Ophidiophobia or ophiophobia is the fear of snakes.
It is possibly the most common subcategory ofherpetophobia, the fear of reptiles.
If you have mild ophidiophobia, you may fear only encounters with large or venomous snakes.
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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 videos in which snakes appear.
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
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.
Diagnosis
It is normal to be nervous or unsure around unfamiliar animals.
In addition, there are a number of common myths about snakes.
These fears are common and can be dispelled simply by gaining more personal knowledge about animals.
Only a mental health professional can make that determination.
Treatment
The most common treatments for snake phobia are based oncognitive-behavioral therapytechniques.
You may be encouraged to talk about your fear and taught new messages to replace your fearful self-talk.
Fortunately, ophidiophobia has an excellent chance for successful treatment.
If you diligently treat your condition, things can gradually get better.
2019;10:1085. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01085
Harvard Medical School.
Coping with anxiety and phobias.
