Forum Topic

Petrified of wasps

This is getting stupid now...... I am too scared of wasps to go and pick some carrots from my veggie patch.  Even if I see one ten metres away, I am running for cover.I feels like they are all after me (which I obviously know they aren't!).Any one got any helpful advice to try to help me overcome this fear?  It has definately got worse since I was in Greece two weeks ago, as they are everywhere there!Please help!

Emily Robinson ● 5860d41 Comments

I sympathise. I'm the same with moths and butterflies.

Becky Bell ● 5860d

I can remember this time when I was at school and we nine-year olds were sitting round the dining table and there was a wasp buzzing around something in the centre of the table and being typical kids we were all terrified except for one of us.  This black kid, the only one in the school, showed no fear and was sort of poking at the wasp and smiling and eventually the wasp flew away.  I really admired his fearlessness.  It more or less cured me there and then of most of my fear of wasps and I'm mostly calm when I'm near them to this day and I have NEVER been stung by one.Now I realise, Emily, that this story is probably of no help to you whatsoever!  But you do seem to have developed a phobia and I believe quite good results may be achieved by hypnotherapy.  Your GP should be able to refer you.  Good luck.al@stair

Alastair Banton ● 5860d

thanks AlistairThe thing is, I never remember being so scared as a child.  My partner is so calm around them, and will just gently flick them off him hand! (while I am screaming hysterically!)I have had a g&t and am going to try the garden again this afternoon!I might look into the hypnotherpy if anyone can prove it works!

Emily Robinson ● 5860d

cognitive therapy?worked for me and flying - at least for a while

Sara Nathan ● 5860d

You could try Nichola Schwarz, hypnotherapist on 07946 526 836, her company name is London Life Solutions

Emma Renton ● 5860d

I'm similar, Emily.  I used to climb trees like a monkey as a child.  Totally fearless.  These days I'm terrified of heights.  I can scarcely manage the walkway in the Kew Palm House.  A lot of bridges bother me.  On the London Eye I spent most of my time staring at my feet.  For some reason phobias can arise and develop with age.  No idea why!

Alastair Banton ● 5860d

Isn't it the wrong time of year for wasps to be bothered about humans.  There is far too much rotting veg/ plant stuff to keep them busy.  I've got loads buzzing around in my sunflowers at the moment, but they aren't the least bit interested in me in the garden.  Even when I started hacking down the sunflowers they just ignored me.  It is still hot in Greece so maybe thats why they were still bothering you there.I'm no expert but I notice that when I'm gardening wasps only seem to want to bother me in the summer sun when I'm weeding.  In autumn when I'm clearing the garden they just ignore me.

Ellen Houghton ● 5860d

I don't think it's whether they bother you, Ellen, but whether you are bothered by them!  Butterflies don't bother people and don't sting, but I'd throw myself in the road rather than pass one! A phobia is an irrational fear.

Becky Bell ● 5860d

I dont like them either, on holiday 2 years ago I was stung 5 times and I can tell you I didn't get off the boat at the port for 2 days for fear, although I'm not petrified.  I simply mean that I think the risk is low of wasps bothering humans at this time of year because humans aren't carrying easy food or because the weather is cooler.  I dont know but in my experience of wasp attacks, and its always me that gets stung, they only seem to go after me in the summer.  So if you're going to chance it, now is possibly a lower risk time.

Ellen Houghton ● 5860d

I've been told that if wasps think there's about to be a thunderstorm, they head for home. Take two saucepan lids into the garden just before you're planning to eat there, and clash them together. This sounds like thunder to the wasps, who fly home.What the neighbours think is another matter.

Curzon Tussaud ● 5860d

Try downloading a wasp photo from the internet and look at it, to see what you can see of interest in it..... You know it cannot sting you, being just a photo, but you might find looking at it helps get rid of your irrational fear.We're in Spain at the moment, still high 70's and we have just one wasp that comes around, almost saying "Hello".... no bother, if he gets too close a waft of the hand and he gets the message.... comes back a couple of hours later almost in the hope of finding something..... no bother, off he goes. So, you can learn to cope with them, they aren't really interested in YOU....

Kevin Regan ● 5860d

I was a BT engineer until five years ago and was used to working at VERY high heights and was very comfortable about it. Now, I almost want to get on all-fours when I'm up/on anything out of my comfort zone. In KL, on New Year's Eve, and could barely look out of the bar windows on the 33rd floor. I think all these things come with age sadly.

Gordon McDonald ● 5860d

pictures are fine.  I find it very interesting learning about them, but the moment I go into the garden, I am actively looking for them!It didn't help in Greece, because there were lots of flies and constant buzzing.....Managed to go out early evening, and couldn't see any, so got my carrots at last!

