My 7 year old and 16 year old freak when they see a tick. I guess they dont want to end up like me.
But I have explained that not all ticks carry Lyme and if you are not bitten, then why worry. But they still freak.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
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I wonder if a biology teacher or some expert in the outdoors might have a nice education program they'd be willing to do for a class or a scout troup. Someone who can really help kids transition fear to wonder and respect - someone who can "reframe" the "ick" factor.
That little girl from Australia, the daughter of the late crocodile guy might not be available, but for someone with a deep love for nature (and a little psychology training), I could really see such a program becoming very successful for traveling school assemblies. Maybe someone from a nearby college or zoo?
Putting it all in perspective, we are just one species of many to share the earth. Perhaps learning about many others would help lessen the fear yet also teach how to be safe cohabitating with many kinds of creatures.
It might even lead to a few students becoming critter experts to help keep the animal (and bug) kingdom as healthy as it can be in spite of human action. And if that means also finding a way to have a lot fewer ticks, great! That would benefit us all.
Knowledge is power. Informed, people can then know how to SAFELY avoid, handle or transform that which poses a threat. Educated, they can also be free to enjoy all the beauties of nature in proper perspective.
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[ 28. November 2007, 04:35 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posted by map1131 (Member # 2022) on :
My family tries to hide from me that someone saw a tick or had one attached to them. Last week at Thanksgiving my father was all excited because their new condo faces some leftover marsh land and wooded alittle and they have so many little creatures/animals to watch.
Oh, he now has seen a deer since it's that time of year. Is'nt that wonderful, he said? I said no it's not wonderful. He looked at me funny and said I forgot you don't see deer as beautiful.
No, neither do I like your patio thats sits ground level and looks at wild life, that I know could cause illness. I didn't say that but I sure do know it.
Pam
Posted by DW213 (Member # 9590) on :
I think fear of ticks is healthy!
Posted by lymeladyinNY (Member # 10235) on :
My sister says she'll never go to Long Island to see her in-laws again after she and her son got infected there earlier this year.
She used to be so active and now she's turning into a hermit.
I, too, am afraid of ticks. I think I'll die if I get bitten again, and I don't want my kids or husband to get sick.
So, yeah, I think fear of ticks is a healthy response considering what they can do to you.
Posted by hardynaka (Member # 8099) on :
It could be 'healthy' only if you live in big cities. If you live in the countryside and live in tick land from the moment you step out of your door, it's not heatlhy at all. It's very stressful.
I am in tick land every time I go get my post, my milk at the front door, every time I step in my car. So are my husband and daughter.
I was living in hell before, so afraid of ticks I was, specially for the other members of the family. My daughter already caught lyme too.
But I think, in my case, tick fear was really unhealthy. First, it made my life a hell, my anxiety was visible by all family members and people from outside. I almost disappeared with my cat (he came with about 150-250 ticks just this year).
Now it's past. I'm glad I didn't do that and searched for preventive treatment. My cat is still here, I'm going out to the woods, not daily, but very often. I even sit on grass (still can't lay on it yet) to play with my daughter and take some sun.
I find going to the woods one of the most enjoyable things I do with my family and friends; going up the mountains too. Of course, I live in the countryside, so that's my view...
I'm still working on this fear of ticks, but I'm much better. Everyone here got less stressed and life looks good.
Imagine when there will be borrelia being transmitted by flying insects (if there aren't already)? I don't find a solution to be confined to a closed house the whole day thinking this is healthy.
People in malarial areas can't do that. We have to learn live with it! My opinion, of course.
Our bodies need sun, need fresh air, exercise! Doing that in a concreted area full of car fumes doesn't look like healthy for me.
I got bitten again in a local park in a big city just this summer, and I even didn't leave the asphalt part! No way to avoid these beasts.
I understand you guys, though, as I was in the same fear. But for me, this didn't look like a healthy answer.
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