Yahoo's look at snakes...

Escape from NY

http://news.yahoo.com/video/world-15749633/missing-cobra-24683132

FEAR vs PHOBIA

Phobia is characterized by an overwhelming fear of special situations such as wide open spaces or closed ones, animals, dark, flying, or even public speaking. Most people have relatively inconsequential fears of this type but in some, these fears become so overwhelming that they interfere with normal life and behavior.
Fear may be attached to objects that are often harmless in themselves but which subconsciously represent feelings that are the true source of the problem. The person, to keep her subconscious feelings from coming into the conscious, may displace or project his fear onto the outside world as a phobia. Thus, being alone or in a high spot may represent abandonment to the sufferer, and the person can hide the connection between the subconscious feelings and the phobia. In effect, the phobic person seeks to blame the world instead of his inner problem for his phobia.

I clearly have a Phobia. And hopefully with the continued guidance from Luann and others I will get to the bottom of my subconscious feelings and get rid of this phobia.

Fear facts

What happens to your body when FEAR takes over?
-Your adrenal glands may produce enormous amounts of adrenalin;
-Your stomach and intestines, may stop working;
-Your heart may increase its rate
-Your breathing may become more rapid.

Has this happened to you?
Just the other day I went into a pet store to get a new name tag for my dog.
I was standing right next to the reptile area. Something made me turn. And when i did - there was a snake in a glass cage. Its mouth open and looking right at me. My adrenaline was racing through me. I almost screamed. I looked for help. And had a hard time concentrating on a simple task like typing my dog's information into the machine.

I'm ready to get over my fear. Are you?

Don't forget to breathe

Here ya go folks. For those of you following this journey with the same fear of snakes I have - DO NOT WATCH.
For the rest of you - enjoy!

The look of FEAR

Reaction to walking into a room with 20 caged snakes...

I took one small step in my journey by talking to Matt Kogler and educating myself about the creatures I fear. I took an enormous step by entering a room housing 20 snakes. There was a boa and clear sound of a rattler. I honestly don't remember much after entering the room. I've watched the footage and don't recall even interviewing Matt in the room for as long as I did. Later this week a short video clip from this moment...

Face the thing you FEAR

Interview with Matt Kogler

In an effort to overcome my phobia of snakes, I decided I should learn more about the creatures I fear. Matt Kogler, a local snake expert, granted me an interview and a tour of his home. Through our conversation I learned a lot regarding the nature and realities of snakes. Did you know that they even have personalities? I had no idea...
Matt was extremely patient with me and helped me to understand that the old way of thinking about snakes (A good snake is a dead snake) is not correct and certainly not humane. 
To this day I have never touched a snake let alone stood near 20 of them. On this visit I was able to stand a few feet away from 20 caged snakes - even a Rattle Snake!
Stay tuned to see the look on my face as I entered the room pictured below. And later this week a very short video clip...

Matt Kogler - Reptile Rescue Southern California