Emily Robinson ● 5859d

We took a group of kids for a picnic in the park and as soon as the food came out so did the wasps.  One made a beeline(ooops!) for me and I stood up and tried to avoid it and Susan said...sit down or it's going to sting somebody!  Well, it was in the days of long skirts, I did as I was told and sat down - unfortunately the wasp had gone up my skirt and Susan was right, it did sting somebody....ME!  I'm with you on this one Emily.

Cindy Carloss ● 5859d

I think there are certain smells that they don't like (like citronella and mosquitos). They are definitely drawn to particular perfumes/aftershaves. If I'm outdoors and see a wasp I start screaming and running in circles usually with my arms in the air. I don't think this helps though......

Derek Mcconachie ● 5859d

I think there are certain smells that they don't like (like citronella and mosquitos). They are definitely drawn to particular perfumes/aftershaves. If I'm outdoors and see a wasp I start screaming and running in circles usually with my arms in the air. I don't think this helps though......

Derek Mcconachie ● 5859d

I once wrote into Paul McKenna, the famous hypnotist and he told me something very interesting and it made me think. I've got a massive phobia of wasps, but he said 'what is it about the wasp that makes you so scared?'Well for me it's the fear of being stung as I'm allergic to so many things and have a fear of it hurting and of having a reaction. He was right that most phobias or fears are complex. It's not always the thing that you're scared of, it's what could happen as a result of seeing or coming into contact with it.

Liz Owen ● 5859d

But Emily's fear of wasps is not irrational. The last time I was stung by one, my heart pounded for hours and the sting site hurt for a week. Some people are more allergic than others. People die from wasp stings!

Susan Kelly ● 5859d

Well, thanks a bunch Susan, here we are trying to help dispel her fears and you write that!!Em, you'll have to do what you can, obviously some here don't have any sensitivity........... no wonder she got stung!!

Kevin Regan ● 5859d

Why do you want to dispel a perfectly rational fear? Perhaps she could cuddle some vipers too?

Susan Kelly ● 5859d

It's rational to be cautious and try to avoid wasps but it isn't rational to refuse to go into your garden to pick veg because there is  wasp hovering around (which is what the OP said).I've been stung by a wasp a couple of times, it's unpleasant but it isn't the end of the world - unless you are severely allergic in which case it might be, but I assume Emily isn't.  In which case, her fear is irrational.Cognitive therapy or even hypnotherapy could help.

Catherine Hall ● 5859d

A rolled-up copy of the Radio Times is the only language these little bastards understand.

Susan Kelly ● 5859d

For me at the moment it is spiders, I know this is common but there seem to be so many large house spiders and I actually had one on me last week, which I am still recovering from.  I am struggling to go into my laundry room as that seems to be their favourite place, and in amongst the laundry itself, good excuse not to do the ironing!!  I hate being this scared of something that can't hurt me.

Maggie Dodge ● 5858d

EmilyDo you have the same fear as regards bees?And how many times have you been stung by a wasp or a bee?As regards wasps you may be able to have treatment over a period, but you would have to certainly discuss that with your doctor as regards side effects.

George Knox ● 5858d

Hello Emily.I am a registered Cognitive Hypnotherapist in Chiswick and work with many phobic clients. PM me if you'd like to know more and I can explain how we can work together.Duncan

Duncan Gunn ● 5858d

I'm with you there Maggie.  I can't even pick up clothes, papers or anything up from the floor at this time of year.  An enormous one in my home office meant I lost three days of work! (Luckily my son managed to find and kill it)  Am now working but wearing wellies just in case.......

Sara Carr ● 5858d

Hello allThanks for the posts!I have never been stung by a wasp.  I don't actively go looking for bees, but they dont bother me in the same way.....just wasps!Thanks Duncan, I will PM you

Emily Robinson ● 5858d

Good luck, Emily, and do please report back here on whether you find a cure for your phobia.  Alastair

Alastair Banton ● 5858d

I wonder if group therapy works for phobias Duncan, there are so many people who have a problem with spiders.

Maggie Dodge ● 5858d

Hi Maggie.The way I work, I don't think that group therapy would be as successful as individual sessions. This is because people move forward at their own pace and have their own reasons for their phobia (although it is an interesting theory that most phobias are actually a fear of the reaction to the chosen 'phobia' i.e. a phobia of reacting to a 'phobia' and not an actual fear of the thing (e.g. spider) itself) and my sessions are tailored to the individual.However, you've got me thinking now...

Duncan Gunn ● 5858d

I was scared of spiders too, but working in the Bug Dept at London Zoo for a few weeks, soon made me facinated.However, that didn't last forever, and I am still a little uncomfortable with our 8 legged friends.I dont think you can really get up close and facinated by wasps though!

