Mumsnet Talk

Hi all.
I have a phobia which I have had all my life. The phobia is snakes. Even writing the word makes my skin crawl. The phobia is extremely bad - I cannot look at pictures (cartoons or real), watch them on tv, in books etc. When people tell stories about them I physically react with symptoms I get when I have an anxiety attack.
The phobia has gotten much worse since I had my son 4 years ago. A cable can make me look twice and make my heart flip. A belt too. I lift my feet off the floor. Physical reactions include itching (palms and neck), feeling hot, upset stomach, difficulty breathing. Then add in the embarassment factor.

Another example - my son went to a jungle type place with my sister and handled one. I found out when he got home and I couldn't look at him without horror. I had to get my DH to help him wash his hands before I could touch him and even then my skin was crawling. This in turn made me a terrible mum.

I do also suffer from anxiety and I hyperventilate regularly (as in I breathe too often and feel as if I will suffocate). I sound as if I cannot cope day to day, I can but I need help.

My lovely GP is referring me to a Psychologist but I'm a bit anxious (haha) about this. The phobia is embarassing. I do not come in contact with them (ever) but I'm scared of what treatment may involve. My GP agreed not to give me medication as I want help to deal with my anxiety issues. I am naturally a worrier but this has gone far.

Not sure what I'm looking for here? Does anyone else suffer a true phobia? (I find it is a word used when people are scared of something, but not truly phobic iyswim?)

I used to be like you about spiders, but I'm much better now. Hypnotherapy helped me (I had to pay for it, not on the NHS!)

Have you tried contacting Anxiety UK? They are a charity dealing with phobias and anxiety and might be able to help you in the mean time. I think having children can often make these kinds of problems worse, it certainly did for me.

Hi Drumlin,
Thanks for the reply! Hypno scares me (lol) and I'm so scared of being made to look at a picture, even if I'm cured. Sounds silly right?

I will look into Anixety UK, I didn't realise they would deal with phobias. I think because is kind of random and not something day to day, I feel weird that it gets to me so much, so I've waited a long time to do anything about it.

I had hypnotherapy years ago and wasn't made to do anything - I was totally in control. It's a deep relaxation, not like the stuff you see on the tv that claims to be hypnosis. You do need to find someone who knows what they're doing though and doesn't just send you to sleep! Anxiety UK used to be the National Phobics Society so I think they definitely deal with phobias. They might be able to put you in touch with a local therapist. Members get therapy at a reduced rate I think.

Oh thanks for that information! I've put it off for forever in fear of being made to look at one at the end of the sessions or something :/ (something I saw on tv as a child)