Afraid of birds

I happen to be afraid of birds. Not just some birds, but all birds. It doesn't matter if they're caged or free, they just scare me with their claws, they'll scratch my skin and cause me to bleed. Others in my group home laugh at me because of my fear, the staff even laughs at me.

I know it probably won't help to just tell you that birds won't hurt you. And it's OK that you're afraid of them - we all have our fears. I have a sweet parakeet which I love so much - I wish I could somehow send you all those warm feelings I have for her, and what I know about her, so that you wouldn't be so afraid.

Take care.

That's interesting. Sorry you have a phobia. Do you have any bad experiences with birds? Like bitten by a parrot, perhaps? (I've been bitten by a parrot and a couple other birds and it wasn't that bad. Rodents, cats and dogs are much worse.) And have you ever thought about how easy it would be for you to frighten birds? Most birds appear "scared" of people, even aggressive ones like crows, seagulls, and raptors.

I love birds and I wish you weren't scared of them. I hope you get some results with healing your phobia. That's unfortunate they laugh at you, but I can see they would be surprised and not understand. Twits.

You know what.. it actually has a name ..Ornithophobia. It's actually a common phobia. I am also afraid of birds. It has gotten a wee bit better over the last few years for me as I have a blue heron sanctuary pretty much in my back yard. The Herons are not too bad as they will not land around people, but there is a whole host of birds that nest there as well. There is two bald eagles nesting there right now and it is quite unsettling for me.

I am typically afraid of all things that fly but birds especially.

Did you have negative encounters with them or did it develop on it's own? I never had a bad experience but was terrified of them by the time I was five.

I am very sorry that people laugh at you for this, I sure have had that happen lots. I think they really don't understand that it's not just feeling a bit scared but terrified or somewhere close to it.

Exposure therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy or even hypnosis can help phobias like this if it is something you would like to work on. But I understand and feel the same way.

I was attacked by lorikeets at the lorikeet cage in the St. Louis zoo. All they wanted was the nectar, but they go like hell to get it.

That sounds distressing all right. Curious how you happened to be in the cage -- was it a tour? Were you a child?

My husband was terrified of dogs when I met him, because he comes from an area where there are lots of wild farm dogs, and he has never had pets. He has learned from me over several years that dogs here are different and how to look at dogs and understand what they are likely to do. So he is calming down a lot about dogs, and even petted some. I hope things work out for you. I think they can, since you probably don't have too many forced interactions with birds upcoming in your life, like you did with the lorikeets.

I even learned not to be scared of people, the scariest predators on the planet and the most complex mammal as well. Not kidding. I wish you success.

You're not the only one. I am absolutely terrified of birds, especially owls. I think mine is more about their eyes. I feel like they are staring into my soul or something. And the fact that they can fly and I cannot. Everyone in my life knows how much they scare me and for the most part accommodate my fear, like removing decorations with birds on them, but that just makes me feel like I'm a nuisance. Don't pay attention to those who make fun of you though. They are just insecure.

Ah, the lories! They can inflict sharp and painful pinches and bites. Lorikeets are feisty birds normally, but at the zoo going after the nectar... I'm sure they were very aggressive. Not a fun experience even for bird lovers.

I love birds, but also have a fear of some. Especially the big birds, and it's not so much their talons, but their beaks, that I fear. My boyfriend and I own a bird, who has bitten me lots of times, but rarely with actual intent to harm. He squeezes my finger with his beak, then squeezes a little harder, then a little harder, and tries to bite down on my nail. I think he likes the noises it makes me make!

But I'm really sorry to hear the people you live with treat you like that. You don't deserve that, and maybe you could talk to a pdoc or if there's someone in the group home who's in charge, maybe you could talk to him or her?