the snake-phobic question...

[Russet]

Hi all!
I'm just curious, but in case I want to get more than one boa in the future(very likely!) it's something i pryly need to address. My mum (wonderful tho she is) hates snakes. :'( (I have no idea why.. ??? ???)Can't even look at pictures of them, etc. Anyway, does anyone know how I could help her approach this so I don't have to hide my beautiful boa away? If anyone has any success stories...
Yep, that's it for now, just hoping for some ideas.

[Frank]

well here....

my mom abosolutly hates resptiles also, basically there is nothing you can do, try to make a deal, like i'll get straight A's if you'll hold this boa...stuff like that, my mom also can't even look at um, my mom is soo scared that when i hold up a LITTLE 2-3 inch FAKE lizard, she screems and stuff like that, well other than hat there really isn't anything you can do to change her mind, my mom won't even go in my room anymore!!!!!!and just like you mom, mines can't look at pics eithier, well,just keep tryin,
Later man,
FC

[Frank]

well here....

my mom abosolutly hates resptiles also, basically there is nothing you can do, try to make a deal, like i'll get straight A's if you'll hold this boa...stuff like that, my mom also can't even look at um, my mom is soo scared that when i hold up a LITTLE 2-3 inch FAKE lizard, she screems and stuff like that, well other than hat there really isn't anything you can do to change her mind, my mom won't even go in my room anymore!!!!!!and just like you mom, mines can't look at pics eithier, well,just keep tryin,
Later man,
FC

[ClayEnglish]

Re: the snake-phobic question...

The answer is 2 P's. Persistance and Patience.

First let me say that there are people with serious REAL phobias that only medical treatments can help, and then only some are actually cured.

However MOST people are afraid of snakes, and that is due 99% to misinformation. These are not true phobias, just people that misunderstand.

Here is one such story.

My closest friends, actually considered family, are from California. They are a dad, mom and 2 girls (actually not girls anymore, they are in thier early 20's).

When they first visited and I had the new snake venture, that family was split right down the middle. The Dad and oldest daughter, went into the snake building right away, and would hold the babies immediately, and with my assistance would hold the large boas.

The other two, Mom and youngest daughter, could not even look in the door or windows. They stayed in the house. And it remained so during the entire visit. Two had no problems, and two had serious problems.

I know that the two who took the initiative early, had some fears about snakes, but they also had something else. They had a complete faith in ME. They knew I would never place them in danger or in an uncontrollable situation. That initially was all it took for them to trust me and what I was doing.

This is the key to overcoming the fear. Being around someone that understands but also never shows the fear.

So now let's advance a year in time, and the family returns for another visit. This time right up front the youngest daughter has made up her mind that she wants to go into the "snake shop". Nothing fancy, just go in. AND she did. Just stood around and looked at all the cages and all the big snakes, and although she was freaked out a little, I just let her do her thing, I did not even go near a boa. Then she started talking about how cool everything was setup and how I had built the cages etc etc etc...

Anyway the next day she wanted to see us get a baby out of the cage. We did and she stood across the room, but after she saw my daughter (10 years old) holding the baby, it just clicked that there was very little to fear. Then just a few minutes later we took this picture..

[pam]

Re: the snake-phobic question...

i was a snake phobic,was always perstered by my hubby for one but never would,then we had kids!!!my 8 yr old daughter loved to look at em,and one day in a reptile shop actually stroked one,anyhows mum felt a bit of a plonker so i did the same,scared as hell like but i still did it.1 wk later hubby had his first snake,we now have over 70 snakes and lizards,the largest of which is a 14ft burmese python.
just take it slowly with her,i'm sure that eventually curiosity will get the better of her!
regards,pam

[Russet]

Re: the snake-phobic question...

Another wierd thing is that she hasn't always been this freaked out...I mean, waaaaay back when..when i was about 4-5 yrs, my dad had an 8ft burm, and my mom was scared of it, but not that bad. I mean, she would work in the same room as Kaa, with him in plain view and her only 6 feet away. And even then I think her biggest fear was that I'd be eaten (at least that's what i've heard) I guess with time her tolerence went down... *sigh* owell, I guess we'll have to work with what we've got, right? She might come around... s12.gif

[Russet]

Re: the snake-phobic question...

Gorgeous albino, btw! cwm29.gif cwm12.gif b15.gif s23.gif

[SnakeLuvr]

Re: the snake-phobic question...

My dh (hubby) totally does not like snakes . . I am the snak freak in our house. . I admit, I am nervous when I see new ones I don't know. . . Since I don't know them, I don't know what they'll do . . each is different. . .

However, my mom completely hates snakes too. Well prob not HATES, but doesn't like in she'd never touch one or hold it. . . Dh will just now (after having had snakes 1+ yr), will touch them (well he touched them a TEENY bit when I got my babies last summer), however, he doesn't want to hold them, or be that involved at all, just a tiny touch every now & again . . .

One thing I definitely recommend, is going slow & easy like Clay mentioned & letting her do her thing. If she is ever able to, she will come around & come to you. . . If you try to hard, or "push", it could make it a lot worse for her. . .

OMG LOL when I got my 2 babies last July from Clay, they were so funny! My female (Cleopatra) TOTALLY freaked ME out! She was just SOOOOO outgoing like she wanted to know all about me & what was going on being sent off to a new place LOL She started coming right out of the container at me! LOL & that freaked me out. . Not that she did anything SCARY but she was so confident! LOL Her brother, Caesar, was different. I opened the container, & there he "sat" looking at me. . After having Cleopatra's reaction, he startled me a bit in his own way! LOL Just a little side story, sorry :} I sometimes get a bit long-winded & side tracked. . . So just skip through if ya need :}

And I love to talk about my snakes :}
My Ball Python now. . . he is interesting himself :} So different then Boas they are. . . But I think this one is much more outgoing then a typical ball . . he makes dh a but uneasy as he loves to explore :}

I better go I am getting very side-tracked! GOOD LUCK :}
Tara

[Russet]

Re: the snake-phobic question...

lol, I'm planning on taking it slow, otherwise my mom might decide to kick me out of the house...Don't worry about getting side-tracked, I tend to go on and on about the most obscure things too-ESPECIALLY snakes..I think most of my friends have heard far more than they want to about red-tails (since none of them are snake enthusiasts they don't seem to realize how great boas can be) I really don't understand.. :

[Doug]

Re: the snake-phobic question...

Hi,
I too had a mother who's a snake a phobic, something bad was planted in her mind as a child, don't force someone to hold touch or even see a snake if they are truely afraid, you willnot change their fear, and may make them feel sick..
  Now what I try and do is show and tell when in the pet stores so the my pet store buddies  can see how much my Guyana's have grown my only snake lover friends..
 I hold the bitty end and let the kiddies pet the tail, something about that warm snake skin seems to melt away the fears i n children.
 I have converted a few fearful people to reptiles but only a few
if they pull away I turn away, thats usally a clue they don't feel well..
  If you put a large furry spider on me I may have to change my clothes... hehehe :P
  Go figure?  They are so cute and fuzzie   YEACHHHHH!!! cwm8.gif
  I made my self ILL
Doug

[Russet]

Re: the snake-phobic question...

Eh, I know better than to push a snake on my mom! she'd probably kick me (and the snake) out of the house. Maybe in a few more yrs, but I don't need that now... :

[Snake-dad]

Re: the snake-phobic question...

My wife is still getting over her fear of snakes, I think the best way to go is to ease into the subject and let her choose how fast she wants to approach it.
Rick