Consider where your fear came from. It may have been caused by a specific, traumatic event involving a rat, or maybe you have a lot of information about the dangers of rats. [3] X Trustworthy Source Mind U. K. -based mental health charity focused on providing advice and resources to anyone facing mental health problems. Go to source
Identifying what kind of interaction you want with rats will help you figure out how comfortable you need to be. For example, if you are just trying to remain confident around your home, you don’t need to be comfortable petting or touching rats, just remaining calm if you see one.
A phobia does not need to come from simply tensing up when you see a rat. Consider the symptoms you feel when facing a rat, and how rats (or the possibility of rats) may be impacting your life. Even if you don’t see actual rats to cause anxiety, you may find yourself avoiding places or situations where rats could be present. If you are rerouting your life in this way to avoid even the possibility of seeing a rat, that could be a sign of phobia as well. [6] X Research source
One way this can work is to slowly increase the time you spend watching them. Start with just a couple of minutes, especially if you feel your anxiety coming on. Build your time up from there, until you can handle being around the rats without worrying about the clock.
Wearing gloves the first time can help you gradually get more acclimated to holding a rat. Also, the rat may bite if it gets nervous or is temperamental, so this can help protect your fingers and avoid contributing to your phobia.
When you discuss drugs, make sure you tell your therapist all other medications you are taking. Ask about how long it should take to feel the effects, and what the side effects may be. It can be a good idea to get an after-hours number for your doctor in case you develop troublesome side effects. [17] X Research source Like many prescription drugs, these can be very addictive, especially sedatives, and should be taken only under your therapist’s supervision.
