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Gephyrophobia is a fear of bridges, often caused by a traumatic event or fear of heights. Symptoms include panic, hyperventilation, and sweating. Avoidance is a common coping mechanism, but therapy and exposure therapy can help overcome the fear.
Gephyrophobia is a phobia based on the fear of bridges. In general, most people with this phobia have a distinct fear of crossing bridges. Gephyrophobia comes from the Greek words gephyra meaning bridge and phobas meaning fear. As with most types of phobias, individuals who fear bridges typically realize that the structures pose no real threat, although this does not lessen the perpetual fear of them. Many people with gephyrophobia will do anything to avoid being faced with a bridge.
The cause of gephyrophobia can differ from person to person. In many cases, the fear will occur due to something traumatic happening on a bridge. For example, an automobile accident that occurred on a bridge and resulted in death or serious injury can cause someone to fear bridges. Younger children may fear structures simply because a parent or older sibling does. It may not be uncommon for people who have a fear of heights to also have a fear of bridges, as structures are typically very tall in stature.
Gephyrophobia, like all phobias, is a type of anxiety disorder. For this reason, the symptoms that can be caused by contact with a bridge are generally similar to those of a classic anxiety disorder. When approaching a bridge, an individual may start to panic. He or she may begin to hyperventilate, tremble with fear, and sweat profusely. In most cases, once the bridge has been crossed or is no longer in sight, the fear subsides.
Most people who are afraid of bridges will do everything they can to avoid coming into direct contact with them. When travelling, this can mean taking an extended route to avoid bridges. Likewise, when possible, crossing bridges will generally be avoided. In some cases, some people with this type of phobia may be more affected by some bridges than others. For example, short bridges may be more bearable than extremely long ones.
Simply avoiding bridges may be all the treatment needed for people with gephyrophobia. This may not be a very difficult thing to do for people who rarely have to cross bridges. Unfortunately, simply avoiding structures may not be an option for an individual who has to come into contact with bridges frequently. This can include people who live near bridges and individuals who must cross them to get to a frequently desired destination such as business, school, or doctor appointments.
Sometimes, an individual with gephyrophobia may need to visit a therapist to help them overcome this fear. A therapist can conduct sessions to get to the root of why the person fears bridges. Addressing the root of the problem can be therapeutic in helping the person realize that bridges pose no realistic threat. Additionally, exposure therapy may also be beneficial. An individual undergoing this type of treatment may be repeatedly exposed to bridges in a non-threatening manner until the fear finally subsides.
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