Got a phobia of bugs, HELP!?

Question

So when I was little, I was alright with bugs (maybe might be like "ew" when I see them), but it's getting worse as I grow up. Recently, after that "incident", I can confirm that I have a phobia of bugs and no, that wasn't a bug incident. Whenever I see a bug now, I'll scream (even if it's a cricket). So my parents get really annoyed at me which is normal. Just image chilling at your house and suddenly, you hear an "AH!" sometimes. I can't even kill a bug! When I think of crushing it's body and that 'crunching' sound, I can't kill it. My mum says to pretend it's my friend or think that why I should be scared of it, since they're so small and I'm so big. However, it isn't helping and my parents are getting more annoyed and mad at me. I understand that they should be angry, but it feels like they are mad at me because I'm screaming on purpose. I can't help it when I scream. I can't get rid of this phobia with a 'click' from my fingers (at least I wish it was that easy). I wish they understand what it's like to be scare of something. I watched a youtube video about a guy pranking his girlfriend by holding up a spider (his girlfriend has a phobia of bugs) and chasing her with it. Of course his girlfriend reacted by screaming and running away. I also screamed with her believe it or not. I was literally scare. Oh no, if I'm scared by bugs like that, then I don't know what I'm going to do.

PS: Thanks for reading this very long paragraph and please don't suggest me eating a bug!

Answer 1

You need to slowly condition yourself, start by going on to Google images and looking at pictures of bugs. Do this until you are 100% fine with looking at them. Next buy a realistic toy version of some crazy bug. Leave it by your computer, get used to it. Go to you tube and watch a particularly disturbing bug in action. When you are 100% fine with looking at this go to a pet store and ask to see a tarantula or millipede. It may be hard to even look at it, but eventually you will be o.k. go back and ask to hold it. Once you have done this you will be 100% cured.

Answer 2

I think I know who you need to go to. I've recently seen a guy on The Doctors TV Show. His name is Gary Coxe. He did a mind boggling snake phobia in 30 minutes there with Dr. Jenn Ashton. That was a life long phobia and effectively reversed it. Maybe he can help you with yours. This is what I found for him>>> http://cureyourfears.com/



Try and check him out. Nothing is wrong in trying.

Answer 3

This fear really started when you first thought of bugs as 'Eeww'. Then you practiced this thought until it became a fear. Now you see a bug and you panic and scream. another habbit you have been practicing, so now, it is the only way you know how to react when you spot a bug or spider. Think of this like brainwashing yourself into fearing bugs. There is treatment like CBT therapy to undo this. You need to change the way you think about these critters, starting with learning to control your panic. you need to change the conditioned response you have developed. You don't have to kill bugs, worry about that when you can handle bugs.

Your mum is right in thinking bugs are a friend, and there are lots of good bugs that many people even love. You are right in that you are not going to turn this off like a light switch, it can take time, and not easy at first to learn a little about bugs and get familiar with them. Many bugs you find are just household pests, not harmful in the slightest, just a pest. Some are bloodsuckers and a nuisance, and a few can sting or bite. You see a wasp near you, you panic, start swatting at it, that is a good way to get stung.

You find a bug crawling on you and "SHIVERS". the feeling is a lot different if you pick up a bug and let it crawl on your hands. Learn a little about insects and spiders. Where you can, just become familiar with them. Find a bug fair or reptile convention near you and go. You can talk to people just like you but keep such critters for pets. they would be happy to talk to you about bugs and spiders, perhaps even hold something like a preying mantis or big spider. It take a lot of will power and determination to overcome your fears, but it certainly is possible. I grew up with all sorts of bugs, spiders, and flying insects about, and I usually played with them. It would make my day if I could get a big darner fly to land on my finger, and I have attracted wasps to my hand with bits of fruit. a small house spider crawling by, and I pick it up for a photo before putting it on the wall out of harms way.

It is all a matter of changing the way you think of bugs, learning a little, and becoming familiar with and learning to trust such critters:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/32083154@N02/15245718390/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/32083154@N02/9767704716/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/32083154@N02/3710691068/

Godspeed.