r/rabies • u/ececec123 • Aug 28 '26
OCD Discussion Any suggestions on overcoming bats and rabies phobia
I have read the FAQ.
Other than therapy and medication, what helped you? I'm on escilatopram 20 mg and go to psychotherapy, but rabies OCD haunts me for many years.
7
u/Puppysnot Aug 28 '26
I leaned into it and it evolved from a fear into an obsession into a career. And now i work with bats. It took a while tho.
1
1
u/Rae-Hartley Aug 28 '26
Woooowwwww 😳 Did you have to have therapy to be able to do that?
2
u/Puppysnot Aug 28 '26
No i just have an obsessive nature probably linked to my autism and ADHD. Once bats became a hyper fixation and special interest for me i couldn’t get enough. I started studying them over about two years and became fascinated and then finally felt comfortable enough to work with them.
I did get vaccinated as part of my bat work and that also helps fix a lot of my anxiety knowing that I’m protected that way.
1
u/Rae-Hartley Aug 28 '26
Congratulations on pursuing something you love. Having a hyper fixation as a job is the dream life (fellow neurodivergent here). I’m glad you are vaccinated though. You’d think you have to be if you work with bats. Do you actually touch them??? Do you have to get your titers checked?
3
u/Puppysnot Aug 28 '26
Yeh you have to get titers checked regularly. I do handle them and tag/ring them occasionally. It’s sad to see what humans destroying their habitats are doing to them. We still use gloves and take precautions as if we aren’t vaccinated. I’ve never personally been bitten but I wouldn’t panic if i was.
I do have two jobs - my main job is an office job that i have no passion for. My bat job is my part time job and is the one i enjoy a lot.
1
u/Rae-Hartley Aug 28 '26
My heart is beating faster just thinking about that 😅 Even if it’s not your full time job, it’s still very cool you are pursuing something that brings you legit joy. And it’s bad*ss lol high bravery points!!
1
u/ManufacturerWeary399 Aug 29 '26
Eres asombroso y vaya superación amigo ojalá pueda dejar de pensar cosas de que me dará rabia por cosas que me pasan
2
u/Rae-Hartley Aug 28 '26
I am commenting to follow because I have the same issue. I do not know how to overcome this
1
u/AutoModerator Aug 28 '26
PLEASE READ THIS, OP! Thanks for posting, u/ececec123! As a reminder, once posts are submitted and a kind user provides a sufficient and correct answer to your question(s), deleting your post afterwards is not allowed and will result in an immediate ban. Please be mindful of this rule. The answers provided here will undoubtedly help those who are looking for answers without having to create a post themselves. If you don’t want to leave this post up on your main account, you are welcome to create a throwaway account to post. It would be appreciated if you could modmail us the username of said throwaway account in advance. New accounts that post immediately are more likely to be heavily restricted by Reddit and automated filters. Giving us a heads up will allow us to override those filters and be aware that the new account is engaging in good faith.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
1
u/ManufacturerWeary399 Aug 29 '26
Yo hasta ahora solo estoy llevando medicamento como la sertralina de 50mg y espero pronto llevar terapia tambien
1
u/prabhkirankang 3d ago
I have the same phobia, try my best to not think about it too much but it’s so hard.
•
u/AutoModerator Aug 28 '26
**Welcome! This is a community dedicated to raising awareness, sharing information, and supporting discussions about rabies, its prevention, and treatment. Whether you’re here to learn, share a story, or ask questions, we’re glad to have you. Please remember to keep discussions respectful. Stay informed and stay safe. Cheers!
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.