Anonymous wrote:I have intense anxiety going over bridges and want to avoid a panic attack with my kids in the car. They really want a few days at the beach. Can anyone recommend a nice family friendly beach within 3-4 hours from DC? Thank you.

I think you can get to Virginia Beach without crossing a bridge? If you have a few more hours to spare, you can certainly get to North Carolina or up to NJ beaches.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need therapy. How can you continue to go on like this?!

Really sensitive way to put that. Geez.

NP. It’s not mean, just direct. This fear must have a serious deleterious impact on OP’s life. The sooner she addresses it, the sooner she will feel better.

Not that big of a deal

Ugh yeah I feel ya. I have my first bridge panic attack on the Bay Bridge after growing up near NYC so having crossed tons of bridges. I was driving and ended up in the west bound lane like they do when it’s busy going east and I just about died. That plus the complete loss of horizon really threw me. Now, I love going to the beach so I vowed not to let my fear prevent me from going but dang when your hands are sweating and you’re the driver, and you have precious cargo….it’s hard. I have now successfully white knuckled it enough that I no longer panic when I see it, my heart rate didn’t even increase the last time. I’ve been over and back from eight or nine times now.

Anonymous wrote:Does not exist.

+1
You need to go to a lake or river, OP.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need therapy. How can you continue to go on like this?!

Really sensitive way to put that. Geez.

NP. It’s not mean, just direct. This fear must have a serious deleterious impact on OP’s life. The sooner she addresses it, the sooner she will feel better.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Chesapeake beach, or go further to Va beach

There are bridges (and a tunnel!) to get to Va Beach

Not if you take the route posted a few posts above yours.

Buckroe Beach in Hampton, VA

It’s not a beachy beach beach, but Sandy Point is just BEFORE the Bay Bridge. Baby steps! It’s OK, OP. Try that out and see how it goes. You won’t have to cross, and hopefully you guys have a good time.

One of the worst panic attacks in my life was while I was driving over the Chesapeake Bay bridge. Ever since i started lexapro, I haven’t had any (have driven over it many times with no issues!)

Anonymous wrote:Chesapeake beach, or go further to Va beach

There are bridges (and a tunnel!) to get to Va Beach

Anonymous wrote:You need therapy. How can you continue to go on like this?!

Really sensitive way to put that. Geez.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel you OP! I had a panic attach while being a passenger last year going over Chesepeake Bay Bridge! What didn't help me was traffic, and feeling stuck up there. I worried how we would return, but it was relatively not as bad as traffic kept moving.

I would highly recommend going to Philadelphia PA, and crossing over to NJ on the way to NJ Shores. Those are relatively small bridges in comparason.

But to drive to Philadelphia, don’t you have to drive over the Susquehanna bridge in Maryland?

Yes, but it's a shorter and small bridge in comparason. I don't have issue going over that one.

Relatives of mine went to Gloucester Point which has a small beach and can be accessed I think without going over any long bridges.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Chesapeake beach, or go further to Va beach

Not OP but the bridges on 64 and 664 are comparable to the Bay Bridge.

DP here. You can take 95S to Petersburg, then pickup 460 East and you don't need to do the bridges. I grew up in Richmond and we always went this way anyway as it's way less traffic in the summer.

Anonymous wrote:There is a company that will drive over for you: https://kentislandexpress.com/

I was going to suggest this too. Never used it but had read an article about it.