Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDefinitionSymptomsDiagnosisCausesTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Definition
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Causes
Treatment
Snake phobia orophidiophobiais an extreme fear of snakes. Many people are afraid of snakes, but those with ophidiophobia have an extreme and irrational amount of fear. Ophidiophobia is sometimes also calledophiophobia.
Ophidiophobia may occur alone or along with a fear of reptiles, which is calledherpetophobia.
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Ophidiophobia is considered a specificphobia. Specific phobias are an intense, irrational fear of an object or situation that poses very little actual danger.
For many people, simply thinking about the phobia trigger can bring on severe anxiety.
Ophidiophobia is one of the most common specific phobias.Other common types includearachnophobia(fear of spiders) andacrophobia(fear of heights).
The term “ophidiophobia” comes from the Greek word “ophio” or the modern Latin term “ophidia,“which both mean snake or serpent, and the Greek word “phobia.”
Types of Specific PhobiaAnimal type (zoophobia): Snakes, spiders, dogs, etc.Natural environment type: Heights, water, or lightningBlood-injection-injury type: Seeing blood, getting a shot, or watching a medical procedureSituational type: Airplanes, elevators, or enclosed places (claustrophobia)Other: Fear of illness, fear of certain noises,fear of clowns, and others not covered above
Types of Specific Phobia
Animal type (zoophobia): Snakes, spiders, dogs, etc.Natural environment type: Heights, water, or lightningBlood-injection-injury type: Seeing blood, getting a shot, or watching a medical procedureSituational type: Airplanes, elevators, or enclosed places (claustrophobia)Other: Fear of illness, fear of certain noises,fear of clowns, and others not covered above
Ornithophobia: Fear of Birds
Symptoms of Snake Phobia
A phobia is more than just fear. It’s normal to feel fear when you’re in danger.
For example, if you’re out in the woods and see arattlesnake poised to strike, fear is a natural and appropriate reaction, as rattlesnakes pose a real threat. This fear causes our nervous system to flood withadrenalineand speeds up reaction time so you can take quick action to protect yourself. This is called the “fight or flight” response.
Symptoms of ophidiophobia may include:
You may go to great lengths to avoid snakes, although this depends on the severity of your phobia.
It may be impossible for you to go hiking or camping due to your fear of encountering a snake. You may avoid pet stores or refuse to go to a home where someone keeps snakes as pets. You may not be able to watch movie scenes featuring snakes.
What Is Severe Anxiety?
Phobias like ophidiophobia arediagnosedbased on symptoms. The fifth edition of the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders”(DSM-5) lays out seven criteria:
You may also be asked to fill out a diagnostic form called the Snake Questionnaire (SNAQ). SNAQ is based on DSM-5 criteria.It contains 30 true or false questions designed to help your healthcare provider assess the severity of your fear. Studies have found that the SNAQ is a fast and reliable way to evaluate someone for ophidiophobia.
Your primary healthcare provider may be comfortable diagnosing a phobia. If not, they may refer you to a mental health specialist.
How Common Is It to Have Both Anxiety and Depression?
Experts don’t yet know the exact causes of phobias. They’ve identified a few factors that may contribute to their development, such as:
Some research suggests humans adapted to pay special attention to snakes because of the danger they posed to primitive people. In some, this heightened attention contributes to a phobia’s development.
Fear of Traveling
Not all phobias need to be treated. Your need for treatment depends on how much it impacts your life.
If your ophidiophobia causes distress and limits your activities, you may want to get treatment. Treatment for specific phobias generally includes psychotherapy (talk therapy) and possibly medication.
Psychotherapy
Types of psychotherapy used for phobias include:
Medications
Some evidence suggests that medications aren’t very effective for treating phobias. However, some are commonly used and may offer some relief.
This can be especially true when combined with psychotherapy. Medications for treating phobias include:
You may also benefit from relaxation anddeep breathing exercisesto calm your anxiety.
Explore Phobia Treatments
Summary
Ophidiophobia, or fear of snakes, is a type of specific phobia. Seeing a snake or even thinking about one can trigger symptoms including anxiety, rapid heartbeat, and sweating. Your phobia may limit your activities.
Treatment is typically psychotherapy, especially with exposure therapy, and possibly medications.
