Thursday, September 12, 2013

Ophidiophobia: The Fear of Snakes

Ophidiophobia is the abnormal and persistent fear of snakes.  This is a learned fear based on stories of deadly snakebites and movies that portray aggressive snakes, like Anaconda or Snakes on a Plane.  It may also be caused by experiencing or even witnessing a traumatic event involving a snake or snakes, whether it is a bite or a close encounter.  Those with Ophidiophobia may eventually begin to fear places that may have snakes, such as pet stores. This phobia is more commonly known as Snake Phobia.
A phobia is a strong, persistent fear of situations, objects, activities or persons.  The main symptom is an excessive and unreasonable desire to avoid the feared subject. Other phobia symptoms include shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat, sweating, nausea, and an overall feeling of dread.  Phobias are the most common form of anxiety disorders.

Do you suffer from Ophidiophobia?  Please share your story.  How was it triggered and how does it affect your life?

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