Gephyrophobia (extreme Fear Of Bridges): Symptoms, Causes And Treatment
Gephyrophobia is the irrational or excessive fear of bridges It is a phobia that has been described and studied in relation to other types of phobia (not as a particular clinical condition). As it is a fear of structures that are especially common in large cities, gephyrophobia can represent an experience of significant discomfort for those who experience it.
Below we will see what gephyrophobia is, what are some of its manifestations and possible causes, as well as strategies that could counteract this fear of bridges.
In Greek, the word gefura (γέφῡρᾰ) means “bridge” and “phobos” (φόβος) means fear. Hence the term “gephyrophobia” is used to designate the fear of bridges. As occurs with phobias that are described from psychopathology, to be considered in this way it must be a fear that is considered irrational, because causes clinically significant discomfort that cannot be justified by the cultural codes where it is presented.
In other words, gephyrophobia is the irrational fear of bridges, which is irrational because it occurs in contexts where bridges are objects of everyday use and do not have a quality in themselves that potentially represents some type of risk. For this reason, these are architectural structures that do not usually cause fear to those who pass through them daily.
Main symptoms
As it is a fear that causes clinically significant discomfort, phobias can represent a significant obstacle to carrying out the most everyday and seemingly simple activities. In the case of gephyrophobia, It may happen that the person avoids routes that involve crossing bridges at all costs especially when it comes to large bridges that must be crossed by car.
Otherwise, that is, when exposed to a situation in which it is necessary to cross a bridge, the person may experience the typical manifestations of specific phobias. These manifestations include the spectrum of physiological responses characteristic of anxiety: dizziness, agitation, hyperventilation, rapid heart rate, and even panic attacks.
Possible causes
Gephyrophobia is characterized by ideas or thoughts about different scenarios associated with falling from or from bridges which generates fear.
These thoughts may be due to a previous experience of danger associated with a bridge; or they may be related to having witnessed a high-risk incident related to the same, either in person or indirectly through the press, cinema or other media. But not necessarily, in fact, it may be a fear that apparently is not related to any previous experience in the subject’s life.
In general, the fear of bridges is explained by elements such as the following:
Relationship between gephyrophobia, agoraphobia and acrophobia
According to Foderaro (2008), Dr. Michael R. Liebowitz, professor at the psychiatric clinic at Columbia University and founder of the Anxiety Disorders Clinic at the New York Psychiatric Institute, has explained that, while the fear of taking airplanes has intensified and recognized as an anxiety trigger, especially in the United States after 9/11; The fear of crossing bridges is much less known and in general continues to mean a stigma for those who have it
For this reason, there are no exact numbers on the people who experience it, but the same psychiatrist says that “it is not an isolated or isolated phobia, but rather part of a large group.” It is rather a type of phobia related to the fear of large or very open spaces.
That is, gephyrophobia is closely linked to acrophobia (fear of heights) and agoraphobia (fear of open spaces where help is lacking). In the same sense, the other side of gephyrophobia is the fear that some drivers have when passing through tunnels, an issue that is closely linked to claustrophobia (fear of narrow spaces).
In fact, gephyrophobia It is usually experienced more strongly when it comes to high bridges compared to those located a short distance from the ground or water.
Treatment
As with other phobias, clinical psychology has different tools to work on gephyrophobia. There are different strategies that vary according to the theoretical approach. For example, such strategies may be focused on promote a modification of thoughts that generate anxiety
On the other hand, they could favor a gradual approach to the bridge that allows the person to experience them in a different way. Likewise, intervention strategies can focus on exploring the meanings associated with the risk that bridges represent and attempt to reinforce or modify emotional schemes for coping with said risk. But not only psychology can intervene in the treatment of gephyrophobia experiences.
Driver assistance equipment
Mohney (2013) tells us that the Mackinac Bridge in Michigan, United States (one of the largest suspension bridges in the world), has proven to be both a tourist attraction and an imposing urban structure, which easily causes fear in many drivers.
As of 2013, between 1,200 and 1,400 calls were received each day by the Michigan Driver Assistance Program, which sends an assistance team that accompanies drivers while they cross the bridge These calls and assistance teams usually intensify their activity after news about accidents related to bridge falls is released. A similar program exists on the Tappan Zee Bridge in New York, which is located more than 150 feet from the Hudson River and often inspires panic among many drivers.
