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Entry bubble Bee Brave: Conquering Fears and Phobias

By: Ginger | September 18, 2009 | Category: General

Bee pollinating a flowerThere are times when we all have to reach inside, find our courage, and do something that makes us scared or uncomfortable. I was fearful in water, but one day, I decided that I didn't want to be that way anymore. I started with water aerobics and worked up to swimming a mile. In overcoming this fear, I ended up experiencing some really cool things: swimming with whale sharks, watching a shark feeding frenzy while scuba diving, and night diving. I would never have had those experiences if I hadn't forced myself to confront my fear.

There is one fear I've never completely conquered. When I was 5, I was playing with a water pump on my grandparents' property. Wasps began to come out of the pump. The other kids ran away, but I stood there screaming, trying to cover the opening with my little hands in an effort to keep the wasps inside. My grandmother rescued me, but on that day, I developed a full-blown, over-the-top bee/wasp phobia that I've carried with me my whole life.

Over the years, my overwhelming bee panic caused me to get hurt. In an effort to get away from a bumble bee, I fell backwards down a flight of stairs. Once, a bee flew into the car as we drove down a country road. Fortunately, my screaming caused my father to slow down significantly, so when I jumped out of the still moving car, I was only a little scratched.

When I was a teenager, I was outside with my dad when a bee started buzzing around me. I started to panic, but my dad ordered me to be still. Something in his voice made me do it. The bee landed on me. It took every ounce of self control I had, but I sat there with my eyes closed, tears streaming down my face while the bee walked up and down my arm. My dad talked to me calmly the whole time and eventually the bee flew off.

Did this moment change me and make me unafraid of bees. No. I am still afraid of bees. However, this moment did help me realize that I could, with a great deal of resolve, control my reaction to them. Over the years, I have had plenty of opportunities to practice my skills in controlling my bee panic. Even today, when bees are near me, I get uncomfortable. I watch them warily, but I don't slip into hysterical fear.

If you, or someone you love, has a phobia, here are some resources that can help you:

Being brave isn't about NOT being afraid. It's about dealing with your fear and living your life in spite of it. I invite you to share your stories of conquering fear.

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