While there seems to be a fear for just about everything, there are some fears that can directly be linked with the fear of falling. Gephyrophobia also known as the far of bridges can turn a drive to work into a nightmare for people who suffer from this phobia.
In area such as New York, this phobia makes it hard for some people to live their daily lives, containing more than 2,000 different bridges in the state. Manhattan alone has 19.
Like most fears the fear of bridges can be traced to watching movies. One of the most famous is the 1979 Cassandra’s Crossing.
Their fear may result partly from the fear of enclosure (claustrophobia) or the fear of heights (acrophobia). Phobic drivers may worry about being in an accident in busy traffic or losing control of their vehicles. High bridges over waterways and gorges can be especially intimidating, as can be very long or very narrow bridges.
The fear of bridges is perhaps one of the only phobias that cities actually devote tax money to, for example in San Francisco/ Oakland, authorities will actually dispatch a tow truck to take drivers to the other side.
For some the worst part is knowing that they have to cross everyday, but in the same respect some who have this fear have learned to ignore it because of having to drive across them on a daily basis. ” Ever since I moved up to San Francisco, I kinda got use to it, if you want to get across the bay, you really don’t have much of a choice sais, Jenna Davi, a theatre major at San Francisco State University.
This is a real fear for many. I have a few friends that wont visit me because I live on the other side of the bridge ;(