Emily Robinson ● 5858d

I sympathise with your problem Emily. I really don't like wasps either. Although I wouldn't say I have a phobia, my dislike of wasps is definitely something that has got worse as I have got older as I used to be fine about them when I was a child. I think the main reason is that I have never been stung by a wasp or a bee and therefore don't know what my reaction to a sting will be like. I have grown increasingly fearful that I will have a really bad reaction to being stung... maybe because I react badly to insect / mosquito bites in general. I try to stay calm but it is difficult sometimes. One thing I saw for sale at the Hampton Court Flower Show this year for the first time: The Waspinator! It's supposed to be very effective. Here's some info I've just googled on it:"The Waspinator is an utterly effective natural wasp deterrent which will eradicate wasps from the garden areas used by humans but which leaves them free to do their work of pollinating flowers and killing aphids elsewhere.How does the Waspinator get rid of wasps?The Waspinator is a fake wasps nest. Wasps are very territorial and will aggressively defend their nest against wasps from another colony. When a foraging wasp sees another wasps nest it will rapidly leave the area for fear of being attacked by the nest's defenders.Wasps have a very long range of vision and when they see a Waspinator they think it's an enemy wasps nest and quickly leave the area for somewhere safer, leaving the area around the Waspinator completely free of wasps.If you want to stop being bothered by wasps and get rid of wasps from areas of the home and garden, just hang up a Waspinator and foraging wasps will think there is already a wasps nest in residence. The Waspinator is an utterly effective natural wasp deterrent which will eradicate wasps from the garden areas used by humans but which leaves them free to do their work of pollinating flowers and killing aphids elsewhere."http://www.waspinator.co.ukLet us know how you get on. Good luck!

Catherine Woodman ● 5858d

I am pleased that you might consider my idea of group sessions and would happily volunteer to be a guinea pig to give this a go, along with others.

Maggie Dodge ● 5858d

This is a great invention if it works! Thanks for info!

Derek Mcconachie ● 5858d

Derek - I haven't actually tried one myself yet, but I have heard from several sources that they do work and I have seen some hanging up in a couple of locations I've visited (pub gardens), so I am intending to get a couple for next year and will try them out. Apparently, you can also put one in your loft to prevent wasps building a nest there. I can't say the grey bag look is a particularly attractive addition to the patio, but at least it's not too expensive, so I think it's worth giving it a go!

Catherine Woodman ● 5858d

Thanks Catherine. Maybe they can be customised!?

Derek Mcconachie ● 5858d

LOL!!!

Jackie Eastham ● 5858d

Oops, my LOL comment was out of synch - was a reaction to Susan Kelly's comment (and Sarah's) and not to George's caring and helpful email :)

Jackie Eastham ● 5858d

I have been stung once or twice by wasps which, although not phobic, I dislike fairly intensely, and once I think by bees when I had several stings in one afternoon. However I am much more concerned if I pass beneath a hornets nest, although I believe you have to really upset them before they get aggressive.Apart from being painful my body did not go in to shock. I forgave the bees but not the wasps - probably because bees get attcked by wasps. But someone closely related in the family nearly suffocated from a wasp sting which led to the treatment which I mentioned earlier. After the treatment, a wasp sting was applied and there was no shock to the body.The phobia has reduced quite a lot.I don't know how effective things like waspeze are, but if stung by anything I apply it immediately. After a sting from say a horse fly the relief is very considerable. You could consult a chemist. Umlike this person,I really do get stung by mosquitoes. So I question whether the fear of suffering badly from mosquito bites is linked with suffering badly from wasp stings.Perhaps there is a bee keeper who might comment on this thread.

George Knox ● 5858d

I am wondering if this product will cause a nest to be abandoned?Wasps have just taken up residence on a tree stump right by a pond and sitting area in my garden. With children and dog to consider they will have to be moved on.In another safe location I would leave them in peace but if the Waspinator  doesn't shift them  does anyone have a recommendation for a  wasp control person?

Adrian Irving ● 1876d

I have never been stung by a wasp or a bee.  My grandmother in Kilkenny taught me how to remain calm and how to watch them.  She had a very large garden and a veg patch the size of 4 decent allotments and she used a bee keepers hat and gloves as well as a smoke can when tending to it all in the summer.  Somethings she would do early in the morning at first light before the hives and nests were fully awake.  She always told me don't mess with a wasp at the end of the day they are tired and grumpy and will sting you for fun.  If anyone should be terrified of them it's me.  I was in Eastern Europe in 1990 and I was camping and got bitten by a blue spider which local people told me was that colour because of chemical strip mining in the area.  My arm turned into a turtle shell gauntlet and I had to fly home as I was very ill.  Doctors here told me not to get stung or bitten by insects because I will go into anaphylaxis.  I am also in wheelchair and have learned if you can't run you better get courageous.

Caroline Carney ● 1876d