What should I do to avoid these cicadas?
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Anonymous
| When they are coming and leaving Maryland? I need to know for my summer planning. I am scared of bugs. |
Anonymous
| Super soaker water gun in one hand, tennis racquet in the other. Just kidding!! |
Anonymous
| Have you considered the Tesla flamethrower? |
Anonymous
| They are unthreatening, just gross and stupid. You will quickly get desensitized so long as you don't hide in your house for weeks on end. |
Anonymous
| I can't wait for them to emerge! They are gorgeous insects! |
Anonymous
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To everybody dismissing OP's fears and not answering the actual question... do you make fun of people who have anxiety over all irrational fears? such as fear of flying or fear of heights etc.
NP here but for me my bug phobia is related to fear that the bugs will somehow accidentally crawl into my body, fly into my mouth or ears etc. It doesn't matter if they're harmless, they're extremely gross and I plan to stay inside for the 3-4 weeks that they're here. No different from being in lockdown from COVID. We will order groceries to the house and we're working from home. |
Anonymous
| OP, this will be a great time to see the bugs for the first time because you can wear a mask and gloves. Try to say as little as possible about them and let your partner explain them to dc. This will minimize passing on your phobia. If asked why you don’t want to go out, say, “I don’t want to disturb the awesome cicadas.” ( Awesome has multiple meanings.) Try to get out as much as you can tolerate, though. I know it’s hard, but I actually got over a lot of my bugs = ick the last time they came out. I’m still not a bug fan, but I can get a lot closer, etc. I wouldn’t have made progress if I’d stayed inside. You can do this. |
Anonymous
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I'm bug-phobic too, so I completely get it. I was here for the last emergence and had hoped to move before this one, but it looks like I'll have to go through this one too.
I remember it being gross, but manageable. They're everwhere, but they're not harmful, no biting or stinging. It helps to remember that. While I've tried to forget them as much as possible, I seem to remember them moving slower compared to most other bugs. Last time I had 2 preschoolers and we spent a lot of time outside (co-op nursery school went outside every day). I had to manage my fear to keep from infecting them with my phobias. If I could make it through, anyone can. Maybe we'll both be able to miss the next one. |
Anonymous
| I don't plan to try and avoid them - I won't hide indoors for several weeks - but I do plan to try to minimize my direct physical contact with them. The grossest thing in 2004 was having them get stuck in my hair, or fly into my face. So: hair in a tight bun and/or wear a hat, no loose collars or sleeves, no flip flops. I've been meaning to get one of those mesh mosquito net hoods for working in the garden - probably need to order that soon! |
Anonymous
Some people have anxiety that might cause them to be afraid of “harmless” things. |
Anonymous
Yeah, I'm not scared of them, but they are gross. Hair up, mask on, closed-toe shoes. (The face mask will come in handy.) |
Anonymous
| I for one welcome our new insect overlords |
Anonymous
| Hugs OP. I know what it’s like to have anxiety around things that don’t bother most people. Maybe find an anxiety forum? DCUM is not the kindest place for people like us. |
Anonymous
This. As kids, we used to build stuff with the shells. People didn't freak out about some loud bugs for a couple of weeks. |
Anonymous
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If you're in a suburban neighborhood built more than seventeen years ago, they will be everywhere. Start with the cognitive behavioral approach now. Get yourself -- and your kid, if necessary -- used to them while they're starting to emerge. I had my three year old "helping" them by picking them up carrying them over to a tree. |