<p>My mom had a fear of Chesapeake Bay bridge, and would stop and let my dad take over driving. I guess she passed on that fear to me. In MS, I wrote a paper of types of bridges. The fear lay dormant until I got stuck on the Wash. bridge in NY. Now, I have a hard time crossing any bridges.</p>
<p>I tried not to pass on my fear to my son. He knows about the bridges, as he use to “help” me get across when he wasn’t driving. Now, he drives to the airport, as no bridges on return trip.</p>
<p>At amusement parks, I’d push to do rides with my son. Nothing too scary at DisneyWorld. I was fine doing the Dumbo rides in Magic Kingdom where you go round and up/down. The same ride, on top of a building, and fear takes over.</p>
<p>I don’t like coastal drives & mountain driving (unless my sister is at the wheel, as she is experienced). I’ve been climbing ruins with a group, and just stop part way up. On my first helicopter ride in Maui, I gladly gave the aisle seat to my son. </p>
<p>In Houston, where I grew up, they have we we called ‘spaghetti bowls’, meaning a meeting of several north/south, east/west freeways with lots of exit ramps to take you to your desired direction. I’m sure other cities have these, although Chicago really doesn’t. Some of those ramps are really, really high. When I was growing up, they didn’t phase me one bit - now when I go back, I don’t like to drive on them, and I end up driving like a granny - 20 mph below the posted speed limit. </p>
<p>It’s in WDW Orlando.
I actually went on this twice, LOL. The first time I dared myself. I ended up gripping the hand of a complete stranger, another lady. We both laughed lik crazy people when it was over.
A few years later I went with my teen - that was even worse because we were in the front row and there is a gap where you can see outside. And I was getting lifted right out of my seat.
I think the fact that it’s dark makes it less scary for me, because I still won’t try rollercoasters.</p>
<p>@teriwtt that makes 2 grannies driving in Housto . Those flyovers are terrifying. My husband usually drives when we are there unless he’s had a medical procedure where he can’t. He doesn’t care about them but avoids them because he knows I hate them (oddly I don’t mind so much if they are 2 lanes, it’s the narrow ones that freak me out). They are building more and more of them. My best friend that we stay with lives out in Katy and the just completed one there. She also goes out of her way to avoid them. They are also quite hideoud.</p>
<p>^^^^we have those in Dallas, and the minute I get up on one, my palms do a flash-sweat. DH said when he and his brother were little, they weren’t allowed to make a sound while their Mom was driving on one because she was terrified and didn’t want any distractions. So we joke about it now-whoever is not driving will say “SHH!!” the minute we get on one of those high mix master type overpasses.</p>
<p>It is a terror all across for me, it is a real physical sensation, priamrily in my knees. However, people around me do not need to ask at all, they say I am plainly green, they know that I cannot tolerate heights, they know that I absolutely need to go down. There is no question, just looking for the options. But I am terrified about many other things and it is a waste of time to bring any reason. I understand all reasons, but it does not help, rails or lack of them are irrelevant. I cannot even look at the stand alone very tall buildings from the ground. But if they are grouped together, it is OK. I have no idea what terrifies me in these situations, it just does. I cannot look at wide open spaces at all (even not deep at all) and I cannot visit Grand Canyon as well as be on top of Empire State building, that was the last when I turned green and everybody went inside because of me, without a single peep of complain coming from me, it was not needed, nobody wanted to deal with the heart attack, they want to have me (at least for now)</p>
<p>…yes, flying is no problem whatsoever, I actually have no problem, no ear pain, nothing at all and I like to be by the window and look out and down. No problem…do not ask why, as I said there is no rhyme or reason for any of it.</p>
<p>I defintely have a fear of heights, especially if I’m exposed/outside (like on a balcony) or if glass floors/barriers are involved. The library in my town has glass in between the treads on the main staircase, and it scares me even though it is only going up 1 floor.</p>
<p>Earlier this year, we went to Vancouver and Seattle. The Capilano bridge wasn’t too bad for me, but the treetop and cliff walks they also had were terrifying, as was the Space Needle.</p>
<p>In general, if I’m in an enclosed space, like a building or a car, I’m usually okay. I also don’t have a problem hiking as long as there’s not a drop right next to the trail. That Grand Canyon platform, though, will never, ever happen.</p>
<p>I do also have a fear of flying, though it’s unrelated to my fear of heights. I love looking out the window of the plane ( actually, it helps my flying anxiety). I also love looking out the windows of a tall building. Just no balconies!</p>
<p>I despise driving on bridges, especially ones where you can see through the side rails. DH teased me about it and I walked across the bridge which was, surprisingly, much easier than driving, in terms of triggering a phobia</p>
<p>I have always had a fear of heights to a certain degree. Some bridges really make me nervous. Last May, a dump truck drove off of the bridge near where I live on the Garden State Parkway…ever since, I have become uncomfortable when I drive over it.</p>
<p>Also, I really panicked when my husband drove up a very narrow ( effectively one lane ) winding mountain road in Switzerland. I have never been more terrified in my entire life ! I think it may even have been a panic attack. It had a very flimsy guard rail. I burst into tears, hyperventilated and shook uncontrollably….He will never do THAT again
He told me recently that he has had nightmares about that for the last 6 months</p>
<p>That famous mountain road in Colorado has no railings at certain points. I told DH I will never, and I mean NEVER be convinced to do that again or go on that bridge over the Royal Gorge for any amount of money.</p>
<p>
[Quote
I broke up with a boyfriend because he was driving on an outside lane going over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and not moving to the middle lane.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>OK… just reading the title of that video made my heart race; I was almost in full panic mode by the time it was over (but I couldn’t look away). I hope she did break up with him!</p>
<p>I have “issues” with certain bridges. The Golden Gate. Newport, OR. They drop away beneath the bridge rather than the bridge rising. It’s horrible for me. Years ago, I read that fear of bridges isn’t a fear you’ll fall, it’s a fear you’ll jump. I have no idea if this is true, but until recently I “joked” that I would jump off the Golden Gate if I was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Can’t joke about it anymore, because they added suicide nets to the bridge. </p>
<p>When DH and I biked the Oregon Coast this summer, we biked twelve miles out of our way to avoid biking across the bridge across Coos Bay, OR ;-)</p>
<p>Here’s another video you consider not watching if you’re afraid of heights-- bicycle stunt dude Danny Macaskill in Skye. Gorgeous scenery, though.</p>
<p>My hands and feet are sweating from watching the video too! I have the same response driving southbound over the Sunshine Bridge. I can drive northbound because of the way the bridge curves and I can look out and see land, water and buildings. Driving southbound, the bridge rises up like a roller coaster and you cannot see anything except the road rising up.</p>
<p>So that Wallenda guy is doing a tightrope walk between two Chicago skyscrapers next month… way, way up there (can’t remember what story), at night, wearing a blindfold. It makes me sick just to think I will be just 40 miles away when it happens. It will be all over the news, etc. I won’t have it on.</p>
