How to Overcome Ophidiophobia (Fear of Snakes) Phobias SHARE How to Overcome Ophidiophobia (Fear of Snakes) Studies have shown that 1/3 of human adults suffer from ophidiophobia, or the fear of snakes, making it the most common of known phobias. Snakes in various cultures are associated with evil, death, and the end of the world. This article will provide information about how ophidiophobia is diagnosed, discuss the theories as to the causes of the phobia, and describe classic therapeutic techniques for treating phobias that you can perform yourself. Fear Snakes? Snakes are one of the most common phobias in the world. If you find yourself too afraid, make sure you take my free 7 minute anxiety test now to learn how to control it. Start the test here . Symptoms of the Snake Phobia Even though 1/3rd of the US fears snakes, that number is exacerbated by those that fear them only a little. It's the severe fear that requires treatment. Make sure you take my anxiety test to learn more.

The American Psychiatric Association’s most recent Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders defines a phobia as having the following symptoms, paraphrased here and explained in terms of the fear of snakes. Persistent and Excessive Fear An ophidiophobic may feel anxiety due to either the presence or the anticipation of a snake. Even if the snake is tame or non-venomous, posing no significant threat, an intense fear reaction will take place. In extreme cases, photographs of snakes can be enough to trigger anxiety for a person with this disorder. Immediate Anxiety Response The appearance or anticipation of a snake’s presence will instantly cause a state of anxiety in most cases. Panic attacks may ensue in either many or all cases. Recognition that Fear is Excessive Most adults with this disorder will recognize that a fear of snakes intense enough to cause panic attacks at the mere sight or expectation of a snake’s presence is an excessive fear. In children with ophidiophobia, this feature may be absent. Avoidance of Snakes Contact with snakes will be avoided at all costs.

Ophidiophobics may even find it necessary to avoid places where snakes are kept confined, such as zoos or the houses of friends who have or buy snakes as pets, thereby interfering with their lives. Fortunately for many ophidiophobics, wild snakes do not spend much time around people if they can help it, though in places where snake populations are high it can be difficult for ophidiophobics to go outside. What Causes Ophidiophobia? Ophidiophobia is an anxiety disorder known as a specific phobia. Specific phobias, particularly animal phobias, are thought to develop largely during childhood and may be caused by three separate possible issues: personal, witnessed, or impersonal/learned. Personal: A personal fear experience with snakes might involve accidentally stepping on a snake and being bitten, hissed at or otherwise threatened. Witnessed: A witnessed fear experience is usually something that happens to a friend or family member. Seeing a loved one threatened or hurt by a snake can be emotionally traumatic and cause snakes to be associated with intense fear for many years afterward.

Impersonal/Learned: An impersonal/learned fear experience might include hearing about the dangers of snakes through media such as television or radio reports, or through an ophidiophobic family member while growing up. In addition to these experiences as factors in ophidiophobia, evolutionary psychologists have theorized that the phobia may also be a partially genetic trait, due to the fact that fear and a careful avoidance of snakes – which could be poisonous (historically there would be no records or teachers or research to help humans tell the difference between poisonous and non-poisonous) - would have helped humans to survive long enough to reproduce. How Ophidiophobia Is Treated If you are someone who finds that ophidiophobia interferes with your life in ways you would rather not have to deal with, you may want to look into cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT. CBT is the type of therapy most commonly used to treat specific phobias such as snake phobia. It involves several different types of treatment for overcoming phobic reactions, each of which can be reproduced in your own home. CBT treatments and ways in which you can reproduce them are detailed below.

Exposure Therapy Exposure therapy is precisely what it sounds like—namely, exposing yourself to a snake, but in a safe and controlled environment. You definitely don’t want to go out into the wild looking for one. Starting out small, with a toy snake or a picture of a snake, can help you work up to exposing yourself to a real live snake, which you can encounter at your local zoo or pet store. The idea behind exposure therapy is that after multiple exposures in which you focus on keeping calm and noticing that you are not being harmed, your brain will learn that extreme fear and anxiety responses are unnecessary in the presence of snakes. Cognitive Restructuring Cognitive restructuring entails identifying the negative and false beliefs and thought patterns that underlie your fear of snakes. An example might be the idea that snakes are slimy, or that they like to kill humans. Writing about your fear of snakes, or taking the time to meditate upon it and question yourself as to the reasons behind your fear, are good ways of identifying the specific beliefs and thought patterns that escalate your stress.

