I'm not even sure what the fear is about. I mean, yeah, the idea of being stuck in an elevator freaks me out. But why? You're not likely to die. It might take a while, but eventually, they'll get you out. Why the panicked reaction?

The same with bridges. I'll cross a few bridges to get into another state, but I get panicky as we're approaching. Then we're on it, and I'm like, here we go! My heart starts palpitating, I get hot, the world seems as if it's ending, I slide in my seat, try to touch something--even my boyfriend, which isn't good when he's driving!--try to focus on something (like the other cars around us), etc. I used to enjoy going over bridges and through tunnels when I was a kid! I still enjoy the view when the panic is a little more under control, but why do I have to tense up before every bridge and feel this way? I know the odds of an earthquake or the bridge collapsing is very small, but I always feel like, if it were to happen, I'm on a bridge NOW and there's no way I can get off to save myself. I don't even know/remember how and when this started.

I really hate that you can't turn around on a bridge. I get the safety reasons, but what if I go into full panic? I might literally run out of the car, down the bridge, and what if I got too close to the edge in my panic? What if I fell into the water? I can't swim! You can't really practice going over bridges. You can't go a little further each time, then turn around until you get used to going over the whole thing.

And I don't get used to it. You know how they tell you to do a little at a time, baby steps, and you'll stop having anxiety about it once you see it's okay? That's not happening for me. I feel the same way every time I go over a bridge, or get in an elevator, and I haven't gone in a tunnel (I REFUSE to go in a tunnel) in years. Why does my body become overwhelmed with fear?