First, let me say some of the ideas are interesting and I will give my best effort to try them to solve the local bridges I work and live by. But the bridges I drive on by accident are the ones I cannot prepare for (try Tocoma Narrows, WA). When I came around the bend there it was good ole galloping girty itself. By the time I realized what happen, I was one third on the bridge. So I found myself slowing down, almost blacking out. All I could do was sing a song and looking at the deck of the bridge till it was over. It took me a good 20 miutes to come back to a normal state to continute my. But it's not just driving where I have the smae issue.. I was in a tour bus; in France, and came apond a bridge known as the Normandy Bridge (look it up). I thought I was going to get sick. Two large bridges together one over 700' in the air and both built to provide maximum visibility of the country side. My fear isn't just driving, it being a passenger too. Many time I have visited remote locations to only discover I must travel over a bridge that would place me in such a position of massive fear. Many folks make fun of my moment, but it's a serious issue. Strange, this started when I turn 40. And most of the folks I know who fear bridges too are over 40. On the postive side, I love to look at bridges, take many photos and read about their engineering. I find this somewhat peaceful (at home).

Scared, You have come to the right place! Please feel free to roam the site at your own pace. If you look to the left of the screen under "TOOLS" you will find many supportive tests. These tests are not diagnostic tools and are not a replacement or substitute for a physician's advice. The purpose of these tests is to prepare you with information that you can present to your physician. When you're finished the test, you can either print your Final Report or email it directly to your doctor. We also have developed a Panic Program. This program is 12-weeks and involves the tools mentioned above. Each session is based on the previous session, so we strongly advise that you work slowly through the program and not jump ahead. If you have any question or concerns with our €œTOOLS€, you can contact us at support@paniccenter.net. We are the Support Specialist for The Panic Center and are open to any questions or concerns you may have. Many members have tried our Panic Program, with wonderful success. Please don't hesitate to post any concerns, or comments. The online support group is amazingly supportive and insightful. Josie

I am a new member and just started to have these panic/anxiety attacks going over bridges . Just today i missed an exit and eneded up on a bridge with no way off . Of course i had to go over it and did but i was doing some deep breathing while doing so. I went out of my way not go home the same way . I hate this it seems so stupid . I used to over bridges all the time and never thought twice about it. I went to a Dr, and he perscribed xanex for the anxiety . But the anxiety didnt happen till i was on the bridge and the medication took longer to kick in than it took for me to get over the bridge. I need help i don't want to be hostage to this i want to drive and go all over, not just where there are no bridges.

Bridgehater checking in -I do still dislike bridges, but I CAN deal with them now. Absolutely better. When the panic was really hitting me badly, I read about how Caffeine is one of the culprits as it makes our already trigger-happy nervous-systems sound off even more false alarms! So I cut cold turkey -cut out all caffeine -switched to Camomille/Passionflower tea - natural, mild calmers & relaxers. Still able to have 'that hot drink' fix but ZERO caffeine. No Caffeine soda either (which was more of an afternoon habit with me). Guess what? Within 15 days I was calmer, and within 30 days I was 'normal' (nervous,but not panicky!) Wonderful to have that sense of calm back that I was seeking. The thing about caffeine - it has a cumulative effect -U cant just not drink it on the One day U plan to cross the bridge- or like U sed Diane -when U plan to wander into an unknown area - because much latent leftover caffeine is still coursing through those veins. For someone who had to cross a bridge everyday to get to my job, believe me that is the best thing I ever did, in addition to this CBT course. It was very worth it to give up caffeine to regain my sanity/calm. Still dont like seeing those construction workers dangling themselves all over the @#&! bridge cables & such! They've been working on the dang bridge for 2+yrs now. I avert my eyes and look at the nice, solid, pavement in front of me. Sure, I am checking for potential potholes, but seeing that my car DOES have a nice clear path to follow helps. Before U know it, the bridge is behind U in your rearview mirror-exactly the way I like to see them -behind me! Another idea I've used successfully is that most bridges are not longer than 1 or 2 good songs -pop in a favorite tune that always makes U happy & reminds U of a prior happy memory -U will be accross that bridge in no time, & singing merrily on your way! (Sweet Caroline, Neil Diamond is one that works for me -or anything cheerful & meaningful that works for U). I keep a special 'bridge tape' right in the car-door pocket -even if I get stopped in traffic on the bridge -which is truly the worst Kenny I totally understand! esp the swaying - the songs realign my brainwaves & can triumph over any stupid bridge. We are all much greater than any ch

Hi I also have the anxiety problem of going over bridges. My worst case was going over the george washington bridge. I wasnt driving and we were dead stop in the middle on the upper level. We could feel the bridge move while trucks and cars were driving beneath us. Looking around you can see the water and tall buildings which were freaking me out also. For some reason the cables that hold up the bridge scare me also i dont know what thats about. But its definately a state of "no control" thats causing me the anxiety. I think visualizing situations like that and honing our coping skills can help us regain our control. We just need to remember to be patient with our recovery and not to beat ourselves up when we suffer through these conditions and setbacks.