Once you have identified them, you can directly address them by discovering whether or not they are really true and replacing them with true, positive beliefs and thought patterns that will decrease rather than increase your levels of fear next time you encounter a snake. Relaxation Training Relaxation training has the purpose of providing you with the abilities and techniques you need to relax when faced by the object of your fear. These techniques may include but are not limited to visualization routines, controlled breathing exercises, counting exercises, and positive affirmations. You can spend some time Googling these for ideas, create your own unique techniques that work best for you, or join a meditation group. Meditation is an activity that allows you to practice achieving both mental and physical tranquility at will. Even if snakes are not a big part of your life, overcoming your ophidiophobia will allow you to enjoy and appreciate the creature that has fascinated and terrified the world for centuries, without allowing it to terrify you any longer. You should also consider taking my free anxiety test. I've used that test as an effective tool to learn more about the extent of a person's phobias and how to stop them. Can't Take it Anymore? Read This!

Biofeedback as Treatment for Anxiety The Reasons Behind Anxiety in Women Anxiety in Men: Anxiety, Panic Attacks, and Mistakes Magic Anxiety Cures - Myths And Reality Can You Have Comorbid Anxiety Disorders? Dealing with Recurring Fears and Thoughts More... Need help with anxiety? Then take our scientifically based anxiety test - completely free (takes no more than 7 minutes). After completing it, you will find out whether your anxiety is within "normal range," which parts are out of balance and, most importantly, how to proceed with beating your symptoms. It is made specifically for anxiety sufferers, please make use of it. Fear of Snakes Phobia – Ophidiophobia You are here: Home / Phobias / Fear of Snakes Phobia – Ophidiophobia Fear of Snakes Phobia – Ophidiophobia Humans have many fears. The fear of snakes or Ophidiophobia is the second most common phobia in the world. Nearly 1/3rd of adult humans are believed to have an intense fear of snakes. Most people with Ophidiophobia can lead normal lives as they do not have to confront the object of their fears under normal circumstances.

However, for people with severe Ophidiophobia, the mere mention, or an image of a snake in books or on TV can lead to an intense fear response, the reactions of which can even include heart attacks and death. Causes of Ophidiophobia Snakes are fascinating creatures that have always had myths associated with them. These myths are the major reason why humans fear them. This and the fact that some snakes are deadly and venomous and can lead to deaths have probably led to Ophidiophobia. Following are the causes of Ophidiophobia: Ignorance and lack of education is one of the most common reasons why humans fear snakes. Traumatic episode in the past such as accidently stepping on a snake or being bitten, hissed at or otherwise threatened by snakes might have lead to one’s Ophidiophobia. Seeing or witnessing an incident wherein another person, a close friend or family member was hissed at, or bitten by a snake can also lead to the fear of snakes Media reports and TV shows can also lead one to believe that snakes are always dangerous leading to Ophidiophobia. Genetic traits, family history with ophidiophobic persons etc can also lead other family members to have an intense fear of snakes.

Evolution is another reason behind this phobia. Many evolutionary psychologists explain Ophidiophobia as a ‘disgust response’ to snakes that have always been associated with death, disease or poison. Ophidiophobia is a part of Zoophobia, a generic term for the fear of animals. Some cases of zoophobia are stronger in the childhood and go away in the adulthood. In other cases, the phobia persists and remains even in adulthood. Symptoms of fear of snakes The American Psychiatric Association has described following symptoms of Ophidiophobia which can be categorized as mental, physical or emotional: Uncontrollable anxiety especially when one is about to be exposed to snakes Feeling that one must do anything to avoid snakes Screaming, crying or experiencing the difficulty to breathe, or trembling or shaking violently when one encounters snakes, their pictures or images on TV etc. Feeling anxious or experiencing increased heart rate when taken to locations where snakes may be present. Ophidiophobia can affect a person’s normal life especially when he/she avoids zoos or friends’ homes where there are pet snakes. Ophidiophobics refuse to leave their homes in places that are having high snake population.

