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Original poster

I am absolutely terrified of snakes :'(

19 replies

veggiemonster · 28/03/2022 19:15

I'm hoping someone can ease my thoughts slightly.

I am going to Australia next year. I am so, so, so excited and can't wait.

My only issue is, I am absolutely terrified of snakes.

I have just been reading about how to treat snakes bites etc. and I can't even look at pictures of them. I know that this is so, so stupid as a bloody picture can't hurt me but I try and stay calm but I just absolutely cringe and literally writhe in my chair just looking at some pixels on the screen.

Anyone who has been to Australia (would be especially helpful if you've lived near Brisbane) did you ever see a snake? Did you ever have any in your house? I would rather know and prepare myself.

Also, has anyone ever had any sort of hypnotherapy to help with a fear like this? I know that it is a possibility that I might see one and I want to at least feel less like I might actually faint if I do come into contact with one.

I know that I am ridiculous and people will say 'just enjoy your time there' but this is a very, very real fear. Also not completely irrational because of the poisonous variety.

Thanks in advance

OP posts:
hauntedvagina · 28/03/2022 19:29

Lived in Sydney for a year, the only snakes I saw were roadkill.

Lucinda7 · 28/03/2022 19:29

We went to Australia on holiday a few years ago. We were walking about in the Outback every day. I too dislike snakes. We only saw a small brown one in the distance and it was going away from us. We did see a few crocodiles about. We didn't notice any spiders in our motel rooms. Australia is a wonderful place, I think you will have a lovely time. We didn't see much wildlife tbh except for a large lizard which went stomping through a "beach" (was a sandy place by a lake). Everyone just moved out of it's way! We also saw some fruit bats which were huge. I was worried about snakes and more so because of my DC but it was all fine. HTH and you have a lovely time when you go.

Lovemusic33 · 28/03/2022 19:33

I keep pet snakes 😬 but have met many people who are petrified of them.

Snakes don’t tend to jump out and bite people, they are more scared of you than you are of them. We have snakes here in the uk (grass snakes, adders) but you rarely see them as they are pretty shy creatures, they tend to hide when they sense anyone coming near.

I find researching helps, I have a spider phobia but since researching them I have been able to hold a house spider and now allow spiders to live in my home.

Essexgirlupnorth · 28/03/2022 19:35

Lived in Melbourne for a year did some travelling including in the northern territories and the only snakes I saw were in Zoo's or wildlife parks

ItsSnowJokes · 28/03/2022 19:35

I have an extreme phobia of snakes. I cannot watch them on TV, in books and even reading this thread has got my heart racing even thinking about them.

I would love to go to Australia but I am terrified of it. I won't walk on the local heathland here because of snakes.

I hope you get to go and have the most amazing time.

Original poster
veggiemonster · 28/03/2022 19:37

Thank you all for the replies.

I've been trying to remind myself that most of the species that find their way into homes are harmless.

They are just so big some of them and it's actually the markings on some of them that scare me Blush how weird is that??

Perhaps I'll have to visit a few zoos before I go and visit the snakes and try and watch them for a bit to try and build tolerance.

Sorry, I know this is so strange to a lot of people I have no idea where this fear came from.

OP posts:
Darklane · 28/03/2022 19:42

I share the same phobia so understand absolutely. Even opening a paper or magazine where one is illustrated I have to close it quick & won’t touch the paper again. If one suddenly appears on Tv I have to close my eyes while I go to turn it off & can’t bear even hearing the commentary. I know it’s completely irrational but always been the same. Unfortunately I seem to have passed it on to my ds, must be from seeing my reaction as daft to consider it’s hereditary Confused

Skydreams · 28/03/2022 22:22

I’ve visited Australia many times over the past 40 years as I have family there (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Surfers) and I’ve never seen a snake outside of a zoo.

Also only once seen a large spider which terrified me but my aunt scoffed and said that’s nothing, it’s a tiddler (was huge to me).

I think people get fears of visiting because of the urban legend that everywhere is crawling with snakes, spiders and other creepy crawlies - it’s just not true, particularly of urban areas.

Go and enjoy!

