Snake Phobia

[Boddie]

I am rather annoyed with myself at my reaction to the Adder I saw this weekend. I have long since suffered a phobia to just about anything that is small, and moves.

Up on the moors the driver was telling me about a previous visit whereby he had seen an Adder sunbathing in the middle of the road and I was saying how none too happy that would make me feel. Again he reassured me and as he was doing so I spotted a baby Adder on the road infront of the car. I began to feel anxious immediately and asked the driver to drive round it.

I had a quick look but felt that funny feeling below my ribcage again - I call it 'the willies'.

I could not even contemplate stopping the car or opening the door to get a shot with my 105 macro. No chance.

But I was more happy walking in areas that previously I would have been anxious of this weekend and ever got down to look at some crickets, which would normally freak me out.

I understand my behaviour is abnormal but I just cant get my head round it and am sorry not to have got a picture as it was a beautiful bright day, I had the perfect camera set up and I pussied out.

Doh

[Gill Catton]

There's a part of me that thinks that phobias of small crawly things and snakes and stuff is at least partially nature as it is nurture in origin. There are after all plenty of countries in this world where it makes a great deal of sense to be wary of these things and this presumably has been the case since the dawn of our species.
However, I do think the fears can be overcome, I for one was once scared of spiders and daddy long legs but I refused to let the boys in the playground chase me around with these beasties, so I forced myself to pick them up and the fear vanished. So that's one method, the other is to go out with someone who's calm about the whole thing, and who is good at calming you perhaps and then you'll have a more gentle path for your brain to proof that they can do you no real harm.

I still have a weird phobia of injured insects, I think that came from watching someone who I thought was a friend (who was older and cooler) when I was around ten pull the legs and wings off a daddy long legs and my heart broke for the poor little thing I was devastated but felt powerless as she was so much older, I am still getting over that one, via the gentle method!!

[wildone]

Originally Posted by Boddie

I am rather annoyed with myself at my reaction to the Adder I saw this weekend. I have long since suffered a phobia to just about anything that is small, and moves.

But I was more happy walking in areas that previously I would have been anxious of this weekend and ever got down to look at some crickets, which would normally freak me out.

I understand my behaviour is abnormal but I just cant get my head round it and am sorry not to have got a picture as it was a beautiful bright day, I had the perfect camera set up and I pussied out.

Doh

Andrew many of us have phobias or an irrational fear of something. However the fact that you were able to walk where previously you would have felt more than uneasy shows that you are managing to conquer your fears to some extent. Even more so to bend down, getting nearer the feared creatures, and looking at the crickets. Maybe one day you will find that you can put the camera between you and it/them and get the photograph you will be so proud of. In the meantime don't berate yourself about something that affects many of us in one way or another.

Regards

Winnie

[Boddie]

When I was young I used to be relaxed around snakes, as I lived in Singapore, but now I am petrified of them.

Conversely I used to be scared of girls...

He He

[Gill Catton]

what about girls with snakes......

[Kev Lewis]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

what about girls with snakes......

Isn't that in Thailand?

[Alan]

Originally Posted by Kev Lewis

Isn't that in Thailand?

Seems you know more about it than us!!

[Ollie]

Slightly off track Andrew, but this may make you feel better. Mentioning no names I have a very good friend who is petrified of water. I don't mean water that you would use to wash or bathe in but rivers, streams, large dykes etc. When this certain person travels anywhere in a car the driver has to try and avoid any route that would take them alongside a river stream or large dyke. This is a very genuine fear as I have witnessed it myself first hand. If the route taken happens to pass one of the mentioned water courses above this person starts to sweat, hangs on to the car door elbow rest for dear life and generaly panics. This same person can however walk along a river bank or stream with no particular fear.
Before you ask they have never been involved in an accident in a car let alone one that involved water.
You are not alone in your phobia and I am sure given time and the right encouragement you will be able to overcome it.
Roger

[wildfire]

It could be worse - when I was a about ten I thought I'd get over my waryness of daddy long legs an have a look at one. The thing flew right in my face with that sudden, jerky flight and landed across my nose and forhead, giving my a horridy more close up inspection than I'd been hoping for. I also once fell asleep on the grass and had an ant crall in my ear. It took me half an hour to get it out and I could hear every movement it made! Suffice to say I'm not too keen on either insect any more!

maria

[Boddie]

Yep I can empaphise with these emotions. I used to say that I did not want to overcome my fear as I did not want to touch a snake, or look at a spider, but now I feel that I would like to perhaps be able to.

My old queen suggested hypnotherapy but I am scared of what else the poor person would find. Could end up getting sectioned.

[Tinkerbell]

I spotted a slow-worm down in Cornwall the other week and would have loved to touch it. However, I didn't because I was nervous of dropping it - I realised afterwards that I could have got down on hands and knees and lifted it just off the ground. Opportunity missed!

Tink

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Boddie

Yep I can empaphise with these emotions. I used to say that I did not want to overcome my fear as I did not want to touch a snake, or look at a spider, but now I feel that I would like to perhaps be able to.

My old queen suggested hypnotherapy but I am scared of what else the poor person would find. Could end up getting sectioned.

Get one of your "many" female freinds to go with you to a reptile centre or snake house at the zoo. This will have two possible outcomes. Either your manly pride will not allow you to show fear and you'll overcome your phobia, or she'll be so impressed with you sensitive nature that you'll overcome.... no I'm going to leave that thought there

Joking aside I went this route with my fear of flying, and forced myself to get on an aircraft for fear of looking like a wuss in front of the ladeez - subsequently I eventually got over it so much that I got a private pilots licence.

