The ophidiophobia or snake phobia is the irrational, intense and persistent fear of snakes. Such is the fear for this reptile that just the idea of seeing a photo or a toy can lead to an uncontrollable panic attack.
It is the second most common phobia in the world, affecting approximately 10% of the population. In addition, it is believed that up to 1/3 of humans have some kind of fear of snakes.
Whether because of the black legends that have been told about them, their hiss on the ground stealthily, their disturbing gaze, the fact that some are poisonous or the hiss they reproduce with their tongue, many people suffer real chills just thinking that they are nearby of one of them. Fortunately, this mental inability to stay calm has treatment..
In addition to developing possible therapies, we will address the root of the problem, trying to understand its causes and what are the possible consequences of suffering from this disorder.
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The ophidiophobia comes from the Greek word "ophis", which means snake and "phobos", fear, hatred. That is, the fear of snakes in a persistent and excessive way.
It is important to clarify that having a certain repulsion or fear of these reptiles does not imply a phobia. For it to be considered a disorder, it must be an unjustified fear that is within what is considered normal.
Ophidiophobia is included within herpetophobia (fear of reptiles) and this in turn to zoophobia (irrational fear of animals). Arachnophobia, buffonophobia, entomophobia, cynophobia or motephobia are other phobias that are included in this great section.
Symptoms can vary depending on how terrified you are of snakes. Some individuals will experience some discomfort when exposed to a reptile while others will develop conditions that affect their health more..
This will be determined by the mental state and other characteristics related to the affected person. According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), some of the most common symptoms are:
Sometimes ophidiophobia can affect a person's normalcy considerably. This would avoid spaces that are conducive to a snake's habitat (parks, lakes, zoos, forests, etc.) or go too far into ensuring that your home is free from unexpected visitors..
Only 10% of snakes can have a real danger to humans. So what makes us panic and cause this disorder in certain people??
The snake is an animal full of symbolism that has been linked throughout history to such negative concepts as evil or the devil himself. The Bible itself, through the story of Adam and Eve, portrays the serpent as a mean animal and akin to the devil.
This popular culture remains intrinsic in the human mind, which due to ignorance is not able to distinguish the mythological from the real.
They mostly occur in childhood. If you witnessed or been the victim of a snake attack or were exposed to any disturbing or violent trigger, this can trigger trauma leading to ophidiophobia.
The evolutionary cause is very present for many scientists. They defend that animals such as snakes were a nuisance to our primitive ancestors, which developed a certain alertness and visual acuity when faced with the reptile's movements..
In an article by Isbell (2006) in Seed Magazine, the possible impact that has occurred on the brain of certain mammals such as monkeys or humans, when living with the snake is collected..
Point of greatest controversy. While some scientists believe that having relatives with ophidiophobia can promote your suffering, others refute it, arguing that it is simple family conditioning.
At this point, it should be emphasized that you have to make sure that the fear you suffer from a snake is truly a phobia. For this, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DMS) of the APA, includes the requirements that must be met to suffer from this disorder:
Recognizing these symptoms, if it is necessary to go to a professional to determine what type of treatment is the most appropriate to combat this suffering. Some of the most common and effective therapies are:
As its name suggests, the goal of this therapy is to gradually expose ourselves to the being that creates our fear. For this, a safe and controlled environment will be established, in which the patient can feel somewhat more comfortable. It is also known as a desensitization technique.
In this case, the patient will gradually be exposed to a photo of a snake, a toy that imitates the figure, a dead snake and a live one at a distance. The idea is that when the time comes, the affected person can touch the animal and even hang it by the neck. If you can stay calm, your brain can control fear and anxiety.
Also known as cognitive-behavioral therapy. It aims to vary the negative thinking that is had about the snake to eliminate any indication of fear or panic in the subject. To do this, he relies on biofeedback or relaxation techniques..
The purpose of relaxation techniques is to provide the affected person with certain skills and techniques to remain calm in states of anxiety. Meditation classes, controlled breathing or exercises related to positivity are carried out to achieve mental and physical tranquility voluntarily.
Only recurrent in severe cases. The intake of antidepressants (SSRIs) or anxiolytics can substantially improve the symptoms produced by this disorder, but prolonged use of them can lead to addiction or other side effects.
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