ohtowinthelottery I will ask DP where exactly it was, maybe I'm mistaken as it was a while ago now!

@northerncrumpet yes life's a bit of a mess to be honest-my work isn't going so well and if I am honest nor is my relationship but that's another thread that may or may not ever exist. Hmm, definite food for thought.

I used to be a really confident driver, almost cocky! I passed first time, always came quite naturally-so this is really weird.

@newusernamejacket thank you, that is helpful

I've been thinking about where this could've come from and one thing that keeps popping into my head is, I watched a series of disturbing videos on a social media group I am in, some time ago, each one depicting structural failures including buildings falling down, towns succumbing to sinkholes, and roads disintegrating with people on them. Perhaps I am thinking something like that is going to happen, the road is going to disintegrate underneath me or the structure has weakened over time and will just collapse or something. I don't know enough about how roads are structured in this country to reassure myself enough!

I’m the same OP. All bridges where I can see under my feet especially even if it’s just one of those Perspex things you can see the workings of something or a view underneath. I feel like all my rings and watch are going to fall off as well and have to hold them on It’s not that I can’t drive over one but I have a feeling I will die on one eventually

I have it too and I don't think it's irrational. They're fucking terrifying. Huge high inhuman concrete structures with people in metal cans whizzing along at 70+mph. Seems fairly rational for the primal brain to be freaking out inside!

@Pinkdelight3 that is indeed a good point! My primal brain tells my logical brain that this maketh no sense!

Never hire a car in Iceland. And definitely don't stop at the tourist spot with the steel beams on the south of the main ring road and read the sign there.

Get your eyes and your hearing tested. Deterioration in either can lead to a feeling of unease.

Eyes recently tested and all fine, 20/20 vision. Should probably get hearing tested though.

This happened to me too, I was having thyroid issues at the time so I put it down to that, I would get dizzy and sweaty when driving over a bridge, it first happened on Dartford crossing, I had to really concentrate so as not to crash, I'm not even scared of bridges hence why I thought it was thyroid related symptoms, fast forward a year later I moved abroad and I'm now driving on the opposite side of the road and it happens to me again when I have to pick my family up from the airport, 5 bridges I have to drive over, honestly thought I would die at one point lol, the moment that made everything better for me was when I got glasses for driving, I know it sounds stupid but it completely stopped it, I used to get badly car sick as a child and that comes from your eyes not sending proper signals to the brain that you are moving. Go get your eyes tested. I hope it helps.