Case Study: Fear of Driving Over Bridges

A Hypnotic Universe Case Study: Overcoming a Fear of Driving Over Bridges

A man came to see me recently with a fear that had slowly taken over more of his life than he expected: driving over bridges. He wasn’t afraid of heights. He wasn’t afraid of water. He wasn’t even afraid of driving. What made his situation unique was this: his mind had linked bridges with danger – even though he logically knew they were safe.

Why does this happen?

The mind is always trying to protect us. Sometimes it makes the wrong connection.

A moment of stress, a sudden spike of anxiety, or even a difficult life event happening around the same time can cause the brain to “tag” a place or situation as unsafe. If someone experiences a surge of fear *while* crossing a bridge – even if the bridge wasn’t the cause – the nervous system can mistakenly store that moment as a threat.

From then on, the fear becomes automatic. Not a choice. Not a weakness. Just a learned pattern. Every time he approached a bridge, his body reacted as though something bad was about to happen – even though nothing ever did.

How hypnotherapy helped

During our sessions, we worked with the part of his mind that had been trying to protect him. Through gentle, focused hypnotherapy techniques, we helped his nervous system relearn the difference between real danger and a false alarm. We reduced the old fear response, rewired the association, and built a new sense of calm and control around driving.

By session three, something remarkable happened. He drove over a bridge – the same one he’d avoided for years – and halfway across realised he felt completely calm. No panic. No racing heart. No gripping the wheel. Just a normal drive on a normal day.

That moment didn’t just change his journey. It changed his future.

Would you like to change YOUR future?

If fear or anxiety is limiting your life, even in small ways, hypnotherapy can help you create real, lasting change. Message me with your availability to arrange your private hypnotherapy session. Louise – 07808 931714 (UK) / +44 7808 931714 (Intl) or fill in my contact form. I work online and face-to-face.