According to the Chinese Lunar calendar, this is the year of the Black Water Snake. The imagery of a python swimming in black water gives me goose bumps, thanks to Tek, when he relates his "farm boy" experience of hunting python as his poultry farm management job description. I have to admit that I have a hard time writing this blog but I brave it through to confront my fear of snakes. 

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Why do some of us have a fear of snakes or even worms? Recent research reviews that it is learned fear. If that's true, one wonders whether the Australian toddler will develop ophidiophobia when a 6-foot python curled itself around her arm and bit her three times early January  2013, when her mom tried to get rid of the snake. Personally, I fear most when I am confronted with a snake, especially large or venomous in the wild rather in captivity.



Some of the symptoms of ophidiophobia

• Unable to look at photographs or television shows can feature snakes.

• Shaking, crying or running away from snakes.
• Experience heart palpitations or have difficulty breathing.
• Find it difficult or even impossible to remain in the same room as a snake.



When your life is overwhelm by the fear of snake, you may begin to fear things or activities that are not even directly related to snakes themselves. For instance, you may avoid going to pet store, camping or hiking trips, or even zoos and nature preserves. You may also develop a secondary fear of other reptiles.



How to treat ophidiophobia

According to APA, the most common treatments for snake phobia
are based on cognitive-behavioral therapy techniques.

• Talk about your fear.

• Taught new messages to replace your fearful self-talk.

• Slowly exposed to snakes, starting with photographs, and animated image shown here
   and gradually to a live encounter with a small snake in a controlled environment.

• Hypnosis may be use to assist in relaxation.

• Choose a therapist that you can trust to help you through this process. 



​Fortunately, ophidiophobia has an excellent chance for successful treatment. And the good thing

is I personally don't encounter a lot of snakes in the city and suburban area. However, there are
many other phobias to content with and you may wonder, what is "Viraphobia" ~ I made it up.



Sources: American Psychiatric Association. (1994).

                    Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th Ed.)

Scoleciphobia

​Are you a Viraphobia?

​To all . . .

All flash animation and art courtesy of negativefeedback.deviantart.com​