What is Ophidiophobia (Phobia of Snakes): Causes, Symptoms & Treatments

One of the most common subcategories of herpetophobia (fear of reptiles), ophidiophobia, is an extreme and overwhelming fear of snakes. Most people fear snakes, but this phobia is so extreme that it hampers an individual’s life, thoughts and normal well-being.

However, this phobia can be treated through several therapies and counselling over time. Navigate through this write-up to learn about the symptoms, causes and treatments of the same.

An individual with ophidiophobia understands that the fear is excessive but is unable to control it. Here are some elements that people with this phobia are afraid of:

• They fear visiting the home of their friends, zoos and places, doubting there might be snakes.
• They fear a rope or a thick cable and sounds of hissing (although it might not be of a snake) and have risks of panic attacks.
• These people are anxious at the mere mention of a snake and don’t like to be part of that conversation.
• Besides, they tend to take extreme action to avoid snakes which means they refuse to go outdoors, even in their garden!

People with this phobia act unusually in the professional, educational and social fronts because of this fear haunting them.

A study confirms that an individual's brain is conditioned in such a way that it fears snake-like forms since snakes are a threat to society. However, the symptoms of ophidiophobia depend entirely upon the severity of the phobia. Therefore, one might experience one or more symptoms when they think about them, come near them, or engage with media containing snakes.

Symptoms of this phobia include the following:

• Excessive Fear- An ophidiophobic will feel anxious even if the snake is non-poisonous or pose no significant threat. In extreme situations, even the photograph of a snake will be enough to trigger fear.
• Sweating and Difficulty Breathing- They will sweat and find it difficult to breathe whenever they see a snake or hear about it. This indicates that even a slight mention of snakes can cause anxiety attacks to them.
• Dry Mouth- An ophidiophobic will experience dry mouth, dizziness, high blood pressure, rapid heart rate, and breathing whenever they see or hear about snakes.
• Nausea or Diarhhoea- Due to extreme fear, people might feel as if they are going to pass out. Excess fear can cause digestive disorders and diarrhoea.
• Shaking and Trembling- Shaking and trembling with fear is another significant symptom that a person is ophidiophobic.
• Urges to Hide- An ophidiophobic will have urges to run and hide even when they know that they cannot manage their fear.
• Paraesthesia- People can also feel a slight burning or prickling sensation in their arms, legs, hands or feet. They can also feel hot flashes and chills in their body.
• Confusion and Disorientation- A sense of confusion and disorientation is common with an ophidiophobic. People may be confused about their locations and doings.

Apart from these, anxiety tends to worsen with severity and individuals facing these issues will do everything and anything to avoid such situations and places with snakes.

Generally, phobias can happen at any age, although the exact reasons for the same are unknown. However, some of the common cause of ophidiophobia includes the following:

• Genetics: An article suggests that people with a family history of anxiety disorder or any specific fear may also have this phobia. Additionally, it may develop in a child staying with the members who have such a phobia.
• Learned Behaviour: If a child grows up witnessing terror around snakes and reptiles, then they learn that it is a thing to fear and develop such a phobia.
• Negative Experiences: A person with any traumatic experience with a snake can develop ophidiophobia. It can also happen if the person has been bitten by a snake.
• Learning about Traumatic Experiences: Hearing someone describe a scary experience with snakes could trigger a phobia. Fear occurs from the expectation of something that can cause pain and affect the mind.
• Superstitions and Culture: Several stories about snakes and cultural beliefs trigger this phobia. For example, snakes symbolise paganism, temptation, and evil and stories of such can contribute to the fear.
• Media Portrayal: Following a particular television show that portrays reptiles, snakes, and similar things can also cause fear. Watching too many scary movies and shows featuring reptiles and snakes over a prolonged time period can trigger this phobia too.

Furthermore, there can be several other reasons that can cause this phobia. It is, therefore, crucial to consult a therapist whenever someone notices such symptoms in a person.

Although several factors contribute to the fear of snakes, many risk factors are associated with the same. These risks instigate fear in the mind of people. Some of the risk factors include:

•  Someone having a traumatic experience with snakes.
• A family member of a relative might have ophidiophobia.
• Individuals might have a near one who has a fear of reptiles (herpetophobia) or thanatophobia (fear of death due to snake bites).
• Someone has underlying mental health conditions such as panic disorder, anxiety disorder, etc.
• Someone being part of a culture or religion that negatively portrays snakes can instigate the fear of snakes.

