subject: Facing Your Fear Of Snakes [print this page] Probably more people than not are afraid of snakes. For the most part, fear of snakes is totally irrational and comes from a lack of true information about snakes. A bad experience with a snake or a fear learned from a parent who was scared of snakes can make you believe that all snakes are to be feared when in fact that is not true at all.
The best way to calm your fear of snakes is to educate yourself about them. While there are some venomous snakes, most are not harmful and they are very useful. Snakes help keep the population of rats, mice and vermin down.
The saying "A snake is just as afraid of you as you are of it" is true. If able, they will go away from you and hide. Even though some might want to guard their home, they want even less to do with you and will try to stay away from you if it can get away.
Contrary to what you might have heard, snakes rarely chase humans. They will mainly only bite if you come upon them and they feel threatened. They will strike if they feel that their life is in danger, such as being stepped on or picked up. Just watch where you walk outside, don't lift up rocks and logs haphazardly and don't bother a snake that you come across.
On the off chance that you do suffer a snake bite, seek medical attention, but stay calm. Most snake bites are not harmful and if you keep the bite clean and don't let it get infected, it shouldn't cause you any problems. Even a bite from a poisonous snake is not usually fatal if you get medical attention immediately.
The best thing you can do to help you overcome your fear of snakes is to educate yourself. Snakes might make you a little uncomfortable, but in most cases they aren't a danger to you and we really do need them.
