Ophidiophobia – Fear of Snakes

I, while being the oldest child in my family, grew up around boys. Boy cousins for as far as your eyes could see, and then younger brothers. I have absolutely no doubt that growing up, these boys made me tough and helped me conquer most of my fears. I remember that we as a whole family went camping, and one of my (younger than me) cousins was infatuated with snakes, and he put a snake on my shoe to give me a jump scare. When I went to get my shoes I noticed the sketchy, slimey, no legged creature and went to nudge the snake off the shoe with a stick. The snake jumped up at me, and I swear I saw my life flash before my eyes and I screeched my head off while looking for anyone to help me. My cousins came running and saved me from what was apparently a harmless snake (that just so happened to try and eat me). Ever since then I just can’t with snakes. Lately I have been trying to over come my fear and walk down the snake isle at a pet store, and I have been improving. But I feel, the more I know about snakes, the more afraid I get that one will size me up and try to swallow me whole.