Snake Phobia

[Wild-Woman]

My worst phobia is metal stairs that you can see the ground through. I couldn't use a fire escape-I'd faint coming down them.Julie

[May]

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

My worst phobia is metal stairs that you can see the ground through. I couldn't use a fire escape-I'd faint coming down them.Julie

Oh lordy, me too. Any slatted steps get me. I have a horrible fear of heights and water and whilst in Portsmouth Dockyard aboard the Warrior I went up these wooden slatted steps on the top deck to see what was up there (stupid, stupid me) and it was right by a drop into the water.

Once up there I realised I couldn't get down. My legs were shaking and Andy my husband was getting impatient, "Oh for goodness sake you could jump that!" he snapped and there was me, all wibbly lipped thinking I was going to have to be winched down by the authorities

And the rest of the place wasn't much better, far too many slatted steps down to decks

Oh and I love your new user picture Julie!

[Wild-Woman]

Why thank you May. They're kinda cute and they love being stroked on the head. Love reptiles all kinds.Won't have a snake though because I've got a house Rabbit and I wouldn't want it ending up as a snake snack!

Glad you don't like stairs-thought I was the only one.They'd have to knock me out and stretcher me down stairs like that. it makes me go all ^V^V^V^V^ thinking about it.Julie

[catalaze]

I think your first response was right on the nail ... although I'm sure all (most?) of the others made you laugh. Yes, it is an inherited response. Be proud! You have a strong survival trait! Going a long, long, way back in your ancestry, rather before Homo sapiens in fact, you needed to be born with an aversion to snakes, spiders etc. In hot countries, lots of them are deadly. It is just a trait that hangs on in there more strongly for some than for others. If it really bothers you, follow up the (sensible) suggestions on how to overcome phobias.

As for Grass Snakes, yes they swim extremely well but as you might have guessed from the comments, fast and in the opposite direction to anything like a human.

That's why most of the others haven't any pics of them. I'll spare you mine.

[May]

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

Why thank you May. They're kinda cute and they love being stroked on the head. Love reptiles all kinds.Won't have a snake though because I've got a house Rabbit and I wouldn't want it ending up as a snake snack!

Glad you don't like stairs-thought I was the only one.They'd have to knock me out and stretcher me down stairs like that. it makes me go all ^V^V^V^V^ thinking about it.Julie

You have a house Rabbit too? How sweet!

[nightshade]

Boddie most of the time on your walks you will not see snakes because they clear off they do not want confrontation,so when you see one go and look at it from a distance favourable to Both of you
It is just another commuter trying to make a living with as little fuss and bother as yourself
I am not scared of them but I am respectful of anything that if scared by me could cause me hurt,nothing is going to cure a phobia but it can be eased

[Tinkerbell]

there was me, all wibbly lipped thinking I was going to have to be winched down by the authorities

So, how did you get down again, May?

Tink

[May]

Originally Posted by Tinkerbell

So, how did you get down again, May?

Tink

Luckily the authorities weren't involved! It took me fifteen minutes to get up the nerve to be able to do it, face turned away from the drop, I crept down the ladder, hanging on for dear life, almost in tears. Never had I felt so glad to be on that deck