Treatment of Ophidiophobia If you or someone you know is experiencing an irrational fear of snakes, you can look into one or more of the following treatment options: Desensitization and reprocessing- This therapy is effective in addressing past traumatic experiences that might have caused the Ophidiophobia. It helps the patient overcome his/her fear by making him/her look at images of snakes and gradually enable him/her to hold small snakes. This helps the individual overcome fear and move forward in life. CBT or cognitive behavior therapy- Cognitive behavior or restructuring helps the individual identify his/her thought patterns that lie behind the fear of snakes. The patient is made to write down thoughts as to why one fears snakes. These include thoughts like: “snakes are slimy”, “they are dangerous and have the ability to kill humans” and so on. Writing down these thoughts can help the ophidiophobic identify patterns leading to fear, anxiety and stress. The patients also learn to replace their negative associations with positive beliefs. This, in turn, can help decrease the fear. Relaxation techniques- These include meditation, controlled breathing, counting and positive reaffirmations when faced with images of snakes.

The best part about these techniques is that one can tailor their own solutions and help oneself overcome the fear of snakes. Individual counseling or group therapy- Talking about one’s fears can help release negative feelings while coming up with strategies to cope with their phobia. Here are the Top 10 Books for Overcoming Phobias By using the treatment options mentioned above, one can overcome their Ophidiophobia in order to not only lead a normal life but also enjoy the beautiful creatures that are a fascinating part of our Nature. What do you fear? Share your phobias with visitors on this site, read their stories and connect with them. Ophidiophobia Ophidiophobia Ophidiophobia is a fear of snakes that affects around 10% of the global population. Read and explore the various causes, symptoms, modes of treatment and more of this common phobia. What is Ophidiophobia? It is a specific type of phobia (anxiety disorder resulting in abnormal fear of any object or situation) where a person has morbid fear of snakes. It is also known as Ophiophobia. This kind of snake phobia can be a part of Herpetophobia, which is a fear of reptiles like lizards and amphibians.

People suffering from Ophiophobia may develop secondary fear towards the other reptiles in the course of time. Picture 1 – Ophidiophobia Although the fear was earlier considered to be an innate reaction, recent medical research has revealed that it is a very critical medical condition. The condition is also often referred to as âSnakeophobiaâ. Ophidiophobia Etymology The word Ophidiophobia is derived from the Greek words âOphisâ which means snakes and âPhobiaâ standing for fear. The fear usually arises either because of hatred towards snakes or due to the poison that it contains. Ophidiophobic people not only fear the sight of snakes but may even get petrified while thinking about them. Palpitation may start even if they see snakes on television or in pictures. Ophidiophobia Facts Go through some interesting facts associated with this disorder: A person who has a phobia of snakes typically gets scared even while thinking about such creepy creatures. He/she may be well informed on the facts about serpents and also know that not all snakes are poisonous. Despite this, the individual will always feel threatened at the sight or thought of snakes.

Snakes tend to hide under or behind certain objects and can attack their prey from the back. The knowledge of this attacking method causes greater fear in that person. The slimy appearance of serpents, caused by dry scales covering their skin, is also a cause o hatred and fear in some people. The fact that a serpent does not have eyelids and is incapable of blinking also triggers fear in an Ophidiophobic person. A person with this phobia may display signs of a panic attack when gripped by fear of snakes. He or she may either become motionless or start panicking and running away from potential danger. Ophidiophobia Causes In most cases, the phobia is found to have a relation to a very dreadful past experience in the life of the patients. Such negative experiences are found to give rise to a long lasting fear. Sometimes, however, such fears are found to be imaginary and cannot be explained by any logic or proof. In such cases, patients have to do a self analysis and understand the reason of an aversion in their mind. Otherwise, it can lead to a nervous breakdown after a point of time.

Normally, the disorder ends to affect people who have: Acute fear and tension, either related to a person, thing, place or incident A tendency to easily get excited and nervous Adrenal insufficiency , where the adrenal glands (located above the kidney) do not produce sufficient amount of steroid hormones which regulate the functioning of organs in the body. Ophidiophobia Symptoms The symptoms of this disorder can be categorized into mental, emotional and physical. The magnitude of fear can be subtle which restricts to only large and venomous snakes. But it may turn into a more severe form where suffering individuals are found to be afraid of even smaller snakes. Picture 2 – Ophidiophobia Image Some of the primary mental symptoms of this disorder include: Erratic thoughts Constant thoughts of snakes only, which further aggravates the fear Mentally visualizing horrid images and visuals of snakes Occasional sensations of being depressed and lost in thoughts Unable to control fear and going berserk with panic Fear of losing consciousness Lack of sensations or occasional shivering Cold or hot flushes Ophidiophobia Diagnosis Such phobias are diagnosed by an experienced healthcare professional, particularly a specialist or mental health therapist.

