Member Since: June 29, 2013
Answers: 1
Last Update: June 29, 2013
Visitors: 417
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Thanks, you're answer was really useful.
Since I wrote this my fear has died down a lot, but I still get a start when I see one, like a jump in my chest, but other than that I've improved a lot. I want to tell you some tricks that helped me, so I can help you like you helped me:
I found that mentally talking to myself about it helped, for example, when I'd see one I'd say "It really can't hurt you or come toward you at all, and you could just squash it. Even if it was on you or in your hand you could squash it." Knowing and feeling like I was bigger than them helped a lot. The key is really convincing ourselves, like we convinced ourselves that there is something frightening about them, that they're ok.
Also, but it helped me to say 'I have a fear of caterpillars' rather than 'caterpillars are scary/gross/frightening'. This helped me re-assure myself that it is an irrational fear, which can be overcome.
Eventually I noticed my fear dying down a bit, and I found its really important to acknowledge when you're improving. So it went from 'I have an extreme fear of caterpillars' to 'My fear of caterpillars is much less intense now'. Believing that it can get better helps.
Also, its really important to tell *others* when you're less afraid. Did you feel like when you told people about it, they found it so funny they had to point out caterpillars to you, or pretend there was one on you? I had people who did this to me. For example, I went camping with friends. One of my friend knew about my fear, and felt the need to point every caterpillar out to me, while also making a massive drama about it (WATCH OUT A CATERPILLAR!!). Despite this being rude, it actually helped because the first time she did it I realised I wasn't actually freaked out about it. I almost didn't care at all, and I could say "I don't care" and really mean it. Pretending you're not afraid won't help but if you find that one day you see one and its not as scary as usual, then acknowledge it.
Last but not least, I told myself over and over again that they're just other bugs. I actually like other bugs, and don't mind spiders, so telling myself its just like any other bug made a HUGE difference.
I hope this helped you, because you helped me. I realised I do have a lot of scary memories (similar to yours!) about caterpillars. Like running into a bunch of them hanging down from a tree, and sitting beneath a tree and finding one crawling on me.
Thanks again and I hope this wasn't too long. :)
If you want to talk about our shared fear of caterpillars, my username is 05natalie05.
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