Nomoresmoresthensnores · 28/03/2022 22:54

I'm also terrified of snakes
I've been to Australia multiple times due to family and even lived there for a year. Like other people I never saw a snake except roadkill.
Relatives have snake stories but they're stories because they're unusual. They didnt have snakes in their gardens. Snakes keep away from people. You'd have to be in the countryside to see them. They are in cities but not where tourists are hanging out.
I finally saw a snake in the wild a few years ago... in Italy. It slithered across a track I was walking on. It was a busy place. Ignored us. I wasn't in the least bit scared and it kind of cured me.. kind of..
Since then I also saw an adder locally.
I'm still not keen on snakes but weirdly they're worse in the tanks that outdoors in their own habitat.

babbi · 28/03/2022 23:08

I used to feel like you and like @Darklane couldn’t even look at a picture in a book …heart racing etc
Once asked my friend when planning a trip to her home in South Africa how many “ snakes she saw in an average day 🙄”
Imagining at least a dozen … she looked at me quite baffled and said the only snakes she had seen were in a zoo park 😂

I’ve travelled around Oz and Asia .. all over the world to be honest ( saw huge lizard things at Ayers Rock ) and now am relaxed at what creatures live there .
A snake slithered past me in a queue in Disney’s animal kingdom and I didn’t bat an eyelid ( it was very small though !!)

I tell myself now if humans were being killed or attacked regularly by snakes etc .. the population would be vastly reduced in those areas .

You’ll be fine … there is hope that you’ll be ok , and if you confront your fear it will go …honestly I had the greatest phobia you could imagine but somehow it’s gone ..

Good luck and have the best time on your trip

AdInfinitum12 · 22/10/2022 19:17

Absolutely shameless. Resurrection of an old thread just to plug your business, which is against Mumsnet rules anyway.

Not only that you've put photos of snakes here when the OP has said she has such a phobia, how insensitive can you get?

Sunnysal · 22/10/2022 19:30

I too am terrified of snakes and we've travelled extensively. I've seen 2 irl. One in Sri Lanka slivered pass me on some grass but I managed to keep my cool and it went on its way. The second was at a Disney water park, little and green ....I managed.
Before I go I just convince myself I won't see one and enjoy myself. I'm off to Perth, Sydney , Tasmania and New Zealand thus Christmas 🎄.

iPhoneMom · 30/12/2022 01:58

I have seen snakes before, however, I have never been, nor have I ever witnessed anyone else, being bitten by one. Snakes fear humans, and thus, tend to avoid them. I have gotten close to snakes, and they slither away.

JauntyRedShoes · 30/12/2022 02:04

Lived in Brisbane for 10 years, central Queensland for 5 and now in Melbourne. The only snake I have ever seen was in Central Queensland in a rural area in Spring - I was in the car and it was a carpet snake sunning itself.

I am terrified of snakes - well the thought of snakes. I live here though and it’s not been a problem.

Mumtobabyhavoc · 30/12/2022 05:34

I spent a lot of time on the Gold Coast. It was bloody spiders and cockroaches there....
oh, and various frigging jellyfish in the ocean.
Honestly, you just keep your wits about you.
Are you planning on a lot of bush walks (hiking)? Learn what you can and take recommended precautions and first aid kit. Gorgeous country. Loved it.

User198724 · 30/12/2022 05:55

I’ve been to Brisbane and not seen snakes. Where are you staying? Inner city/ coast and built up areas it’s unlikely, rural areas there could be a chance

Ivyonafence · 30/12/2022 07:31

Zombie thread?

I've lived in Australia for decades and only seen a couple of snakes in the wild. It's not dangerous.

It amazes me the same people who are terrified of animals in Australia think nothing of going to America where people are randomly shot dead on a daily basis.

lifeinthehills · 30/12/2022 07:38

I've lived in Australia for decades and only seen a couple of snakes in the wild. It's not dangerous.

The rest saw you, you just didn't see them. ;-)

Ivyonafence · 30/12/2022 07:48

lifeinthehills · 30/12/2022 07:38

I've lived in Australia for decades and only seen a couple of snakes in the wild. It's not dangerous.

The rest saw you, you just didn't see them. ;-)

Lol exactly.

Snakes avoid people. It's pretty rare to come across one and they certainly don't go out of their way to attack you.

If OP avoids long grass she'll be fine.

Much more likely to be attacked by magpies!

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