Thank you for the thoughtful post! No, I'm not getting help now, but I do plan to get some down the road. I *know* there has to be a way to beat this beast and I will find it. What's strange is that I've had plenty of trauma in my childhood and none of that caused me problems. As a matter of fact, I cannot think of a single thing that caused my phobias to form. One day I loved flying, the next I could hardly get on a plane. One day I could sit on the edge of a cliff and feel nothing but peace. The next, I had to be peeled off the floor from under the window of a 5 story building. I do remember the exact moment that I had my first reaction to each phobia. One interesting thing to note is that the flying phobia showed up when my daughter was 3 months old. Heights came a few months later and bridges came when my son was 6 months old. No new phobias after that. I think that the post-pregnancy hormones somehow set me up. But I *have* managed to get over my fear of spiders! lol! (Now say a quick, soothing prayer for me. I have to fly to my in-laws next week. *sigh* I'm trying not to think about it too much... and yes, I'll probably have a few drinks before I get on the plane.)
It's OK. I won't be driving. ;-)
Good for you. You are facing it. Oh I wish you well on your trip. In laws and planes, that is VERY brave.
We can't know with certainty exactly what causes the "beast" as you call it to kick in.
Post partum can definitely affect things, but a lot of mine was incubating before I had my first child at 22.
I can relate. I once sat on the very edge of the Grand Canyon. There were no fences then, bet there may be now. I've been to the top of the Empire State Building, the IDS tower, now I can go up in elevators in buildings that are not so tall but would be very uncomfortable going in the really tall ones. How people can actually live and/or work in the things is beyond me. Some humans are incredibly adaptable.
A friend from school days, she went through catholic schools, and she and her husband travel all over. She was on a bus in Europe going up a mountain, and laid down of the floor of the bus, never got intervention except perhaps the family doctor. Later she tragically lost a daughter which really scarred her life, but she keeps going. I think her faith and husband are a consolation to her.