Since it is impossible to avoid any reptile, as it can be anywhere, individuals with ophidiophobia choose to stay indoors mostly. Unfortunately, this affects their mental health severely, causing other phobias to develop and, if left untreated, can hamper life severely.

Complications due to a phobia arise when a person is in fear for a prolonged period of time. It affects the mind, and the person tends to hallucinate. For example, even staying indoors seems frightening because the person hallucinates snakes indoors.

Here are some of the other complications that can occur:

• Social Isolation- Children with such a phobia at a young age perform poorly in their academics. It also hampers people in their professional fields and causes issues in relationships. This causes trouble with social skills as their behaviour differs from their peers and colleagues, causing them to isolate themselves.
• Substance Abuse- Since there are no exact medications to reduce such phobias, it triggers depression and anxiety. It is then that people tend to fall prey to drugs and substance use disorder to reduce their sufferings temporarily.
• Mood Disorders- Specific phobias also trigger other anxiety disorders, which lead to severe consequences and emotional stress. It is then that they start losing control over themselves, leading to negativity in life.
• Suicidal Thoughts- When the situation is out of control, and there is extreme suffering, people develop suicidal thoughts. At a point of time when drugs do not work, or there is an overdose due to the phobia, people tend to self-harm themselves.

At this point of time, immediate treatment is a must.

The diagnosis of ophidiophobia is detailed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). This manual explains the ways this phobia is diagnosed in individuals -

• Doctors will first learn about the symptoms and identify the severity and the triggers of the phobia by asking a few questions.
• Then, they will try to identify if this phobia has been occurring for more than 6 months.
• The next step involves understanding whether this phobia is affecting the daily life chores and mind.
• After considering all these factors, the expert refers the person to a specific therapist, psychiatrist, or counsellor for further treatment.

It is ideal to consult a doctor whenever someone witnesses symptoms of this phobia at a mild stage. The treatment of ophidiophobia includes the following:

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) - It is a structured and effective psychotherapy that allows a person to learn and control their emotions and thoughts due to the phobia. Therapists provide hands-on strategies to deal with emotions and fears and change them.
• Exposure Therapy - Also known as desensitisation, exposure therapy assists one in confronting their fears. This means that one is exposed to the idea of snakes in a safe environment. For example, it can begin in a way where therapists will gradually show an image of a snake and tell individuals to imagine a real snake. This increased exposure will help them in managing their fears.
• Hypnotherapy – Therapists can conduct hypnotherapy where one is put in a trance state and asked about the phobia. The therapist tries to identify triggers of the phobia and convince the person to be less afraid of snakes and reptiles.
• Medications – Doctors might prescribe certain anti-anxiety medications that can lessen or reduce anxiety. However, there is a certain dosage that they need to take, and a near one should monitor it to reduce the risk of overdose. Some medications include-
  • Antidepressants: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or certain antidepressants are recommended by doctors. These antidepressants include – citalopram, fluoxetine, escitalopram, paroxetine, etc.
  • Sedatives: The mind suffers the most due to such phobias. Therefore, doctors prescribe sedatives to provide relaxation from anxiety and stress. These sedatives are benzodiazepines that effectively cure the symptoms.
  • Beta Blockers: Beta antagonists or beta-adrenergic blocking agents are effective medications doctors prescribe to treat cardiovascular conditions due to phobia. It treats tightness of the chest, tremors, chest pain, and related conditions.

Being said that, such medications come with several side effects and must never be consumed without medical advice.

Generally, specific phobias tend to last for several years and decades and induce the onset of other mood and anxiety disorders. However, in 15% of cases, they last for a lifetime contributing highly to substance use disorders.

If a child faces traumatic experiences with a snake at a young age, the effect can stay for up to 9 years and fade away if appropriately treated. However, for adults, phobias start at the age of 20 and continue to stay for an extended period of time.

It is crucial to reach out for help from a registered healthcare specialist if a person is repeatedly suffering from panic attacks and going outdoors become challenging. Moreover, if there are signs of insomnia, disturbed sleep, depression, or excessive accidents at home due to fear, medical assistance is a must.

Many people worldwide suffer from several phobias, and sometimes they do not even recognise it to be a phobia until they learn about it. Ophidiophobia is a similar case. Therefore, facing them is the best way to fight back against fears. Additionally, people suffering from such phobias will receive relief with proper medication and therapy.