Does anybody else have a fear of caterpillars? And how do I overcome it?

Question

I have a really bad fear of caterpillars.

I have had a panic attack.

It's not funny like most people think it is.

It's serious.

I know it's irrational but it's a true phobia not something to get attention.

I find myself thinking about where I'm going to walk to stay away from caterpillars.

Or deciding not to do things I love because I might run into a caterpillar. (Paint-balling, Gardening, Hiking)

I also end up with a fear of places that I've run into caterpillars. (driveways, walk ways, yards, rooms in a house)

It's really bad.

PLEASE HELP ME. : /

Answer 1

I think telling us what's so bad about them would shed some light to us and you about what's really bugging you (sorry for the bad pun).

Perhaps it's not the big but what it represents to you. Maybe you had a bad time and a caterpillar happen to be there at the time thus you associate the caterpillars with the mixed emotions.

The most easiest thing to over coming being afriad of something is to not be afriad of it. Sounds too easy I know, but instead of you changing your fear of caterpillars, you could say your still afriad of caterpillars but not afriad of baby butterflies...huh, huh? It's all about state of mind.

What people need to realize is that fear isn't your enemy, it's a teacher and a motivator. Everyone saids that they're not afriad of this or that, but does that truely make them brave.

Being brave isn't not being afriad, it's doing what needs to be done, even though your afriad. To tell you the true, I happen to be afriad of just about everything there is to be afriad of, but I don't let it stop me from watching a good horror flick, going to the circus, taking my girl friend to the butterfly exhibit, going swimming, getting a bug out of a sister's room, going into the creepy parts of my attic or basement, or whatever.

What I'm most afriad of holding myself back and not living my life how I want to.

Answer 2

I wish I could; I have a TERROR of grasshoppers. Total full on terror. I worked at a sea life facility near the beach and I supervised kids on the weekends who volunteered and we had these HUGE YELLOW grasshoppers everywhere; they were so cool, they would take them away because they knew how terrified I was. I don't know what the answer is; I wish I could tone it down to a mild fear or disgust, but I get panic attacks.

Answer 3

The only way to get over your fear is to face it.Just remember that they are harmless.Have someone that you trust hold a caterpillar with you present in an open area so you can back off in case you need to and notice that it isn't doing any harm.Then when you are ready you can touch it or even let it crawl on your hand realizing it wont hurt you.Face your fear and it will go away.keep in mind that its just a caterpillar and its more afraid of you than you are of it.