“Ask Dr. Neuman”

Advice Column

Any advice on overcoming extreme fear of Crane Flies?

by | Sep 22, 2013 | Ask Dr Neuman

Wow. This is worse than the chicken phobia question. At least I heard of chickens before. I thought at first that you were talking about someone who was afraid of flying cranes (birds). That would be unusual. Most bird phobics are afraid of birds that are sitting on the ground or in trees. They think the birds may fly directly at them. I’ve never seen a crane up close, let alone those cranes that migrate long distances at relatively high altitudes. Maybe they are afraid of birds clogging the jet intakes of planes they were travelling on?

I have had patients who are phobic for falling cranes, of which we have had a few in New York City in recent years. They avoid streets where construction cranes are operating.

Finally, I looked up crane flies and discovered there is such a thing. They seem like innocent enough guys—not that that stops others from being afraid of more common (around here) bugs, such as dragonflies or Japanese beetles.

All animal and insect phobias are based on the thought that the animal will dart at the phobic person and possibly bite or sting, or simply get caught up in his/her hair. Usually, the mere appearance of the bug causes a shuddering feeling. A typical treatment involves:

1.      Reading and finding out as much as possible about the bug (or animal)

2.      Looking at as many pictures of the bug as possible.

3.      Having someone collect these bugs in a jar—alive if possible, but trapped. Keep the jar near you.

4.      Watching somebody else poke a bug on the ground with a stick. (The bugs don’t dart at you; they try to escape.)

5.      Poking the bug yourself.  Touching the bug. ( I know this is hard)

6.      Finally, letting the bug walk on your hand or arm.

In order for these phobias to disappear, these behaviors have to be performed over and over again.
– Anonymous