How can I overcome a phobia of bees/hornets/wasps?

Post Reply New Topic

It's obvious that I'm scared of being stung, even though I've been stung by one wasp, with it only caused a bit of bleeding. Breathing does nothing for me, and I need an instant way. How can I overcome this phobia? Please have an answer, and not some 'I'm phobic of them, so it's very rational'-like response. I'm losing sleep over it.

Do you mean that you want to be not afraid of bee/hornets/wasps, or do you mean that you want to know what to do when you see them?

I am afraid of snakes and worms, and I have no interest in overcoming this fear, I just want to stay the hell away from them.

I want it so I'm no longer phobic. I'm sorry, but there is a point to where it's irrational. It has been here since birth, and I don't want to end up being 55, and then shut inside to where I'm miserable and unable to leave my home due to this. It has been holding me back since birth, and it is time to overcome it.

The usual way to treat most phobias is to gradually desensitize yourself to the thing that causes the fear, like seeing them on TV or looking at pictures in a book.

That never helps since all I ever see is other people being phobic of them.

I'm not sure how, but I've almost crashed the car multiple times because a bee or wasp has flown in (in southern California in the summer, if your AC is off, you have to have the windows down). I am absolutely irrationally terrified of them and it is very dangerous and I can't figure out how to make it go away.

It's OK to be afraid of bees, hornets and wasps because they are dangerous. That's a fact. Better to stay away of them. They sting. And they can kill a human if a bunch of them attacks at once.

But sometimes it cannot be helped - what can someone do if a wasp gets into his room or flies around him in open air and he is scared? The only way is to get it away, without risking being stung and without panicking(panicking can actually lead to being stung because the insect might think you attack it).

Usually acceptance comes with knowledge so you should read about them and watch them as they collect nectar and stuff. Bees are the best for practice dealing with the fear because they won't sting you unless they are really cornered. A sting usually means death to a honey bee so they won't sing left and right. I actually had a bee under my skirt before and it didn't sting me!

As you get used to their sound, realize how they move, that they usually just mind their own business and you are like a part of furniture for them (moving - so uncomfortable to sit at) and they will only attack you if you do something they see as real danger you will be no longer so afraid of them. You will still respect them and avoid them - but the phobic fear should go away.

I was never that phobic to bees etc. I was scared of them and I could panic when one was too close to me but it was not the phobic, irrational fear - just surprise fear.
But I used to flee from a room whenever I seen a spider and I couldn't sleep out of fear a spider might walk on me at night. Then I started to watch them and learned how they behave. Right now I would still be afraid if one touched my skin but other than that I am really calm and collected. When I see one I take it to a glass and throw outside. No big deal.

Is there anybody who can give me advice on how to overcome it so I can sleep?

I've partially overcome my fear of bees and wasps by learning more about them.

Even though when someone says "bee" we think of the Honey Bee, there are thousands of species of bees. Most of them are solitary and you never notice them.

Male bees cannot sting. In the springtime some bee species around here like to sit in bushes and then buzz around you when you walk by. Those are territorial males and they are trying to chase you off. They're really annoying but they cannot sting you. Females which can sting, never engage in this behavior. Once I learned that I gradually lost my of fear of being buzzed by those things.

The few social bees like the honey bee, will sting you if you disturb their nests, but otherwise they won't. Nobody ever gets stung by solitary bees. A solitary bee that dies defending its nest defeated its purpose in life to reproduce.

Social wasps and hornets (also wasps) can be dangerous because they can spare many workers to defend their nests. It's wise to be afraid of these nests and stay away from them. Most reported cases of bee attacks are actually yellow jackets when someone stepped on their nest in the ground. Social wasps rarely sting when you encounter them away from their nests.

I still have some issues with yellow jackets because as I say, "They like to mind your business."

Mud wasps are big and scary but they too are solitary and I've never heard of anyone being stung by one.

If I see the social wasps flying around my house I know that means they have a nest nearby. I try to find it and spray it before it has a chance to get big.

With a little knowledge of your local insects you can determine which ones you need to be concerned about and which ones you can ignore.

If you discover any large nests, especially ground nesting yellow jackets or tree nesting hornets, it's best to call a professional to get rid of them.

Yes, I am. I think I saw one, and I'm having issues breathing now when I'm there due to it as well. It's obviously not rational in this scenario.