Insect Phobias and How to Overcome Them

Education, meds, and therapy can help you deal with creepy crawlies

Photo by Sandy Millar on Unsplash

Bzzzzt.

When I was in grade school, bees fascinated me. I don’t remember why. I just know I used to read books and watch shows about them. Then one summer that all changed.

A few years later (my early teens?), my family was holding our own private version of the summer Olympics using household items — high jumps with chairs, a pole, and a mattress, and sprints from one end of the back porch to the other. Fun times.

After going inside for a break, I heard a slight buzzing, but didn’t think much of it until I got halfway down the stairs.

STING!

A bumblebee was trapped inside my shirt and the little bastard stung me on the left side. Hurt like hell! Dad soon killed it and dispatched it outside. But after that I stayed as far as I could from any bees for a long time. My mental trauma was palpable.

I’m better now, thanks to sheer force of will and learning how stinging insects act in various situations. But it took time.

For some people, there’s no greater fear than confronting insects. These tiny terrorists crawl, fly, sting, bite, and often appear in vast numbers. The individual roach, fly…