I have been under a fair amount of stress from multiple directions for the last few years. I have always hidden it as well as I could but as a result of undiagnosed medical issues, cracks have well and truly appeared. I believe it has now manifested itself in the following way.
I now have an irrational fear that I will be/or have been bitten by a snake. Even when logically I am 100% sure it hasnt happened. I then watch the clock almost frantically for the next few hours waiting for symptoms to appear.
It has impacted my every day life and I feel terrible that I cant do what I used to/need to around the house. We are on a mostly bushy, acreage block.
I am on anxiety meds and have been seeing a hypnotherapist. Sometimes I think I am doing better. Today is not one of those days.
I dont know where else to turn or what else to try.
Any suggestions? I am open to anything if it helps me be the man I want to be for my family, and myself.
Sorry Iām not qualified to advise. My experience may not be relevant or applicable to your situation, but perhaps some could be in the sense that it could be adapted to managing.
The best advice I got in long rehab from a physical injury and later physical health problems ( which affected me psychologically ) was to set targets, but not to despair if I didnāt reach them within time frames, also not to be afraid of asking for all help available. I found the primary health carer, the GP and nurses , fantastic in their empathy and in identifying more specialist help ( including a social worker).
I also found that when I was physically capable, working in the garden, growing new plants and setting up a bird bath , more bird feeders, were great for my my mental balance. Also of course pets.
Only thing I can suggest is talk to your gp and maybe get a referral to see a psychologist. It might not even be a fear of snakes but maybe what the snake bite represents? What if scenario.
Donāt be afraid of seeing a psychologist. Itās just a chat and not in the TV style!
I have spoken to a psychologist but dont really feel any benefit thus far.
I believe this is the way all the stress has manifested itself. I just dont know how to make it stop even though the main stressors are not an issue any more
Try not to make the issue so black and white. Like most things in life it will unlikely be one thing, but could be multiple minor things. Phrases like āmake it stopā is not good for you. Sometimes trying the opposite and embrace it can make it more comfortable to continue life more peacefully. Think of it as an old friend. They will eventually go but right now they are hanging around. You will get through it. The leaf in the river eventually leaves your sight.
I know of men in high stress jobs who took up needlework which helped them manage. I did it myself for a while when my hands were OK, also with colleagues . We used to call it colouring in for grown ups.
Richard Bonynge, the musician and husband of Joan Sutherland, used to do needlework off stage at Operas when he wasnāt conducting.
Thatās not an irrational fear for someone in that line of work. Itās most likely a build up of the pressure associated with your actual job. Donāt be too hard on yourself, if possible. These things accumulate. And your other job his high stress too, iirc. We may have covered this before from memory? If so, itās been a long process for you.
Look for some way to decompress. Easier said than done, I know. I ride motorcycles. And take photos. And Iām trying to kick some writing into gear. And Iām trying not to worry if Iām any good at any of them, itās just an outlet.
Iām completely over work. It just pays the bills. And interferes with my mental clarity these days.
Everyone, and I mean everyone, has a varying limit to what they can absorb , how adept they are at letting things wash by and what the signs are that a critical point is approaching. It can sneak up on us. Itās sure as hell not āweaknessā . Itās not always clear what we could have done differently . And thatās perfectly ok. Especially in your line(s) of employment.
I am sorry you are experiencing such discomfort, it is a very unpleasant situation to be in.
Maybe you havenāt found the right professional yet.
Someone in family had developed a similar irrational fear and it was diagnosed as part of OCD. We were a bit stumped at the diagnosis, but with proper treatment and meds, they got on top of it. OCD isnāt just about checking locks and washing hands.
You folks are mods, right? Iām not sure so sorry if Iāve wasted your time. Can you please ban me for the rest of the month so I can channel my efforts into stuff thatās more productive and healthier?
An absence until 1st of April should be enough to test the blitz free waters.
snakes are probably my biggest fear. In tas Iāve been told the antivenom Is the same for all 3.
I still rarely carry phone or snake kit unless doing trail race.
After the catch give yourself a good once over to check sounds reasonable enough. And then should not have to keep checking or clock watching.
If it was me Iād probably reach out to others in the industry, as Iām sure they have all gone through similar fears.
Always have snake bite kit it at hand, and have 2 people if possible and a mobile phone at hand. Which Iām sure you already have processes and procedures anyway.
I always think of the crocodile Hunter. Steve Irwin. The amount of stuff he did and got away with. Maybe he was at peace with death so didnāt worry as much?
Maybe it is a middle age thing, where a lot of people get too and think they will not live forever. Heard a story the other day about a guy in his 30s having a stroke on holidays in tas visiting family bounced back then had another one in Melbourne, now has brain damage and young family, shocking story.
They recently bought a house too and now heās unlikely to be heading back to work at all and may need a full time carer.