Such professionals ask a set of questions to patients to understand all the symptoms that they are experiencing. The questions generally include: The patientâs reaction at the sight of snakes The duration of the prevalence of this phobia The frequency of appearance of the symptoms The length of duration of the patients thoughts about snakes during normal working hours The phobia can be confirmed on the basis of the answers provided by patients. Doctors can use the information to consider whether or not sufferers require immediate medical assistance. Ophidiophobia Treatment The treatment of this phobia requires use of some commonly used drugs, such as: Beta blockers These are particularly used to obstruct the flow of adrenaline, which is responsible for causing anxiousness. Beta blockers are useful in curbing physical symptoms like perspiration, shivering and palpitation. However, these are unable to control emotional symptoms like irritability and tension. Antidepressants Antidepressant medications like Effexor, Paxil and Zoloft are explicitly administered in more serious cases. These are useful in cases where the phobia is more severe in intensity and can lead to very critical and harmful situations. Benzodiazepines These fast-acting medicines are normally used in cases that require speedier treatment and where other drugs are not effective.

These anti-anxiety drugs may cause sedation and addiction in patients. Due to this reason, they are not generally recommended. The potential side-effects of these drugs make non-drug therapy a more preferable option. Behavioral Therapy Therapists usually conduct this type of therapy in one-to-one sessions with the patient. The principle behind this kind of therapy is gradual exposing patients to the object of fear in order to reduce the cause of anxiety. The amount of exposure is increased from session to session which may include live encounter with small snakes in a controlled environment. The therapist may even suggest the patient to change the way of thinking and to engage in some other useful activities. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy This treatment involves making patients perform certain exercises which can replace the negative pattern of their thoughts with positive ones. Such a therapy aids the patient to eradicate the root cause of the phobia completely from the mind. Hypnosis Also known as Hypnotherapy, it is often used to provide patients with Therapeutic relaxation. Ophidiophobia is a disorder of the mind which can only be suppressed but not eradicated by drugs and medications. It needs proper behavioral modification and love and support from close ones to get rid of this complicated condition.

References: Fear of Snakes Phobia | Ophidiophobia 101 By Lisa Fritscher Updated May 08, 2016 Ophidiophobia or ophiophobia, is the fear of snakes. It is possibly the most common subcategory of herpetophobia , the fear of reptiles. Some researchers believe phobias related to reptiles and specifically snakes may be evolutionary, developed by our ancestors as a survival mechanism. However, this theory would not explain why snake phobias are relatively common, while fears of predatory animals , such as tigers, are rare. More recent research shows that while the tendency to pay close attention to snakes may be evolutionary, the actual fear is learned rather than innate. Symptoms of Ophidiophobia The fear of snakes can be tricky to diagnose, as symptoms can vary widely between sufferers. If you have mild ophidiophobia, you may fear only encounters with large or venomous snakes. If your phobia is more severe, you may be afraid of smaller snakes as well. You may even be unable to look at photographs or television shows in which snakes appear. It is important to distinguish between ophidiophobia and herpetophobia.

If you are also afraid of lizards, from small geckos to six-foot Komodo dragons, then your phobia is more properly termed herpetophobia. Your symptoms may include, but are not limited to, shaking, crying or running away from snakes. You may experience heart palpitations or have difficulty breathing. You may find it difficult or even impossible to remain in the same room as a snake. Effects of Ophidiophobia Ophidiophobia can be insidious. Over time, you may begin to fear things that are not directly related to snakes themselves. For example, you may become afraid of pet stores that offer snakes for sale. You may avoid camping or hiking trips, or even zoos and nature preserves. You may also develop a secondary fear of other reptiles. Diagnosing Ophidiophobia It is normal to be nervous or unsure around unfamiliar animals. In addition, there are a number of common myths about snakes. If you have never handled one, you may be nervous that it will be slimy or disgusting or afraid that you will be crushed by a constrictor. These fears are common and can be dispelled simply by gaining more personal knowledge about the animals.

