Ashlea Earl
New member
Snake fear, how can it be overcome, some say watching movies can get it down up-to some extent? Suggest some good movies want to give it a try.
-
Hello!
Either you have not registered on this site yet, or you are registered but have not logged in. In either case, you will not be able to use the full functionality of this site until you have registered, and then logged in after your registration has been approved.
Registration is FREE, so please register so you can participate instead of remaining a lurker....
Please be certain that the location field is correctly filled out when you register. All registrations that appear to be bogus will be rejected. Which means that if your location field does NOT match the actual location of your registration IP address, then your registration will be rejected.
Sorry about the strictness of this requirement, but it is necessary to block spammers and scammers at the door as much as possible.
afraid of snakess
- Thread starter Ashlea Earl
- Start date
Dragonling
Doesn't do "casual"
I don't think a Hollywood movie exists that is pro-snake. I'd check out SnakebytesTV. This is a good starting point:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9letBkYfytY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9letBkYfytY
axis1
Fuhgeddaboudit!!!!
Hi Ashlea!
That's kind of a loaded question, as there are many approaches to phobias and fears of many kinds. As a mental health professional in NYC, I have had more than my fair share of dealing with, and treating, extreme anxiety disorders. In reference to a fear of snakes, a good starting point would depend upon the degree of anxiety a person has when he or she is just asked a question about them. Having been exposed to a variety of modalities utilized for the treatment of phobias, one of my favorites is behavior modification and the use of desensitization. It is one of the only methods of therapy that has been proven to work and has had a significantly positive response in several different areas of human behavior. This method was one of many involving what was defined as "conditioning" by B.F. Skinner in the field of Behaviorism as far back as 1937.
A general overview in the case of someone who has a fear of snakes would be to first just discuss or talk about how the person responds to them and why. The next step woul involve having the person view some pictures and drawings of snakes and people handling them while discussing how the pictures make the person feel. Once the person can discuss these images and how they may provoke certain feelings in them, they should be presented with a rubber or plastic snake which they should get used to holding while doing something they enjoy, like eating an ice cream cone or watching a funny video. The next step would involve watching a video of snakes and reptiles. Eventually they can be in the same room as a snake in a tank or tub which they can see and with the assistance of someone who is sensitive and caring, they should hopefully and gradually get to the point where they can touch the snake (isn't it amazing that when someone touches a snake for the first time that they almost always exclaim how the animal is not slimey or wet at all?).
Of course, the techniques described above are almost never as simple as described and do require a certain level of empathy, patience, understanding and sensitivity and preferably by a person trained in the basics of counseling, but not necessarily.
All in all, this is but one way to gradually get over or decrease one's fear of handling a snake.
That's kind of a loaded question, as there are many approaches to phobias and fears of many kinds. As a mental health professional in NYC, I have had more than my fair share of dealing with, and treating, extreme anxiety disorders. In reference to a fear of snakes, a good starting point would depend upon the degree of anxiety a person has when he or she is just asked a question about them. Having been exposed to a variety of modalities utilized for the treatment of phobias, one of my favorites is behavior modification and the use of desensitization. It is one of the only methods of therapy that has been proven to work and has had a significantly positive response in several different areas of human behavior. This method was one of many involving what was defined as "conditioning" by B.F. Skinner in the field of Behaviorism as far back as 1937.
A general overview in the case of someone who has a fear of snakes would be to first just discuss or talk about how the person responds to them and why. The next step woul involve having the person view some pictures and drawings of snakes and people handling them while discussing how the pictures make the person feel. Once the person can discuss these images and how they may provoke certain feelings in them, they should be presented with a rubber or plastic snake which they should get used to holding while doing something they enjoy, like eating an ice cream cone or watching a funny video. The next step would involve watching a video of snakes and reptiles. Eventually they can be in the same room as a snake in a tank or tub which they can see and with the assistance of someone who is sensitive and caring, they should hopefully and gradually get to the point where they can touch the snake (isn't it amazing that when someone touches a snake for the first time that they almost always exclaim how the animal is not slimey or wet at all?).
Of course, the techniques described above are almost never as simple as described and do require a certain level of empathy, patience, understanding and sensitivity and preferably by a person trained in the basics of counseling, but not necessarily.
All in all, this is but one way to gradually get over or decrease one's fear of handling a snake.
albertagirl
Sharan
I've been working on my fear of spiders. I found that watching people who love them on youtube has been helpful. These people talk about them and handle them like it's no big deal, but they also provide a lot of information. As it became less of an unknown, I became less fearful. Then I went to a reptile show (around here it's reptiles and bugs are always grouped together) and asked a kindly looking vendor if I could touch a live tarantula. I explained that I was working on my fears and they were so great about it. I found that tarantulas don't feel at all like I expected. When I was ready, I asked if I could hold a very calm one, and they helped me with that as well. The whole process took about 18 months, but I found it very effective, and I'm still working on it.
I would recommend the same thing. Start with very small low levels of exposure. Youtube is great because there are no actual snakes present, and you can pause and play as you feel comfortable. Make sure you're watching videos that are presenting snakes in a positive light. Eventually, you can go to a reptile show near you and just walk around and look from a distance, and slowly work your way up to standing closer to the tables, and finally asking if you can touch a very calm snake.
I really commend you on being willing to work on your fears, it takes a lot of courage!! But as you see progress, you will feel so proud of yourself. Best of luck!