11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health.Specific phobia.Dinh HT, Nishimaru H, Le QV, et al.Preferential neuronal responses to snakes in the monkey medial prefrontal cortex support an evolutionary origin for ophidiophobia.Front Behav Neurosci. 2021;15:653250. doi:10.3389/fnbeh.2021.653250University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine: Penn Psychiatry.Specific phobias.Anxiety & Depression Association of America.Symptoms.Zsido AN.The spider and the snake - A psychometric study of two phobias and insights from the Hungarian validation.Psychiatry Res. 2017;257:61-66. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2017.07.024Polák J, Sedláčková K, Nácar D, Landová E, Frynta D.Fear the serpent: A psychometric study of snake phobia.Psychiatry Res. 2016;242:163-168. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2016.05.024Johns Hopkins Medicine.Phobias.Mind.Phobias.Boston Children’s Hospital.Phobias.Thng CEW, Lim-Ashworth NSJ, Poh BZQ, Lim CG.Recent developments in the intervention of specific phobia among adults: a rapid review.F1000Res. 2020;9:F1000 Faculty Rev-195. Published 2020 Mar 19. doi:10.12688/f1000research.20082.1Kroes MC, Tona KD, den Ouden HE, Vogel S, van Wingen GA, Fernández G.How administration of the beta-blocker propranolol before extinction can prevent the return of fear.Neuropsychopharmacology. 2016;41(6):1569-1578. doi:10.1038/npp.2015.315
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health.Specific phobia.Dinh HT, Nishimaru H, Le QV, et al.Preferential neuronal responses to snakes in the monkey medial prefrontal cortex support an evolutionary origin for ophidiophobia.Front Behav Neurosci. 2021;15:653250. doi:10.3389/fnbeh.2021.653250University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine: Penn Psychiatry.Specific phobias.Anxiety & Depression Association of America.Symptoms.Zsido AN.The spider and the snake - A psychometric study of two phobias and insights from the Hungarian validation.Psychiatry Res. 2017;257:61-66. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2017.07.024Polák J, Sedláčková K, Nácar D, Landová E, Frynta D.Fear the serpent: A psychometric study of snake phobia.Psychiatry Res. 2016;242:163-168. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2016.05.024Johns Hopkins Medicine.Phobias.Mind.Phobias.Boston Children’s Hospital.Phobias.Thng CEW, Lim-Ashworth NSJ, Poh BZQ, Lim CG.Recent developments in the intervention of specific phobia among adults: a rapid review.F1000Res. 2020;9:F1000 Faculty Rev-195. Published 2020 Mar 19. doi:10.12688/f1000research.20082.1Kroes MC, Tona KD, den Ouden HE, Vogel S, van Wingen GA, Fernández G.How administration of the beta-blocker propranolol before extinction can prevent the return of fear.Neuropsychopharmacology. 2016;41(6):1569-1578. doi:10.1038/npp.2015.315
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health.Specific phobia.Dinh HT, Nishimaru H, Le QV, et al.Preferential neuronal responses to snakes in the monkey medial prefrontal cortex support an evolutionary origin for ophidiophobia.Front Behav Neurosci. 2021;15:653250. doi:10.3389/fnbeh.2021.653250University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine: Penn Psychiatry.Specific phobias.Anxiety & Depression Association of America.Symptoms.Zsido AN.The spider and the snake - A psychometric study of two phobias and insights from the Hungarian validation.Psychiatry Res. 2017;257:61-66. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2017.07.024Polák J, Sedláčková K, Nácar D, Landová E, Frynta D.Fear the serpent: A psychometric study of snake phobia.Psychiatry Res. 2016;242:163-168. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2016.05.024Johns Hopkins Medicine.Phobias.Mind.Phobias.Boston Children’s Hospital.Phobias.Thng CEW, Lim-Ashworth NSJ, Poh BZQ, Lim CG.Recent developments in the intervention of specific phobia among adults: a rapid review.F1000Res. 2020;9:F1000 Faculty Rev-195. Published 2020 Mar 19. doi:10.12688/f1000research.20082.1Kroes MC, Tona KD, den Ouden HE, Vogel S, van Wingen GA, Fernández G.How administration of the beta-blocker propranolol before extinction can prevent the return of fear.Neuropsychopharmacology. 2016;41(6):1569-1578. doi:10.1038/npp.2015.315
National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health.Specific phobia.
Dinh HT, Nishimaru H, Le QV, et al.Preferential neuronal responses to snakes in the monkey medial prefrontal cortex support an evolutionary origin for ophidiophobia.Front Behav Neurosci. 2021;15:653250. doi:10.3389/fnbeh.2021.653250
University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine: Penn Psychiatry.Specific phobias.
Anxiety & Depression Association of America.Symptoms.
Zsido AN.The spider and the snake - A psychometric study of two phobias and insights from the Hungarian validation.Psychiatry Res. 2017;257:61-66. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2017.07.024
Polák J, Sedláčková K, Nácar D, Landová E, Frynta D.Fear the serpent: A psychometric study of snake phobia.Psychiatry Res. 2016;242:163-168. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2016.05.024
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Phobias.
Mind.Phobias.
Boston Children’s Hospital.Phobias.
Thng CEW, Lim-Ashworth NSJ, Poh BZQ, Lim CG.Recent developments in the intervention of specific phobia among adults: a rapid review.F1000Res. 2020;9:F1000 Faculty Rev-195. Published 2020 Mar 19. doi:10.12688/f1000research.20082.1
Kroes MC, Tona KD, den Ouden HE, Vogel S, van Wingen GA, Fernández G.How administration of the beta-blocker propranolol before extinction can prevent the return of fear.Neuropsychopharmacology. 2016;41(6):1569-1578. doi:10.1038/npp.2015.315
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