The symptoms listed above, on the other hand, are out of proportion to normal nervousness and may indicate an actual phobia . Only a mental health professional, though, can make that determination. Treating Ophidiophobia The most common treatments for snake phobia are based on cognitive-behavioral therapy techniques. You may be encouraged to talk about your fear and taught new messages to replace your fearful self-talk. You may also be slowly exposed to snakes, beginning with photographs and gradually building up to a live encounter with a small snake in a controlled environment. Hypnosis is sometimes used to assist in relaxation. Fortunately, ophidiophobia has an excellent chance for successful treatment. It is important, though, to choose a therapist that you feel you can trust to help you through this process. Different treatments work for different people, so don't be afraid to try something out of the ordinary should a normal course of treatment prove ineffective. If you diligently treat your condition, things will gradually get better and your phobia won't take over your life. For more information about your treatment options, see Choosing a Therapist . Sources Ophidiophobia – Common Facts About Ophidiophobia – Treatment Share your stories and support others...

Ophidiophobia Tweet Ophidiophobia is an irrational fear of snakes. This is a relatively common phobia, and can be rooted in childhood. A young person who was startled by a snake moving unexpectedly in the grass or who had a negative experience that involved having a snake placed near his or her face may grow up to have an unnatural fear of these animals . Common Facts About Ophidiophobia A true phobia exists even when the person learns facts about snakes. The individual may be told that most snakes are not poisonous and that they only strike out when feeling threatened, but knowing this does not make the person feel any less threatened by them. The fear could stem from the fact that snakes can hide in cracks or under objects and not be seen until they move, which startles the person who is afraid of them. Legends about giant snakes or the Biblical account of the snake in the Garden of Eden can serve to confirm a person’s deep-seeded fear of these crawling reptiles. In some cases, the phobia is triggered by the idea that the snake’s skin is slimy. However, a snake’s skin is made up of dry scales.

The fact that snakes don’t blink can also be a source of fear for a person with ophidiophobia. A person who has ophidiophobia may become fearful thinking about snakes, seeing an image of one (photograph or a video), or seeing a live one. The person may freeze or feel panicky and wish to leave the area immediately. In extreme cases, the individual may experience a panic attack . Treatment of Ophidiophobia When it comes to treating ophidiophobia, there are a number of approaches that will help the client conquer his or her fear of snakes. When the reaction to a triggering event is severe, medication may be prescribed to reduce or eliminate the physical symptoms while the client works on the psychological aspect of the phobia. Hypnotherapy can be an option for some people. Working with a trained therapist gives the individual the opportunity to go back and reprogram his or her thinking about snakes. This is not always the best option, since it involves giving up some degree of control to the therapist while in a trance. Another treatment option for people living with ophidiophobia is energy psychology. This approach to dealing with phobias has the advantage of providing results relatively quickly.

The client learns how to change his or her current behaviors to more positive ones. The individual’s thought patterns also evolve through this process. For some people, working with a therapist who can help them face their fear by being in a room with a snake in a cage and then working up to touching and eventually handling one is the way to beat the phobia. Getting the right type of help for ophidiophobia means finding a therapist who has experience treating people with phobias. They have the knowledge and expertise needed to guide the client through the steps required to effectively deal with the phobia and learn not to overreact to thoughts, images or the presence of a real snake. View Resources Ophidiophobia - snakephobia, fear of snakes, snake fear, snake phobia Websites Welcome to my site for Ophidiophobia. In hopes of trying to provide some helpful information, I have searched the Internet looking for information on Ophidiophobia (snakephobia, fear of snakes, snake fear, snake phobia). Please note I am not a doctor and only provide this site for informational purposes. I hope you will find some benefit in the site. Best wishes! ~Edd~ What is Ophidiophobia?

Ophidiophobia is the fear of snakes. The origin of the word Ophidio is Latin (meaning snake) and phobia is Greek (meaning fear). Ophidiophobia is considered to be a specific phobia, which is discussed on the home page. Ophidiophobia is also known as Snakephobia. What are the causes? It is generally accepted that phobias arise from a combination of external events (i.e. traumatic events) and internal predispositions (i.e. heredity or genetics). Many specific phobias can be traced back to a specific triggering event, usually a traumatic experience at an early age. Social phobias and agoraphobia have more complex causes that are not entirely known at this time. It is believed that heredity, genetics, and brain chemistry combine with life-experiences to play a major role in the development of phobias. (Wikipedia - phobia). What are the symptoms? As with any phobia, the symptoms vary by person depending on their level of fear.

