Ophidiophobia
Ophidiophobia is a kind of phobia where a person has an extreme fear of snakes. Although it is normal for people of all ages to be afraid of snakes, having ophidiophobia is entirely different from just having a simple fear (Brennan, 2021).
Many are afraid of snakes. Half the people in the world are scared or feel anxious about snakes, and 2% to 3% of those people may have ophidiophobia, where the fear gets so intense that it may interfere with their daily lives and disturb their sense of well-being. Ophidiophobia is classified as an anxiety disorder (Brennan, 2021).
If a person has an intense fear of snakes and finds it so difficult to manage that it becomes hard to behave normally and lasts for longer than six months, then it is likely that that person has ophidiophobia (Brennan, 2021).
Causes
Negative experiences with snakes in the past, especially in childhood, that have impacted them badly can lead to ophidiophobia. If someone has a close family member or friend who has ophidiophobia, it is possible to learn and follow that behavior. Some simply have genetics that make it easier to develop ophidiophobia (Brennan, 2021).
Symptoms
- Avoiding places and situations where there might be snakes
- Sweating
- Diarrhea
- Difficulty breathing
- Nausea
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- increased heart rate and blood pressure.
- A burning or prickling sensation is often felt in the arms, hands, legs, or feet.
- Confusion and disorientation
- Hot flashes or chills
Treatment
Some people with ophidiophobia might not actually need treatments if their symptoms are mild and can be taken care of by simply avoiding snakes. But if it is getting in the way of social, work, or personal life, then consulting a doctor and getting proper treatment is essential (Brennan, 2021).
The amount of time it takes to successfully treat ophidiophobia varies depending on how serious the condition is. But with treatment, almost 90% of people are able to recover from phobias. The best method for treating the illness is considered to be a combination of medication, if necessary, cognitive behavioral therapy, and exposure therapy. (Brennan, 2021).
What makes snakes dangerous?
Sharks, as dreaded as they are, only kill about ten people every year. While snakes are frequently perceived as less deadly, they kill over 50,000 people each year, which is five thousand times more than sharks (Guia Marie Del Prado, 2015).
Around 600 of the 3000 snake species are venomous (Glatz, 2022). The venom of most of these poisonous snakes is not potent enough to kill most adult humans, but it can cause considerable injury if not treated quickly. However, over 200 of the venomous snakes have lethal toxins, some of which are so potent that they can kill a hundred adult males in a single bite (Guia Marie Del Prado, 2015).
Conclusion
Snakes can cause fear and harm to humans and other lifeforms due to their normally aggressive behavior towards many living creatures. Their venoms can be deadly, but there is also research being done as to how to use their deadly poisons in medical fields.
References
Brennan, D. (2021). What to Know About Ophidiophobia (Fear of Snakes). [online] WebMD. Available at: https://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/what-to-know-ophidiophobia-fear-of-snakes [Accessed 31 March 2023].
Guia Marie Del Prado (2015). This is why snakes are 5,000 times more dangerous than sharks – Business Insider. [online] Business Insider. Available at: https://www.businessinsider.com/snakes-are-5000-times-more-dangerous-than-sharks-2015-8 [Accessed 31 March 2023].
Kyle Glatz (2022). The 4 Types of Snake Venom – And the One You Want to Avoid Most. [online] AZ Animals. Available at: https://a-z-animals.com/blog/the-4-types-of-snake-venom-and-the-one-you-want-to-avoid-most/ [Accessed 31 March 2023].
