Fears and Phobias

A big problem we sometimes face at Perry's Bridge Reptile Park is simply getting people through the door!  Someone will come along with their partner or kids, and you can almost see them squirm as they approach.  Then they get to the till.....and decide they "just can't do it".  Yet those that do, and particularly those that watch one of our demonstrations, often report that they feel much better once they leave because many of the misconceptions that they had have been addressed.

What is the difference between fear and phobia?  A phobia is essentially a very persistent, strong fear, which is often unreasonable, even in the sufferer's own mind.  This intense fear can be pyschologically, and even physically, debilitating.  The good news is, that many phobias can be reduced in their intensity or even banished completely if the correct approach is taken!

This recent article from Psychology Today addresses arachnophobia, but the principles can be applied to other similar phobias such as a fear of snakes (Ophidiophobia).  We even had a lady who was terrified of tortoises - that was a first for me but it DOES have a name according to my best friend Google: "chelonaphobia" (makes sense, as the family including tortoises, turtles, and terrapins is "chelonia").

Of course, Hazyview has possibly  more than its fair share of spiders, due to our warm humid climate - but its reassuring to know that very few spiders in the world have the capacity to inflict serious harm to a healthy adult human.  Meanwhile they are helping us to keep in check another locally abundant resident.....the mosquito!