The symptoms typically include extreme anxiety, dread and anything associated with panic such as shortness of breath, rapid breathing, irregular heartbeat, sweating, excessive sweating, nausea, dry mouth, nausea, inability to articulate words or sentences, dry mouth and shaking. Can I take medicine? Medicine can be prescribed, but please note that these medications can have side effects and/or withdrawal systems that can be severe. It is also important to note that medicines do not cure phobias, at best they only temporarily suppress the systems. However, there are treatments for phobias, which include counseling, hypnotherapy, psychotherapy, and Neuro-Linguistic programming. Please click on the link at the top of the page called “Treatment Information” to find out more information on these types of treatments. Note: If you are going to do a search, some common Ophidiophobia search terms include snakephobia, fear of snakes, snake fear, snake phobia. DISCLAIMER: PLEASE READ - By printing, downloading, or using you this information, you agree to the following: 1) I am only providing this material for information and research purposes. 2) The information is "AS IS", "WITH ALL FAULTS".

3) You understand the information was gathered by doing a general search on Internet search engines for the following terms: Ophidiophobia, snakephobia, fear of snakes, snake fear, snake phobia. 4) User assumes all risk of use, damage, or injury. 5) Information may have errors or be outdated. 6) Some information is from historical sources or represents opinions of the author. 7) You agree that we have no liability for any damages. 8) I are not liable for any consequential, incidental, indirect, or special damages. Finally, if you do not agree to terms, do not use the information. It is for informational and research purposes only! If you have any questions please contact me edd@ebozman.com Ophidiophobics beware: flying snakes have great aerodynamics | Reuters Thu Jan 30, 2014 | 5:38 PM EST Ophidiophobics beware: flying snakes have great aerodynamics 1/4 A paradise tree snake is shown in this undated handout photo courtesy of Jake Socha, Assistant Professor at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia.

Reuters/Jake Socha/Virginia Tech/Handout via Reuters + 2/4 A paradise tree snake is shown in this undated handout photo courtesy of Jake Socha, Assistant Professor at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia. Reuters/Jake Socha/Virginia Tech/Handout via Reuters + 3/4 A paradise tree snake is shown in this undated handout photo courtesy of Jake Socha, Assistant Professor at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia. Reuters/Jake Socha/Virginia Tech/Handout via Reuters + 4/4 A paradise tree snake is shown in this undated handout photo courtesy of Jake Socha, Assistant Professor at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia. Reuters/Jake Socha/Virginia Tech/Handout via Reuters + By Will Dunham | WASHINGTON WASHINGTON This may be the last thing that anyone with a touch of ophidiophobia - fear of snakes - would want to hear: flying snakes have surprisingly good aerodynamic qualities. Scientists studying the amazing gliding proficiency of an Asian species known as the paradise tree snake say it does two things as it goes airborne.

It splays its ribs in order to flatten its profile from round into a more triangular form, and it undulates while airborne - sort of swimming through the air. Researchers led by Jake Socha, an expert in biomechanics at Virginia Tech, replicated in a plastic model the shape the snake assumes while airborne, and tested it to evaluate its aerodynamic qualities. They placed the snake model in a water tunnel and used a laser to track flow patterns around the model. "Our expectations going in were that it would not be very good because it does not look like a classically streamlined, airplane-type cross-sectional shape," Socha said in a telephone interview on Thursday. "What we got were some surprising aerodynamic characteristics. In fact, it was much better than we anticipated," Socha added. The paradise tree snake is one of the world's five species of flying snakes, all from the genus Chrysopelea. To be precise, they are gliders, not actual flyers like birds and bats that achieve powered flight. The mildly venomous snake - green and black with occasional touches of red and orange - has a diameter roughly equal to a human finger and is up to three feet (one meter) long.

It lives in rain forests in Southeast Asia and South Asia, including Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines. The snake takes to the air from trees, and is capable of gliding about 100 feet. Socha said its gliding ability enables the snake to escape trouble and to get from one place to the next efficiently. He doubted that the creature is taking to the air in order to spot prey like lizards below. "You can glide to a tree 30 meters away much more quickly than if you had to slither down the tree and then slither across the forest floor and then climb back up that tree," said Socha, whose research was published in the Journal of Experimental Biology. This snake is one of numerous animals around the world that can glide through the air. Six types of mammals are gliders, including flying squirrels and an arboreal critter called the colugo. Some lizards also glide, including the Draco lizard and some geckos. There are even gliding frogs and gliding wingless ants, as well as types of flying fish and even gliding squid. Scientists are eager to unlock the secrets of flying snakes, especially considering that a snake shape would seem to be bad for aerodynamics.

