I’ve always had a phobia of vermin and bugs. Rats, mice, bed bugs.
Whenever I see an exterminator’s truck on the street, I get shivers.
I’ve always had a phobia of vermin and bugs. Rats, mice, bed bugs.
Whenever I see an exterminator’s truck on the street, I get shivers.
What is a specific phobia?
You, or someone you know, may also have a phobia of rodents, airplanes, blood or heights. Those are specific phobias: an intense, persistent and irrational fear caused by the presence or anticipation of a specific object or situation. The anxious reaction that follows is swift.
The anxiety is disproportionate to the actual danger and the fear is so intense that it may lead you to actively avoid the object or situation. In this case, Louise calls her dad so she doesn’t have to face the mouse.
Specific phobias can also cause significant suffering and affect your daily functioning in relationships, at work or at home. Here, Louise is unable to sleep in the same room as the mouse.
You may also experience other symptoms when confronted with your phobia, or when you’re simply anticipating it: chills, shaking, sweating, nausea, dizziness, vertigo, heart palpitations, and shortness of breath.
If you live with a specific phobia and are unable to function in your daily life, you’re not alone and help is available.
