For many people there is no greater fear than confronting insects. These tiny terrorists are creepy, crawly, flying, stinging, biting, there are sometimes way too many of them to count, and the individual roach, fly, or ant frequently seems to pop up in the most unlikely of places. However, despite the different types of fears surrounding them, there are a number of ways to fight off a fear of insects, including reading, therapy, and medication.

== Types of Insect-Related Fears ==

Fear can be defined in a variety of ways, depending on the intensity: Some folks actually don't mind insects and go through life with a "live and let live" attitude; some people can't help but be concerned, and will take steps to avoid the nastier bugs; then there are those who suffer from full-on phobias (intense fears) and will panic irrationally when confronted by the smallest creature.

The subjects of phobias are also used for classification. For some, it may not be only insects that cause Entomophobia (fear of insects), but any of the small invertebrates called arthropods, including arachnids (e.g. spiders), myripods (e.g. millipedes), or crustaceans (e.g. crabs). Entomophobia is from the Greek "entomos" (insect) and "phobos" (fear), and is also called Insectophobia.

Other folks might suffer from more specific fears:

Acarophobia - Fear of itching or the insects that cause itching

Apiphobia - Fear of bees

Arachnophobia - Fear of spiders

Isopterophobia - Fear of termites or insects that eat wood

Spheksophobia - Fear of wasps

== Reasons for Insect Fear ==

Why are we afraid? People will give a variety of reasons for their insect-induced fears, from the physical to the mental, including the following:

* Fear of being poisoned - Unfortunately, sometimes this fear is well founded, as some people have hypersensitivity to insect venom. They may experience a condition known as Anaphylaxis or Anaphylactic Shock after being bitten or stung. According to Anaphylaxis.com, an estimated 0.5% to 5% of Americans are allergic to insect venom.

A frequently life-threatening allergic reaction to a substance, Anaphylaxis is usually brought about by a specific food (e.g. peanuts), medicine (e.g. penicillin), arthropod venom (e.g. bee sting), or the material latex. Symptoms can include labored breathing, a swelled tongue and throat, bluish skin, a rapid drop in blood pressure, and dizziness.

This is a serious condition, so if symptoms do appear, administer epinephrine (adrenaline) if the victim has an auto-injector available, and then immediately call your emergency number (911 in the United States). If a friend or relative suffers from this condition, you should at least know the basics.

* Fear of painful stings or bites - Most people do not enjoy pain, especially when they're not expecting it. Even without allergies, an otherwise normal person may fear this potential pain enough to avoid outdoor areas where insects are likely to gather.

* Fear of the creepy/ugly/unfamiliar - Why are insects used in so many Sci-Fi movies? Because close-up, they look nothing like us. Multiple legs, compound eyes, long antennae, and segmented bodies can create quite a scary vision.

* Fear of the unpredictable - Erratic movement combined with speed surprises most people, instilling a dread that insects (and other small creatures) might suddenly disappear and then reappear in a place they should not be. The quicker they are, it seems, the more they make people nervous.

* Fear from a bad past incident - Many folks who are stung or bitten as children may carry that awful memory into adulthood. For some, this becomes a major roadblock in overcoming a fear of a particular insect type, or perhaps arthropods in general.

* Fear from negative publicity - Insect horror films capitalize on fear, featuring scenes of swarming and other aggressive insect behavior. It's no wonder so many members of modern society loath insects.

== Overcoming Fear of Insects ==

Most arthropods attack only if threatened, while others are merely hunting. They are acting on natural instinct and, despite what some insect-haters think, are not intentionally trying to scare humans. In this vein, folks suffering from entomophobia should study documents about the objects of their fears; the more details you know about a subject, the less likely you are to be afraid of it (e.g. Knowing which spiders are poisonous vs. non-poisonous, or knowing why bees hover around certain objects).

Learning about insects will help people work through and overcome their fears, but there are other options as well. For those who easily panic and may need more professional assistance, Wisegeek.com says, "Medication can help to minimize the frequency and strength of panic attacks upon seeing a bug."

If taking medicine is too clinical or just not necessary, you might try desensitizing yourself in a more natural or holistic fashion. Watch and write about insects, or interact with a virtual reality version of the specific bug that gives you the willies. Even just watching a nature program about a particular type of insect can help you further along the path of desensitization.

Another option is hypnotherapy or neuro-linguistic programming (NLP). In a very basic sense, NLP helps you recognize the thought patterns that cause your fear, and replace them with more rational thoughts, which should ideally lead to a more normal life.

== Summary ==

Fear of insects is a nuisance, and can sometimes be a very real, debilitating hindrance to enjoying life. Whether it is caused by a previous incident, a medical condition, or bad publicity, sufferers should make the best of their situation by recognizing the (in many cases) irrationality of their fear. Avoid dangerous situations, certainly, but also learn about the cause and seek professional help if necessary. Above all, try not to let your fears control your life, because that's no way to truly live.

Learn more about this author, Len Morse.
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