This study was funded in part by the Pentagon's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), which Socha said was interested in the basic science behind what makes the snakes good gliders. To people with ophidiophobia, the idea of a flying snake may be nightmarish. But Socha offered some reassuring thoughts. "They are small and they're effectively harmless," Socha said. "And to tell you the truth, they're much more scared of you than you are of them. If you are near them, they're gliding away from you and not at you." (Reporting by Will Dunham; Editing by Nick Zieminski) ADVERTISEMENT Phobias: Causes, Symptoms, and Diagnosis - Medical News Today Phobias: Causes, Symptoms, and Diagnosis Written by Christian NordqvistReviewed by Timothy J. Legg, PMHNP-BC, GNP-BC, CARN-AP, MCHES 4 14 A phobia is an irrational fear, a kind of anxiety disorder in which the individual has a relentless dread of a situation, living creature, place, or thing. Individuals with a phobia go to great lengths to avoid a perceived danger which is much greater in their minds than in real life.

If confronted with the source of their phobia, the person will suffer enormous distress, which can interfere with their normal function; it can sometimes lead to total panic. For some people, even thinking about their phobia is immensely distressing. A phobia starts when a person begins organizing their lives around avoiding the object of their fear. A phobia is much more serious than a simple fear. People with a phobia have an overpowering need to steer clear of anything which triggers their anxiety. Contents of this article: Fast facts on phobias Here are some key points about phobias. More detail and supporting information is in the main article. Phobias are much more serious than simple fears Over 50 million people in the U.S. have a phobia Females more commonly suffer from phobias than males Despite phobic individuals being aware that their fear is irrational, they cannot control the feelings Symptoms may include sweating, chest pains, and pins and needles Specific brain areas are involved in phobias What is a phobia? The word "phobia" is used for a number of quite different concepts.

If the phobia is of something that the phobic person very rarely comes into contact with, such as snakes, their daily lives will not be affected. However, some complex phobias are impossible to avoid, such as agoraphobia (fear of leaving home or being in public places) or social phobia (fear of being among groups of people). There are three main categories of phobias: Specific phobias (simple phobias) A disproportionate fear about specific situations, living creatures, places, activities, or things. Examples include a fear of: Dentists (dentophobia) Birds (ornithophobia) Frogs (ranidaphobia) The two examples below, social phobia and agoraphobia, are known as complex phobias. They are linked to a deep-rooted fear or anxiety about certain situations, incidents, or circumstances, which make them much more disabling than simple phobias. Social phobia Social phobias are now called social anxiety disorder. A person with social phobia finds being in social situations difficult and sometimes unbearable. Going to parties, weddings, functions, or exhibitions cause sufferers anxiety; there is fear of being embarrassed or humiliated in public.

It often includes a fear of being judged by other people. People affected with social phobia feel that they will be scrutinized and singled out in the crowd; they prefer to avoid social gatherings altogether. Psychologists say that a high proportion of adults with social phobia start taking measures to avoid social situations during their teenage years. Studies have shown that their progressively isolated lifestyles make them more susceptible to developing depression . Experts emphasize that social phobia is not the same as shyness . Obese people may develop social anxiety disorder , simply because of their weight. Agoraphobia An individual with agoraphobia is frightened of finding themselves in situations where there is no escape; they fear being stuck in a desperate situation with no help. Agoraphobia may include a dread of traveling on buses or trains or going into large shops or shopping malls. When symptoms are severe, the patient may find stepping out of their own home unbearable. Sufferers have an increased risk of also suffering from panic disorder. As with social phobia, crowded and public places are avoided. How common are phobias? In industrial nations, phobias are the most common kind of anxiety disorder. They can affect people of any age, sex, and socioeconomic status.