Hi I am new to this site. I cant tell you how much it means to find others feeling the same panic as I do when approaching a bridge while driving. I have the feeling both as a driver and a passenger. I do however, experience the panic feeling 75% more while driving myself. Just recently I was driving my son to an amusement park and was feeling anxiety all the way for the 1 hour trip not knowing whether or not I would come upon a bridge to across. Well, wouldnt you know it I saw signs for bridge ahead...not knowing the area I began to have a panic attack and got off at the last exit before the bridge. I sat at the exit for more than 20 minutes contemplating whether or not to attempt it. I then started onto the ramp to get onto the bridge and had to stop and back off the exit as I could not bring myself to cross it. I felt so bad for my 11 yr old son who was so looking forward to going to the amusement park. Fortunately he was very forgiving about it as he could see that Mom was having a tough time of it. My biggest fear was that I did not know how big the bridge was as I was unfamiliar with the area. Those large bridges with the suspension cables are really the ones that scare me in the worse way. I have that feeling of once I get on the bridge I have no way out. Thanks everyone for listening. Hopefully some day I will overcome this...but at this point can not imagine that I will.

Trish, I know exactly how you feel about stop lights, I have the same problem. The best thing I found to do when I'm stopped is SOMETHING. Whether it's changing my station, digging in the purse or glovebox, talking on my cell phone, ANYTHING to keep my mind of the fact that I'm at a dead stop with people on both sides of me and there's no escape....and the lights take SO LONG to change!! Usually this works out pretty well for me, try to just keep yourself occupied! Hopefully this will help!! Crystal.

You're tips on getting over bridges are very helpful. I had a panic attack once on the way over a relly high bridge here in town (luckily I was with someone else) and I COULD NOT SEE!! It was so scary! I drive 30 minutes out of my way every morning just so I can go around that stupid bridge. The little ones don't bother me--it's the bridges that have exits off of them and over-hangs (Is that what you call them? The "bars" that are over the top of the bridge). I can't even go visit my mom in Missouri because of a stupid dumb bridge. It really upsets me. I'm not afraid of it falling, or anything like that....it's the thought of having a panic attack on it were I lose my vision again that threatens me. It makes me anxious everyday that I look at this bridge with it's blue over-hangs...I take the exit directly before it. When I see the signs before the bridge that say "watch for fog" lit up--it scares the **** out of me even though I know I'm not going over it...I guess it's just the idea. I'm even afraid that someday I'll miss the exit and end up on the bridge with no way of turning back.....although I'm sure that won't ever happen, for I'm constantly thinking about it when I'm near it...but it still scares me. Dumb. Crystal.

NBridgehater, Hello there, I'm glad to hear that the site is working well for you. I read your exposure plan for the bridge crossing, it sounds like you have put a lot of though into it, it looks great. Keep up the good work. Let us know how you are doing. Sounds like you are on the right track... Susanne

I was wondering the same thing about how to develop an exposure plan for Bridges when it is either Cross the Bridge ,or not! Here is what I came up with Step 1: Hang pictures of Bridges (especially your particular bridge) around your house/desk. (I know this is hateful step, but hey, whats exposure for?) Like on the fridge/in bathroom/near bed.) I know the last thing I want to look at either is that dang bridge, but hey, that's what exposure's all about! Step 2: Drive to a spot where U can see the bridge but dont have to cross it (like the exit before, or a place close by. Since U dont have to cross it, there should be less fear. Turn around and go home. Step 3: Have someone drive you accross that bridge. ( I already do this now when I carpool, and have zero attacks; it's only when I am the one driving that is the prob). Step 4: Have someone drive you accross the bridge 2 or three times simultaneously (back & forth & back & forth) so U are really bored stiff & sick of it and want to do it yourself Step 5: Drive accross the bridge with someone else in the car, ON A WEEKEND MORNING VERY EARLY MORNING AM so there is no traffic, no distractions, and U can go as slow as U want. Put your blinkers on, put signs saying "student driver" or whatever else U need to do so people give U room and go around you. Step 6: Weekend AM bridge drive again with someone else in the car (tusted friend), This time go accross several times, back & forth & back... First U might be going as slow as U need to get through it, hopefully U will pick up speed after multiple trips at same session. Step 7: Drive bridge yourself on Weekend AM Step 8: Drive bridge yourself during your regular commute time.