uh yeah For this first one, I decided to go with one I have, which is Herpetophobia! Herpetophobia is defined as a fear or aversion of reptiles, commonly lizards and snakes, and similar vertebrates such as amphibians. While the causes of this vary from person to person, they usually originate from one or more of these: - Traumatic, painful, or generally negative experiences with a reptile - Witnessing another person's negative or fearful reaction to a reptile as a child - Evolutionary instincts. Some snakes and lizards can be harmful, and it is in human nature to fear something that can cause us harm. For me, personally, the main cause is negative experiences, as I've been bitten by a lizard as well as have one skitter across my legs (That may not sound too scary to some, but I was terrified). The scales also contribute to it, as even the sight of scaly things make me nervous and uncomfortable, not to mention touching scales. For me, my Herpetophobia also extends to amphibians such as fish and frogs for similar reasons. Some signs and symptoms of Herpetophobia include: - Increased heart rate - Shaking - Shortness of breath - Sweating - Dizziness or faintness - Nausea - Chills or heat flush - Feeling of choking Those with herpetophobia tend to go out of their way to avoid the reptile and will do anything to avoid herpetophobia. This may lead to self-isolation, and depression, and change the way they live. The sufferers may affect their work and social lives which can lead to isolation. Herpetophobia is a common phobia and comes in many forms. Some people have fears of just looking at a reptile, some have fears of touching a reptile, and some cannot even stand knowing a reptile is in their space.
So this is kinda a boredom thing, and very much inspired by Jessica Lauser on youtube and tiktok! Check her out (but keep in mind that she's infinitely better than I am when it comes to detail, so there are very realistic depictions of snakes and spiders, as well as body horror, gore, etc. )