An estimated 19 million Americans have a specific phobia, 15 million have a social anxiety disorder , and 1.8 million have agoraphobia. A higher percentage of women suffer from phobias than men. Simple phobias usually start early on in life - during childhood, and often go away by the time the person reaches late teens. Complex phobias generally start later on. Most common phobias Arachnophobia (fear of spiders) is among the top ten phobias worldwide. The ten most common phobias in the U.K. and U.S. are: Social phobia - fear of being in places with a lot of people Agoraphobia - fear of being somewhere with no support, away from home, open spaces Claustrophobia - fear of being in constricted, confined spaces Aerophobia - fear of flying Headache A feeling of anxiety is produced by simply thinking about the object of the phobia Children may cry, become very clingy, attempt to hide behind a parent's legs or an object, or have tantrums Complex phobias Complex phobias are much more likely to affect the patient's well-being than specific phobias.

Those who suffer from, for example, agoraphobia, may have a number of other associated phobias as well, such as monophobia (fear of being left alone) or claustrophobia (fear of feeling trapped, closed spaces). In severe cases, agoraphobics will rarely leave their homes. Causes of phobias It is unusual for a phobia to start after the age of 30; most of them begin during early childhood, teenage years, or early adulthood. They can be caused by a stressful situation or experience, a frightening event, or a parent or household member who has a phobia which the child becomes progressively aware of. Common causes for specific (simple) phobias These usually develop when the child is aged 4-8. In some cases, it may be the result of something that happened early in life. The trigger might have been an unpleasant experience in a confined space, which festered and developed into claustrophobia over time. As mentioned above, witnessing a family member's phobia is a common cause for phobias that started during childhood. A child whose mother has arachnophobia is much more likely to develop the same phobia.

Experts stress that phobias picked up from parents are learned fears - they are not genetically inherited. Common causes for complex phobias The causes of agoraphobia or social phobia are still a mystery; nobody is sure exactly why they appear. Researchers believe they are caused by a combination of life experiences, brain chemistry, and genetics. Social phobias are more likely to be caused by an extremely stressful experience than agoraphobia, researchers say. Phobias and survival - there may be evolutionary explanations for many phobias. In prehistoric environments, remaining in wide open spaces would have increased the risk of being attacked and eaten by a predatory animal. The instinct to stay at home, especially for young children, aids survival. Young children in their caves and huts would have had to learn to avoid dangerous snakes and spiders quickly. Social phobia may have been a useful survival instinct during ancient and prehistoric times. Being among people you do not know, from perhaps another tribe, was much more dangerous than finding yourself among a crowd of strangers in a shopping mall today. Neurobiology of phobias Specific areas of the brain - the amygdala in particular - are associated with phobias.

Some areas of the brain - the prefrontal cortex, medial prefrontal cortex, ventromedial prefrontal cortex, and the amygdala - store and recall dangerous or potentially deadly events. In future occasions, if a very similar event is confronted, those areas retrieve that same memory, causing the body to react as if it was happening again. With some people, the event may feel as if it is repeating itself many times. Some effective treatments manage to get the brain to replace the memory and reactions with something more rational. Phobias are irrational phenomena - the brain overreacts to a stimulus. Unfortunately, the brain areas that deal with fear and stress keep retrieving the frightening event inappropriately. Neuroscience researchers have found that phobias are often linked to the amygdala , which lies behind the pituitary gland. The amygdala can trigger the release of "fight-or-flight" hormones, which put the body and mind in a highly alert and stressed state. Tests and diagnosis of phobias When diagnosing a phobia, a doctor will aim to determine whether or not an object triggers unreasonable fear.

People with a phobia are nearly always aware that it is present, and they are not defensive when discussing their symptoms with a doctor. This helps diagnosis enormously. Even so, millions of sufferers never discuss their fears with a doctor. This is unfortunate because there are effective treatments available. Treating phobias If the phobia does not cause severe problems, most patients find that by simply avoiding the source of their fear is enough to stay in control. Some phobias are not possible to avoid, as may be the case with aviophobia (fear of flying). In such cases, professional help should be sought. The good news is that with proper treatment, most phobias can be cured. Treatment needs to be tailored to the patient for it to work - no single treatment works for everybody. The doctor, psychiatrist, and/or psychologist may recommend behavior therapy, medications, or a combination of both. Therapy is aimed at reducing the symptoms of fear and anxiety, and to help patients manage their reactions to the source of their fear. Medications

Question: Ophidiophobia is the fear of what type of creature?
Answer: Snake