I know I have a phobia of heights and closed spaces, but I never knew I had a phobia of bridges. I guess bridges are forms of height, too; on this day, I planned to pick something in another city, and I had to travel on a bridge. Usually, I use GPS to navigate, but I ignored the directions at the start of the trip. When I got to the bridge, you won’t believe I just froze and could not move the car effectively as my speed limit dropped to 12m/hr, I broke out sweating, and my palms were drenched; I could hear my heart pound so fast, and I felt it would burst. I manage to switch lanes to the slow lane as I watch other cars get away from the back of my car and speed away. In my fear, I propel the vehicle at a snail-like pace, and you can imagine my relief when I eventually descend the bridge.

I have been reminiscing on why my fear of crossing the bridge came to be, and I can only think back on my childhood experience; let me share that here: Growing up in Africa, I lived in a semi-urban city to get to and from school I had to walk to school most times. This implies crossing a river that has a bridge without side rails. I can vividly remember how afraid I used to be while crossing the bridge, especially when it rained and the water level rose up to a significant level, and I can see the tenacity of the flowing river under the bridge while I walked over the bridge.

I guess I underestimated how traumatized I was by that experience until I was a lot older and had to be driving over bridges. I am still working to overcome my irrational fear of driving over a bridge. It’s a constant battle between my rational mind telling me that bridges are safe and my irrational fear that takes over every time I approach one. I’m open to any advice or support that could help me conquer this fear.