Confronting my fear of earthworms

Attempt to hold a worm

Hooking the worm

Scoleciphobia also known as Vermiphobia and Helminthophobia all mean the persistent and irrational fear of worms. Scoleciphobia originates from Greek"Scoleci" which means parasitic worms and "phobos" meaning deep dread or aversion. Helminthophobia is the secondary fear of one's body being infested or attacked by works (Helmintho is another Greek word for worms). To Scoleciphobic persons, the mere sight or even just a thought of worms is enough to make their skin crawl. These typ of people, including myself avoid stepping outdoors barefeet and remain mostly indoors or even always wear show on their feet, especially when it rains when the worms wiggle out of their holes. These people also have a fear of diseases and germs.

The fear of worms can be developed from a fear of reptiles and since worms resemble snakes and evokes disgust towards the spread of diseases. Biology disection in scools of worms can increase the fear, showeling in the garden and accidentally kinning one or even looking at a documentar on television about them can increase the fear. My fear developed from looking at a documentary on television called "Monsters inside Me". The fear of worms can cause debilitating mental and physical symptoms. Where, I believe that the worms will crawl all over my body and enter my body which results in me shaking, scratching and washing myself several times a day.

Fishing has not only taught me to be an independent woman, to relax and to learn to improvise. It has also taught me to confront my worst fear ever, worms! I realized that at a later age I started to develop a fear of earthworms (Scoleciphobia). This fear made me feel insecure when walking out and around in the garden or bushes. I felt as though they would bite me and enter my body as a parasite. They are gross, slimy and erks me. This fear always kept me and my loved ones from enjoying outdoor activities as my mind will always be on those squirmy worms beneath me. It has also kept me from baiting myself when fishing as I will always rely on someone to bait me. However, it was not until recently that I decided that I had enough. I wanted to do it myself and I wanted everyone to enjoy themselves as well rather than always having to come to bait me. I made up my mind, today I am going to take advantage of this fear. I am not going to panic, I can touch it. This is not me, and I am not fearful of anything else besides this little worm and I can do it. As soon as I realized that its mind over matter and saying to myself that "Hey if everyone else can do it, I can do it too." With this same energy and mentality, I went out on a fishing trip and guess what?! I did it! I held a worm, I confronted myself and most of all I baited myself. I was never ever so proud of myself.

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Further reading:
http://www.hypnosisondemand.com/overcome-scoleciphobia-fear-worms/