All about herpetophobia

Snakes have always terrified humans. The fear of these reptiles lies in our mind almost from birth. The appearance of this creature is unpleasant and looks pretty scary. Consciousness involuntarily includes a sense of self-preservation at the sight of a snake. In some people, the fear of these reptiles is not so strong, while in others it can cause a panic attack.

Ophidiophobia or herpetophobia is the fear of snakes. It is deciphered as follows: the word "ofidio" is translated as "snake", and "phobos" - "fear." This disorder refers to zoophobia. Fear of snakes, embedded in the mind of man, is passed on from generation to generation.

Anxiety can occur when a person looks at a lizard or a snake. This is a completely normal state, if it does not turn into a panic. That he can say that before us is a sign of ophidiophobia. A person suffering from this disorder develops fear when there is no risk to life. For example, when you see a picture of a reptile or when the same person, visiting a serpentarium, begins to panic.

Women and children are most susceptible to these phobias. And only a specialist will be able to distinguish a nervous breakdown from ordinary fear. If the appearance of a snake causes some discomfort, which disappears as soon as the stimulus disappears from view, then this manifestation can be called a banal aversion to the creature, which does not cause sympathy.

There is nothing unusual in the development of a phobia of this kind. Human fear of reptiles developed on a par with evolution. When Homo sapiens acquired skills and intellectual abilities, he simultaneously developed a strong sense of self-preservation. The first tragic experience of a collision with these creatures secured in mind the potential danger. This experience was transmitted from century to century. Subsequently, people learned to use snakes to destroy their own kind. The enemies often put vipers in the bed of their opponents.

Dislike for snakes aggravates nature itself. The effect of surprise may be taken by surprise, and the person will not be able to react in time to the danger. Snakes are almost invisible. They can appear in front of a person at any moment and attack. That is why an unexpected meeting causes inevitable fright even among the most courageous individual.

Children are afraid of snakes because fear is transmitted to them from their parents.. They exactly repeat the behavior of their senior mentors, and the fear of snakes is well established in the mind. However, the same negative experience can be acquired regardless of the behavior of adults.

Children often encounter reptiles on their way. Depending on the nature of the character, and after a series of such encounters with danger, a phobia may occur. In the minds of this fear can fix and joke from classmates. The boys throw toy snakes to their comrades. In children with a weakened psyche or a highly impressionable character, such self-indulgence can form a resistant phobia.

Perhaps she will be forgotten for a while. But if in the life of such a person a situation occurs that leads to stress, then the phobia can wake up and go out of hidden corners of consciousness.Do not forget that the reptiles and their images are used for various rituals of black magic. And this fact adds certain points to the development of a phobia.

If you only feel a slight dislike for snakes and do not think every day that they exist and can attack you, then this state should not cause you anxiety.

To fear the development of phobias should be the following

• it is hard for you to be where terrariums with reptiles are located, for example, pet shops selling reptiles cause a feeling of dislike;
• when you are near a reptile, you experience uncontrollable fear;
• the thought that snakes are found in the wild makes you abandon rest in the woods or in hot countries.

Phobia can develop after meeting with a snake, which brought unpleasant moments. Suppose she attacked and harmed. It is not necessary that this incident could happen to you. If you were near when the snake attacked a person, then observing the tragedy will certainly have a negative impact on your condition and will be remembered for a long time.

Strong-willed people will be able to cope with an anxious state quickly and independently; others need to carefully work on themselves and deal with their fears. You may even have to consult a specialist (in severe cases).

A science such as psychology has long been studying the problem of various phobias, and psychologists are developing various methods of getting rid of obsessive-compulsive problems. It is likely that you will be advised to act as follows.

• You must have misconceptions about reptiles. Your fears are unjustified. So write everything you know about these creatures, and compare your knowledge with the original source.
• Ask yourself what exactly is causing your fear at the sight of snakes. Apparently, you have no idea how snakes attack and why they do it. Most likely, you just do not like their appearance, but you have never been attacked by these creatures. It is possible that your fears you have come up with yourself, and they are completely unfounded.
• To stop fearing reptiles, you need to know all the information about them. If the reason for fear lies in the fact that you were misinformed (influenced by a friend’s story or you heard something unpleasant on TV), then your fears can be overcome by examining the problem carefully.
• More often, watch documentaries about snakes that are shot for educational purposes. This information will help you understand some of the points that will affect your future attitude towards snakes.
• To overpower yourself, pick up a toy snake and hold it. Try to understand that nothing bad happens to you.
• Go to the serpentarium or the zoo, where reptiles are kept in terrariums. No matter how scary you are, try to stay there longer. Cope with yourself and stop near the most dangerous snake. Look at her. You will be scared, but you need to calm yourself.
• As soon as you start thinking that you are in danger because of snakes, then try to reason like this: “I should not (on) be afraid of snakes. Next to me they are not. And why did I decide that they should appear and attack? Any living creature has a sense of self-preservation, and the snake is no exception. She is afraid of a person just as a person is afraid of her. And this means that snakes do not just attack people. It's just my fears that will go away as soon as I stop multiplying them with my thoughts. ”

In more severe cases, it is better to contact a psychotherapist who identifies the problem.First, he will find out where your fear has come from. Revealing the cause is the beginning of remedying the situation. As soon as the specialist finds out the reason, he will offer to undergo a course of psychotherapy.

• Prescribing medications such as serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Complement the therapeutic effect of benzodiazepine tranquilizers.
• Panic attacks occur as a result of neurosis. The development of this state is adaptive. The body is so adaptable to trouble. The use of physiotherapy will be the best way to get rid of phobias, as it is the impact of nature: heat, electric current, magnetic field, etc. The physiotherapy includes the following procedures: massage (general strengthening), water treatment (contrasting showers and swimming in the pool), float chamber (complete isolation of extraneous noise), magnetic procedures (use of magnetic fields).
• Hypnotherapy also gives a lasting cure result.

It is necessary to remember that Serious drug therapy can give a good result if used in conjunction with other effective methods that eliminate phobias.