[Boddie]

Originally Posted by eeyore

Get one of your "many" female freinds to go with you to a reptile centre or snake house at the zoo. This will have two possible outcomes. Either your manly pride will not allow you to show fear and you'll overcome your phobia, or she'll be so impressed with you sensitive nature that you'll overcome.... no I'm going to leave that thought there

Joking aside I went this route with my fear of flying, and forced myself to get on an aircraft for fear of looking like a wuss in front of the ladeez - subsequently I eventually got over it so much that I got a private pilots licence.

No chance

I would not even contemplate a reptile house. Its simply not happening. There used to be a guy in Cheltenham with a python and it did not bother me. He used to take it shopping and I was fine with it because it was big and not wiggly. I cant stand things that I dont know where they are going

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Boddie

No chance

I would not even contemplate a reptile house. Its simply not happening. There used to be a guy in Cheltenham with a python and it did not bother me. He used to take it shopping and I was fine with it because it was big and not wiggly. I cant stand things that I dont know where they are going

so start lower down the scale with a wildlife centre with Slow Worms or Grass Snakes or summat - leading on from what I was saying about taking a fit bird (Edit: sorry, dead man walking, I meant a nice young lady honestly) with you. You could also go with all your mates then the manly pride would be even more likely to force you through.

[wildfire]

thats a good point actually, I once saw a guy eat a spoonfull of 'raw' washing up liquid [the strong fairy stuff] just because I dared him to and he didnt want to look like he wasn't 'ard' enough. Then I felt sorry for him as I was the one who dared him so I said I'd try it myself - not a good idea

[ian_g]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

what about girls with snakes......

Originally Posted by Ollie

large dykes

What has this forum turned into?!?!

On a more serious note, I feel for anyone who has a phobia of any kind. For years and years I suffered (and often still do) with a phobia of dogs. I was bitten several times as a child (I had no fear of them back then) and ever since, any sort of countryside walk can often be marred with an owner walking his/her dog. It's a real shame though for I love dogs, they're great, but if one is off leash, my legs go to jelly

I also had an immense phobia of fireworks which stemmed from when a 'Jumping Jack' (remember them?!) firework got out of control and whichever direction I seemed to run, it followed me. I freaked out for many years after when it came to around Bonfire Night.

And then there are spiders... just don't mention spiders!

Ian G

[henrya]

Quote
When I was young I used to be relaxed around snakes, as I lived in Singapore, but now I am petrified of them.

Conversely I used to be scared of girls...
Endquote

Beware, Boddie, girls can do you far more harm than any snake!

henrya

[ian_g]

Their tongues are certainly sharper and more forked

Ian G

[May]

Originally Posted by wildfire

It could be worse - when I was a about ten I thought I'd get over my waryness of daddy long legs an have a look at one. The thing flew right in my face with that sudden, jerky flight and landed across my nose and forhead, giving my a horridy more close up inspection than I'd been hoping for. I also once fell asleep on the grass and had an ant crall in my ear. It took me half an hour to get it out and I could hear every movement it made! Suffice to say I'm not too keen on either insect any more!

maria

Ooooh goodness! This is how I got my moth phobia! I was watching a pretty large and beautifully marked moth one day and it flew straight at my face, panicking me greatly. I can't even be in the same room as a small one now.

And I sleep with cotton wool in my ears .. paranoid? Me? Hehe.

[May]

Originally Posted by Tinkerbell

I spotted a slow-worm down in Cornwall the other week and would have loved to touch it. However, I didn't because I was nervous of dropping it - I realised afterwards that I could have got down on hands and knees and lifted it just off the ground. Opportunity missed!

Tink

My husband is scared of snakes and as slow-worms are similar in appearance, he isn't so keen on those either. But the other day in the supermarket car park we saw a Slow Worm being tormented by a crow. "Oh my god! Help it!" I cried in a state of panic, to which he very bravely rushed over, scaring the crow away and then proceeded to try and pick it up and move it to safety .. this creature was trying every trick in the book not to be picked up, but he shuffled it into a hat and put it somewhere safe.

Personally I don't like the other-worldly daddy long legs or moths and big spiders are a no no. I once tried to save tiger-spider (if I name them it helps somewhat) from huge-and-twice-as-big-as-tiger-spider-spider which seemed intent on getting it. I was on a chair almost weeping with fear, trying to save tiger-spider by knocking it into a bucket

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by ian_g

Their tongues are certainly sharper and more forked

Ian G

somebodies really playing with fire now .....

[eeyore]

I saw a Grass Snake today swimming across one of our lakes, I didnt even know they could swim. I was rather annoyed too as I didnt have the camera i habitually carry because I took it off my belt in case it got wet ..... doh

I have a morbid fear of being without a camera normally so that makes me an anticamerophobic then

[matt_xyz]

Originally Posted by eeyore

I saw a Grass Snake today swimming across one of our lakes, I didnt even know they could swim. I was rather annoyed too as I didnt have the camera i habitually carry because I took it off my belt in case it got wet ..... doh

I have a morbid fear of being without a camera normally so that makes me an anticamerophobic then

Until recently I had never witnessed a Grass Snake swimming, but I've now seen it happen twice at a local nature reserve. I did have my camera with me, but the snake was gone too quickly....maybe next time.

Matt

[Wild-Woman]

Grass Snakes are great swimmers and often go in for a frog. I untangled one from a pond with net once and it threw up half digested frog on my hand and tiddled all over me. Nice.ww

[Boddie]

For me this is the most terrifying scene imaginable. I love water and swimming in rivers etc. If I saw a snake swimming nearby I would make buttons. I even have the willies thinking about it.