About two years ago I very suddenly developed an intense panic reaction to two things - driving over bridges, and air turbulence while flying on a plane. I had never experienced any such problem before, and no specific event brought it on. But it's really awful and I hate that I feel this way. I'm embarrassed. So far I have not avoided air travel because of fear, but I get anxious when I'm getting on a plane, and start to panic inside when I feel the slightest bump in the ride. I literally want to scream and run away but I restrain myself as best I can. I do avoid going over high suspension bridges whenever possible. It is much better when someone else is driving. When I drive over a bridge, I slow down, my palms get sweaty and I grip the steering wheel tightly. My instinct is just to get the heck out of there. I feel like I am going to die. Has anyone else experienced this, and what, if anything, helped you get over it? I want to be able to travel again without having these horrible feelings. My primary care doctor suggested hypnosis, but I don't know if that will work because I'm not very trusting and I don't let my guard down easily. Is there any kind of therapy that works well?
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Answers
You could try some kind of anti-anxiety medicine
It sounds like you're having panic attacks in these situations.
Sometimes having the medication taken then going and experiencing the fear provoking situation helps to lessen the fear later when not on the medication. Because part of the fear becomes about your psychical reaction so it fuels itself. Being able to experience a fear situation without the panic reaction an lessen the fer for the future.
Behaviorally oriented psychotherapies are probably the most commonly used for phobias.
They tend to be more focused directly on the presenting symptom.
Other therapies such as psychodynamic might look more at what could have caused you to have these fears in the first place. while you say that no specific event brought it on, it is possible that it is related to something you are not yet aware of
Actually, I have heard myself that hypnosis would work really well myself...I agree with the previous poster, that psychodynamic may be good also, or CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy).
Have you checked with any therapist yet, or are you able to pick and choose in your location?
Best,
Clyde
Read up on Exposure Therapy.
Exposure Therapy is good as well...
Hi scaredycat! I'm glad you wrote about this problem. These two items you listed, air travel and bridges are two of the most common mentioned fears with regards to those who are not only anxious, but depressed.
Could it be that you are not happy with life, and maybe have been stuffing those emotions (unsatifactions) and not treating them?
It is amazing how such inner issues manifest themselves in such fears, isn't it? If you are unable to figure out what things you have been ignoring, then do seek out professional help. It won't get any better, and you could become less and less social, curbing your out-of-the-home activities more and more when there's no good reason.
(((Hugs))) The good news is, with therapy you can resolve these issues, and begin feeling better than you did even before you had these anxiety attacks!
Be well.
drjean