I'm extremely afraid!!!! (Orlando, Meadow Woods: environment, job, hospital)

[Dallas Gator]

Be thankful you don't live in South Florida - huge Python's (15' +) are roaming neighborhoods thanks to idiots who released them into the wild when they got too big. The bad news is that with Global warming these snake are likely to find a habitat throughout the state...

[EasyCheeze]

this post sounds like a troll but if it isn't I seriously recommend seeing a psychologist if you are so scared of leaving your house. or just move back to nj and take a few with you jk.

[TrishP7]

Originally Posted by EasyCheeze

this post sounds like a troll but if it isn't I seriously recommend seeing a psychologist if you are so scared of leaving your house. or just move back to nj and take a few with you jk.

No I'm not a troll and yes, I'm frightened to leave my house..not that I don't..the point is that I have a paranoia. Unfortunately, you arent educated on certain phobias as I wasnt until I moved down here. I've done my research and with the help of some folks on this thread..i've found it helpful. I'm still struggling as its only been three weeks since I've been here. But I'm sure once I continue to read and talk to knowledgable people, I will over come my fear. Would love to move back to Jersey, miss my family and friends..but Florida calls and here I am!

If you cannot relate to a person or do not have encouraging "words of wisdom"..or just a little on the young side, its best to move on to the next post. But in a way..i understand..some folks have a tendency to judge others based on lack of knowledge. Its ok.

[luvthatmouse]

What do you think would happen if you saw one close by? Maybe you should go talk to someone about the fear? I would not want you to pass out and hurt yourself. We had a large Black Racer (5 feet or so!) living right near our front door for a while and sometimes he/she would be sitting up in the bushes near our door or on the front step sunning! I like snakes and that even startled me Also, we had a snake on our deck (2nd story-I have no clue how it got up there) once. I went to pick it up thinking it was a palm frond-lol. I jumped when it started moving! We have also seen coral snakes and Water Moccasins/Cottonmouths (nasty) are at Disney! My friends worked in recreation (boats) at one of the hotels and would see them all the time. We have also had to stop people on Tom Sawyers Island in the Magic Kingdom from walking/stepping on large snakes! Sometimes they freak out when they see them. I am not trying to scare you but all these other posters say they never saw snakes in FL and we see them all the time! We live in Celebration but are surrounded by wooded area.

[bdpop]

I used to see snakes where I lived in NJ. I saw more there than here.

[BeenAroundTheBlock]

I guess I live a really uneventful life here in Orlando. I've been here 3 1/2 years and not once have I run into a snake in my daily travels! I walk out my front door, get in my car, drive to work, go out to lunch, run errands after work, go shopping on the weekends... Trish, relax, I can say that 99% of the time you will never run into a snake! I do believe you can over come your paranoia though... just continue your research and talk to people that can help. I have a dear friend who at 53 has never been on an airplane because she is completely paranoid, obsessive about plane crashes and would probably have a heart attack if she tried to fly. It controls her life, she can never travel. I wish she would talk to someone but she is way too set in her ways. Please do not let the snake thing control you too.

[Huckleberry3911948]

leaving or staying with a BF is not something I am an expert on but as to snakes. most of em are helpful they eat rodents and don't mess with you. lizards for the most part are great bug catchers and get on with people pretty good.

[TrishP7]

Originally Posted by BeenAroundTheBlock

I guess I live a really uneventful life here in Orlando. I've been here 3 1/2 years and not once have I run into a snake in my daily travels! I walk out my front door, get in my car, drive to work, go out to lunch, run errands after work, go shopping on the weekends... Trish, relax, I can say that 99% of the time you will never run into a snake! I do believe you can over come your paranoia though... just continue your research and talk to people that can help. I have a dear friend who at 53 has never been on an airplane because she is completely paranoid, obsessive about plane crashes and would probably have a heart attack if she tried to fly. It controls her life, she can never travel. I wish she would talk to someone but she is way too set in her ways. Please do not let the snake thing control you too.

Thanks for the good advice!! Its funny how God reveals certain things to you during your travels of life..never thought I'd be this outrageous..but it is what it is!! Thanks again and its great to know..that I'm not alone. A fear is a fear..regardless of what it is. But I will get through it. Thanks again!! sigh..

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by Dallas Gator

Be thankful you don't live in South Florida - huge Python's (15' +) are roaming neighborhoods thanks to idiots who released them into the wild when they got too big. The bad news is that with Global warming these snake are likely to find a habitat throughout the state...

I wish we had big pythons to eat all of the mice around here. No snakes, not even any roaches or lizards for that matter. Just a lot of small, cute field mice although I don't even see those a lot, go figure. I think I live on a toxic waste site lol. It could also just be that they got tired of the high crime, rude people and high property taxes.

[MR77]

Originally Posted by TrishP7

I moved to Orlando about 3 weeks ago. My fiance was offered a great position/opportunity within his company so we moved over 1000 miles from Jersey to become Floridians. Let me tell you, not a day goes by that I'm not worried about seeing a snake..the lizards freak me out as is..but my fear of snakes has totally made my transition here a horrible one. I barely ever leave my home. We live in a beautiful community, Hunters Creek..the Capris with pool, fitness center, volleyball court..etc..and I refuse to leave the home..unecessarily. Not that I feel all that safe in my house..every time, I enter a room, I'm looking all over the ceilings, the floors..this whole snake thing has totally over come me. I knew that I had a fear of snakes all my life but I didnt realize how bad it is now that I'm here in Snakeville! Oh Lord..does any one have any word of wisdom..maybe, perhaps I won't see one? What are my chances?? Its so bad, that I literally run to my car and as I get in, I get bumps and bruises all the time. My fear is that one is underneath my car. The other day, I spoke to one of the workers that was mowing the lawn and he said that he's been working in the Capris for about a year and has never seen one. I've also spoken to the Maintenance supervisor and he says, I might see a black or green garden snake but they usually come out early in the morning and the location that I'm in, which is the front of the complex, I just might not see any.

Please shed some light..do I need to leave my fiance and move back to Jersey or will I be just fine.... My head is killing me as I type this!! HELP! sigh....

Trish, I laughed when I read your post because I am facing a move to Florida at the end of the summer and Im already dreading the possibility of running into snakes. I understand your fear completely. I currently live in the Nevada desert where we do not have many snakes except rattle snakes and those are very rare to come across.

You think I would be getting nervous about the move, the new job, etc... but no, Im more concerned about damn snakes.

Don't feel bad, you're not the only one with irrational fears. Luckily, I'll have my cat with me. She is pretty good about taking care of all the beetles and roaches we have out here in the desert, hopefully she'll take care of the snakes for me too.