Fear of Snakes or Ophidiophobia

The more general term for the fear of snakes other than ophidiophobia would be herpetophobia which translates to the fear all reptiles. “Ophis” which is the Greek word for snakes and phobia which denotes fear are the two keywords for the fear of snakes' scientific name.

Now this fear or phobia cannot be likened to the normal dislike of people on snakes because of the danger they bring and the deadly poison (venom) they possess.

Someone who is in fear or who has phobia on snakes not only dislikes these crawling creatures but they are also in fear of even the thought of it and whenever they see them even in cages and or the television, places where they cannot possibly harm any individual watching them. Studies have concluded that people have inherent fear and automatic survival reactions against snakes.
 
So clearly form the line between common fear of snakes and snake phobia, fear of snakes is but rational and snake phobia is irrational. When the phobia comes to the point where it is irrational or extreme, the usual effect is disability and panic. You will see some people with snake phobia as reacting as if paralyzed, some shiver, and some shout uncontrollably at even the sight of snakes.

Fear from snakes may most likely have stemmed from an individual's childhood experiences and upbringing. If snakes were being used by the parents as a tool to frighten kids, then the possibility of snake phobia developing is likely. Add to this film features and movies that show snakes as bad creatures that bring sickness and death to those bitten. But the most damning piece of bad publicity on snakes would be its depiction of the Bible as being the embodiment of the devil himself.

To combat this phobia, techniques have been utilized. Breathing exercises may work in most cases, and breathing deeply and relaxing in the presence of the source of your fear, which in this case is snakes, can greatly assist you to arrest your panic buttons and act calmly. Working with your imagination powers can also work. Instead of depicting snakes as harmful creatures, you can set them up inside your brain as misunderstood lonely animals.

This way, fear may be replaced with pity. Gradually expose yourself with snakes by trying out pictures first, then looking at live snakes in the zoo, in the safe confines of their cages.

As you go along with exposure to snakes, you would eventually realize that snakes should not really be a source of fear and panic at all. Treatment on any type of phobia relies mainly on the person's will power and want if he or she is really dead-set in overcoming this phobia, then that should set him or her on the right course of action.