I grew up in Half-Way Tree in a large old concrete and board house with high ceilings. Lizards and very large spiders formed a natural part of our household. As children, my sisters and I were taught to respect all creatures, great and small, and not to develop fear or disrespect for those which were less attractive.
Efficient predators
Ground lizards scurried about the garden, eating ants and other insects, while large croaking lizards and large spiders took care of mosquitoes, flies and cockroaches in the house. With such efficient natural predators, even with fowls and rabbits present in the back yard, the house was free of house flies and other insect pests.
As a health care provider, I would like to see more people becoming more knowledgeable about using our natural insect predators, rather than using potentially harmful pesticides in their homes. We need to be constantly vigilant of breeding places of mosquitoes which still threaten us with dengue fever and malaria. In addition to lizards and spiders, frogs, 'rat bats' and birds are excellent 'mosquito destroyers'. Best of all, they are free of cost if we will only welcome them into our premises.
Fears (phobias) and our reactions to them are largely learned behaviours and as such, can be 'unlearned'.
Dr E. Marilyn Duff, email: edith.duff@uwimona.edu.jm.
THINGS WE FEAR
Women everywhere are afraid of those creepy-crawlies that just get under your skin and will have you on the tabletop in two seconds, screaming for murder as loudly as you can.
The list includes: croaking lizards, frogs, roaches, rats, snakes and even dogs! The mere thought of them can bring on a nightmare.
If you fear these or any of the above creatures, share your story with us about your encounter.
Can these fears be controlled with hypnotherapy or will a visit from the exterminator help? We'll let you know.
Email your fears to us at: lifestyle@gleanerjm.com or write to: Flair Fear, 7 North Street, Kingston.
