Ophidiophobia is an extreme, overwhelming fear of snakes. It’s more intense than the common, generalized fear of snakes. Ophidiophobia is an anxiety disorder that interferes with your daily life or sense of safety. Treatments such as exposure therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy can be effective in controlling the symptoms of ophidiophobia.
Ophidiophobia is an extreme, overwhelming fear of snakes. The condition is called a specific phobia (fear), which is a type of anxiety disorder. Ophidiophobia may be associated with herpetophobia, which is fear of all reptiles.
Many people are somewhat fearful of snakes. But ophidiophobia is so extreme that it interferes with a person’s life, well-being or sense of safety.
Ophidiophobes (people who have the phobia) may:
A person with ophidiophobia may understand that the fear is excessive but can’t control it.
Snakes can be harmful to people, and stories often depict snakes as threatening and dangerous. So, a generalized fear of snakes is very common. One in 10 American adults and 1 in 5 teenagers will deal with a specific phobia disorder at some point in their lives, and ophidiophobia is one of the most common specific phobias.
Ophidiophobia can affect people of any age, starting in childhood or adulthood.
People with a fear of snakes may also have related phobias, including:
Healthcare providers aren’t sure what causes specific phobias, such as ophidiophobia. But most mental health professionals believe it’s often caused by some combination of:
A person with ophidiophobia will experience symptoms of anxiety or panic when they:
Symptoms of anxiety or panic may include.
There aren’t any tests to diagnose ophidiophobia. Your healthcare provider can diagnose the condition based on discussions with you about:
Ophidiophobia is a specific diagnosis and goes beyond generalized fear of snakes. It:
If you have mild ophidiophobia, you may not need treatment. But if the fear causes physical symptoms or nightmares, or if it interferes with your daily life, possible treatments include:
There’s no proven way to prevent a snake phobia. But many people with one specific fear develop multiple anxiety disorders, such as panic disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
It’s important to learn how to manage any symptoms of the first fear before you develop additional anxieties.
Children and adolescents may grow out of ophidiophobia. But the fear may persist into adulthood.
Ophidiophobia can’t be cured, but you can manage the fear and the symptoms. Exposure therapy and other techniques are very effective. Treatment helps most people who regularly practice what they’ve learned or take medications as directed.
Many people can manage ophidiophobia and other specific fears with techniques to manage anxiety, such as:
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Many people are afraid of snakes. But ophidiophobia is an extreme, overwhelming fear of snakes that interferes with your sense of safety and daily life. Ophidiophobia is a common specific phobia, but there are treatments, like exposure therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy, that can help you manage symptoms.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 03/15/2022.
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