To ask how do I get over my irrational fear.

[Legallyblondeee]

Of wasps and bees.
Every spring summer I dread which is a shame because I really do love the sun, but as soon as I see anything with wings that buzzes I absolutely freak out to the point where I will do anything to not let it near me. From running around a beer garden making an absolute fool of my self to literally turning around and walking back to where I came from if I can see one in my path. I do think if I don’t do anything about this fear I’m going to end up running into traffic or something to get away from it. It genuinely effects my day to day life in the hot weather and I’m sick of it. I have been stung before when I was a child apparently but I have no recollection of it. I know it sounds so ridiculous but can anyone help me or have any idea what I can do ?

My mum had a fear of an animal like this. She go absolutely bananas and physically shake etc. She eventually got hypnotised and regressed back to the point when she originally became scared and now she's not scared anymore. I'd look into that.

@Croprotationinthe14thcentury I have thought
About hypnotherapy but I have always been sceptical it’s interesting to find some one it has worked for!

Yes I'm a total sceptic and when my mum told me she was going to do it I said it was a total waste of money. However it worked for her. Good luck

Running will only make it worse.
Get yourself educated on bees and wasps. Learn to spot the friendly and nice ones and learn to identify the prickly ones.

That. Or see a hypnotherapist. Or any normal therapist i guess because you already know you are being overdramatic
You are letting so small ruin your life. It is not worth it.

@Yeahnahmum I know I’m letting it ruin my life and I don’t even understand why I do it. It’s completely irrational. Running away is like a reflex I can’t help myself. I think hypnosis is the way to go for me then. At this point I’m willing to try anything! I don’t want to pass my fear on to my DD

I used to be petrified of buzzing things - I am not completely ok with them now, but it's very manageable and I don't dread them. I did a short bee keeping course at a local college and felt better when I understood bees. Obviously wasps aren't bees - but it seems to really help. I had to take my husband though for moral support - but it did help me to stop really freaking out.

@BlueJava oh god I don’t know if I’d be brave enough to do that without sweating like mad and shaking like a leaf 😂

You are not being overdramatic. Phobias are tough. Have some free evidence based cbt on the NHS.

I did tell the lady running the course in advance why I was doing it - she was really helpful about it. And as I say my husband was there. I found the learning about them very interesting and when we went outside to the hives I was wearing all the gear obviously, and I managed to hold a tray which was covered in bees from one of the hives that really helped get over a lot of the problem. It has helped massively!

@BlueJava

I used to be petrified of buzzing things - I am not completely ok with them now, but it's very manageable and I don't dread them. I did a short bee keeping course at a local college and felt better when I understood bees. Obviously wasps aren't bees - but it seems to really help. I had to take my husband though for moral support - but it did help me to stop really freaking out.

This was probably 'flooding' where a phobic person forces themselves to be with the object of their phobia. It's EXTREMELY important to stick with this if you decide to. Because it works by working through the panicking period to the less fearful after. No one can panic for hours. Your body can't do it.

There's a less scary version where you gradually acclimatise. Watch bee videos, hold a fake bee for ages, look at pictures of bees, go to see an indoors bee hive. until you get more and more used to them.

My favourite theory, which actually helped me, (no good reason it should) is a friend told me to make a scary face and put my fingers next to my head like feelers. The bee thinks you're a giant bee and leaves. Silly but it honestly made me less afraid.

@MrsTerryPratchett I think your friend may be a genius.... it really did make me laugh! I don’t think the spectators At Wetherspoons beer garden would understand, although I might just try it for shits and giggles 😂