disust and fear and disgust of insects (and some animals)

I have phobia for all insects. Insect phobias are common, but mine is more about disgust factor than what I've been reading on the subjeect. If in insect (like a cricket or a cockroach) gets on my skin or near my face or can be felt through my clothing it is so traumatizing that I have flashbacks for the rest of the day. I fear contact with insects because of a strong dislike. I also dislike the actual insects. If I beleived in reincarnation then insects would be the reincarnation of evil itself. I hate hate hate hate hate hate hate insects with a personal deep rooted passion. When on the ground (and i have footwear on) I violently stomp them repeatedly despite the excessive effectiveness of the first stomp. I'de spit on the insect corpse if it wouldn't worsen the gross mess left by their foul mockery of a corpse.

One problem I have is that insects can become distracting. In buildings with wasps I'm not able to focus. A cockroach that I can't kill because it escaped or is behind obsticles lingers in my mind (now that i'm able to contain myself and not break things in fervant persuit). Being around certain environments with dirt is unpleasant because their are too many bugs to kill them all or ignore and not even any way to kill them (when i should be able to just ignore them especially since those bugs aren't as big as roaches or wasps)

The self help stuff I've found doesn't apply. If I face my fear it just confirms for me that yes it is that bad. I can't figure out how to apply the logic vs illogical approach to disliking the way insects feel and or look, and I don't even have any fear of actual harm (even around brown recluses). Looking at the past i've had insects fly into my eyeball and my mouth more than a few times and have found them in my food a few times. I don't recall any reaction by others other than downplaying the situation when I freaked about finding them in food I was eating. I have no idea how I can use this to become less or not impacted by insects. If education is the key, where do I find facts about cockroaches and other bugs that can posatively impact my veiw and reaction?

I'm tired of all the insect triggered anxiety and frustrated by the lack of disgust based info (or flood of strictly fear based info on the subject). Anythign at all that can lead me somewhere usefull will be much appreciated.

Hi,

If facing your fear directly hasn't worked, then what about indirectly? This could be done by looking at pictures of insects on the Internet or even just reading stuff about them. Also, what about reading a kid's book on insects? I don't mean this to sound derrogatory to you - You see, in a kid's book, the insects would be portrayed as colourful and friendly (well, for most of them).

Kevin

Still images don't even scare me anyway, nor does nature channel type programing. When i'm not terrified due to risk of contact I only despise the insect (which still has a disruptive effect).

Perhaps my phobia discription was wrong. The only insect fear I have is physical contact (which is also exceptionally rediculously gross to me). Other than that I despise and find disgusting but am not afraid of: their appearance, the way they move, insects being in the house. Maybe I'll try looking for information on what causes physical sensations/touch to be interpreted differant ways.

Hi, it certainly seems like a strange thing to just be 'fearful' of being in direct physical contact with them. Is it because you thing that they are just dirty? Could this fear be anything to do with OCD?

hmm i have a similar experience although it doesnt affect my life. I used to have nightmares about insects when I was young. I'm not scared of them, I just find them disgusting and wouldn't want to be in the room with them. I'm surprised your friends downplay finding insects in your food. I would refuse to eat such food.. it might be infected.

But I rarely wilfully kill insects. I catch them in a cup and throw them outside. they don't deserve to die just for going about their business unless they sting you.. then you can kill the buggers. They do serve an important purpose in the ecosystem.. eg pollinating plants. Without insects a lot of life would not exist. why don't you read about them on wikipedia? I think education is the key. Insect fears are so ubiquitous that they might be part of our evolution path. For example how mice genetically fear cats, because they can be eaten by them. One of the biggest killers of humans is disease and insects spread these.

That's certainly true about insects spreading diseases, but so do dogs and cats (and fellow humans too!). I respect insects like you do, Murderface, and I take them outside if I see tham indoors. Spiders can be diffiocult to catch though without injuring them because they are delicate and relatively quick. The easiest are woodlice, which are very common around here.

Actually, what am I saying?! Woodlce aren't insects - They are crustaceans and are directly relatd to crabs and lobsters. THey are - in fact - the only terrestrial crustacean.