I would recommend the same thing. Start with very small low levels of exposure. Youtube is great because there are no actual snakes present, and you can pause and play as you feel comfortable. Make sure you're watching videos that are presenting snakes in a positive light. Eventually, you can go to a reptile show near you and just walk around and look from a distance, and slowly work your way up to standing closer to the tables, and finally asking if you can touch a very calm snake.
I really commend you on being willing to work on your fears, it takes a lot of courage!! But as you see progress, you will feel so proud of yourself. Best of luck!
Tavia
Elemental Exotics
We vend at reptile expos and have helped a number of interested people conquer or at least lessen their fears. Watching snakes can help, either IRL or in a movie but I've found that touch seems to be the most powerful tool in reducing fears, for most people.
I'd suggest trying to find a local person, possibly at a reptile expo, that has a very calm snake and is willing to go slowly with you, at your own pace. Most reptile vendors/keepers tend to be very nice and willing to help, there are a few that totally don't understand the fear others have for our beloved snakes and can be too pushy though, so watch out for someone that is sympathetic to your phobia.
Like DLena said, what often works for me with the very fearful is to take one of the bigger ambassador snakes and keep the head and upper body well away from the other person while they can let the tail end move over and through their hands, I can even turn half away at the start, so they can't even see the head, some people prefer that, others want to have the head in sight at all times. After touching the snake for a few minutes, most people relax enough to feel more comfortable, some never get past that point in one session, others get comfortable enough to handle the snake entirely by themselves.
I'd suggest trying to find a local person, possibly at a reptile expo, that has a very calm snake and is willing to go slowly with you, at your own pace. Most reptile vendors/keepers tend to be very nice and willing to help, there are a few that totally don't understand the fear others have for our beloved snakes and can be too pushy though, so watch out for someone that is sympathetic to your phobia.
Like DLena said, what often works for me with the very fearful is to take one of the bigger ambassador snakes and keep the head and upper body well away from the other person while they can let the tail end move over and through their hands, I can even turn half away at the start, so they can't even see the head, some people prefer that, others want to have the head in sight at all times. After touching the snake for a few minutes, most people relax enough to feel more comfortable, some never get past that point in one session, others get comfortable enough to handle the snake entirely by themselves.
DollysMom
It never gets old!
Best wishes Ashlea. Intent is the first step. I admire and applaud you for coming to the forum and asking the question. All the suggestions so far are excellent so all I'll add is moral support. If needed there are many professionals who assist with a number of phobias.
Just a little personal story. I have a fear of heights. Don't get me on the top step of a ladder or edge of a cliff. On the other hand, in my younger days, I went to a skydiving center and did a tandem jump. The hardest part was crawling out of the door and hanging on to the strut of the small plane. Letting go was easy. I remembered to enjoy the view on the way down.
Just a little personal story. I have a fear of heights. Don't get me on the top step of a ladder or edge of a cliff. On the other hand, in my younger days, I went to a skydiving center and did a tandem jump. The hardest part was crawling out of the door and hanging on to the strut of the small plane. Letting go was easy. I remembered to enjoy the view on the way down.
axis1
Fuhgeddaboudit!!!!
Reminds me of an old saying: If at first you don't succeed, don't try skydiving!! :roflmao:
However, as one who was DEATHLY afraid of heights, I can attest to the fact that skydiving DOES cure acrophobia!! Of course, like owning cornsnakes, it becomes an addiction!!! And there's no cure for that!!!
Ally.Wolf
Corn Snake Mama
I was once deathly afraid of any and all snakes, I think it stemmed from a garter snake attacking my bike tire when I was just a kid. Anyway I now own 2 corn snakes of my own and love them! I'm not afraid of them in the least. How I got over my fear was just being around a snake in a controlled situation. My best friend got a pet snake after moving into a house of her own and when I would go over to visit her there was the snake. I was just bound and determined that I wasn't going to be afraid every time I went to her house so slowly I got closer to the snake. It started out that she would hold Aiden (that's the snakes name) and I would just sit nearby, that turned into I would touch Aiden and then got to the point that I could hold Aiden. From there I could pick him up out of his Viv and then I tried feeding him. It took me a good 2 just about 3 years to completely over come my fear but I did it!
Tavia
Elemental Exotics
Not all snakes in it but this is a wonderful video!
http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=143562
http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=143562
Ashlea Earl
New member
Thank you so much guyz for concern and replies
Probably would go for some movies of snake because movies make interesting medium to have a start with snake and be their friends.
Like Anaconda which had made the fear of snake negligible.
http://www.babynology.com/famous_namelist.php?gender=&stw=jennifer&origin=all&cat=actress
suggest some good snake movies with beautiful actress :santa:
Probably would go for some movies of snake because movies make interesting medium to have a start with snake and be their friends.
Like Anaconda which had made the fear of snake negligible.
http://www.babynology.com/famous_namelist.php?gender=&stw=jennifer&origin=all&cat=actress
suggest some good snake movies with beautiful actress :santa:
DollysMom
It never gets old!
Lol, in spite of Jennifer Lopez I don't think of Anaconda as a movie that is helpful in getting over a fear of snakes. To each their own. Didn't suggest Snakes on a Plane for the same reason (though I consider a movie that shows a corn snake attacking anything to be a comedy).