Are you Afraid of Lizards?

If you are like me often times you have cowered in fear at the mere sight of a lizard, especially the really big ones.

My friends and coworkers often times ridicule me for my fear of these somewhat gentle reptiles.

Jamaica’s climate apparently is very conducive to the mass breeding of lizards.

I can recall numerous instances in my lifetime when I scampered off hastily because I inadvertently came within inches of a giant lizard or a lounge of lizards.

I often times sustained minor injuries as a result.

To this day I remember quite vividly an encounter I witnessed during high school between a former classmate of mine and a giant lizard.

He was standing beneath an almond tree eating a cinnabun (a very tasty pastry) when out of nowhere a lizard fell from one of its limbs flat on its belly.

Within what seemed like less than a second at the time, the lizard ran along the ground and proceeded to enter his khaki pants through the cuffs. I froze in disbelief.

I knew if that had happened to me, I quite possibly would’ve died from a heart attack.

The frightened and courageous young man manged to grab hold of the intruder at the moment it approached his testicular region.

Naturally his incomplete cinnabun went flying through the air before it landed on a pile of red dirt.

His efforts were not futile however as he managed to subdue the insolent critter and shake it out of his pants.

Now just to clarify, I’m not scared of lizards because I think I am in any grave danger when I encounter them.

It’s just the way they make me feel. It’s hard to express the feeling but they make my brain ‘cringe’ in disgust.

I do feel a little ashamed of myself sometimes, being a grown man that is afraid of these tiny creatures.

I did a little research to find out if a name had been given to my fear of lizards.

Lo and behold there was a name assigned to my condition.

It’s called Scoliodentosaurophobia.

It’s a little hard to pronounce at first but I know it’s one phobia I will always remember.

To everyone that fears and hates lizards, know you are not alone!

Download The Jamaican Blogs™ App for your Android device: HERE