Why are some people terrified of lizards?

The constant push-and-pull between people who do not care about lizards and those who are horrified by them is very real. One side dismisses the fear entirely; the other is busy trying not to hyperventilate. What many fail to realise is that lizards can trigger panic attacks, palpitations and severe anxiety in some people.

In Short

• Many fear lizards despite them being harmless
• Fear triggers panic attacks and anxiety in some individuals
• Fear stems from biology, experience and social learning

“Lizards? You are scared of lizards? Lekin woh toh kuch nahi karte.”

Now, every person on the face of this earth who is terrified of this particular creepy, crawly reptile has, of course, heard some version of this statement. Usually from people who simply do not understand the sheer level of panic a lizard can generate the moment someone who fears it spots one.

And yes, it does not matter whether the lizard kuch karegi ya nahi, because for those who are phobic of lizards, existing in the same room - sometimes even the same zip code - as one feels dangerously close to death.

The constant push-and-pull between people who do not care about lizards and those who are horrified by them is very real. One side dismisses the fear entirely; the other is busy trying not to hyperventilate. What many people fail to realise is that lizards can trigger panic attacks, palpitations and severe anxiety in some people.

From Dettol sprays to onion peels, door liners and garlic, those scared of lizards have tried everything to keep them away. And yet, many still find themselves tiptoeing while entering their homes, opening a room’s door and waiting to see if something suddenly crosses, or wearing slippers at all times - only to step on something, freeze, and briefly spiral into pure panic. Only to be told, yet again, that yes, woh kuch nahi karenge.

For some, this fear is not merely unsettling but can be physically overwhelming.

“The sight of a lizard, be it small or big, triggers severe palpitations and anxiety in me. My breathing becomes irregular and I feel numb. I am repelled by them and supremely scared of them. Not just the sight, the knowledge of their presence or potential presence makes me even more anxious. It disrupts my peace of mind and fills me with panic beyond description,” Sharangee Dutta, a 34-year-old media professional based in New Delhi, said.

Samannay Saha, a 33-year-old media professional based in Mumbai, spoke on similar lines. In fact, he has arrived at the conclusion that lizards are the reason he believes in the “duality of existence.”

Why?

Because, as he puts it: “I would not shrug at the sight of cockroaches or spiders; I was that kid who would pick up earthworms to play with them. But lizards? That’s my Laxman Rekha, which is coincidentally their bane of existence too. Nothing can explain the extreme flight mode my body and mind go through when I see one. I am that person who walks into his washroom, carefully inspects every wall and nook, and only then goes about his business. The sliding window meshes in my house are not to keep insects out, but lizards.”

But what makes lizards so terrifying for some people while others remain completely unfazed?

Some individuals barely notice a lizard on the wall. Others experience an immediate state of panic or disgust. This difference is shaped by a combination of temperament, past experiences, family influences and learnt behaviour.

“I often remind people that fear is rarely about the object alone. It is also about the meaning our brain attaches to it. Certain people are naturally more sensitive to sudden movements or unexpected stimuli. Others may have had a frightening encounter in childhood that shaped their response. Disgust also plays an important role. Interestingly, many people who say they are ‘afraid’ of lizards are actually experiencing a strong sense of revulsion rather than fear. The appearance of the animal, its quick movements, or the unpredictability of where it might appear can trigger this reaction,” Dr Durva Dharmesh Shah, Psychiatrist, Institute of Neurosciences, Medanta Noida, told indiatoday.in.

House lizards in India are a common part of everyday life, which means attitudes towards them often develop within families.

“If a child grows up seeing parents scream or rush out of a room whenever a lizard appears, they may unconsciously learn to react in a similar way. So, what may look like a simple fear is often a complex interaction between biology, experience and social learning,” Dr Shah added.

For those who literally shrink in fear after spotting a lizard anywhere - even if it is several feet away - the discomfort can be overwhelming.

“Whenever I see a lizard nearby, I feel an instant sense of discomfort that’s hard to explain. It’s not exactly panic, but my mind becomes completely occupied by its presence and I can’t focus on anything else. I can’t study, eat my food, or even move comfortably around that area until it’s gone. I keep feeling that it might suddenly move towards me, which makes me intensely uneasy,” Anurag Singh Bohra, a Delhi-based professional, said.

So, what exactly triggers panic or discomfort when someone spots a lizard?

“It is not so much the lizard itself, but the traits linked to the reptile that create terror. Lizards often make rapid, random movements that can trigger the brain’s threat warning system. Some people also find their appearance, skin texture, body shape and quick darting motions uncomfortable or even repulsive. If the brain senses potential danger, it may trigger the body’s fight-or-flight reaction, leading to symptoms such as rapid heart rate, sweating, shaking, or the urge to run away,” Dr Sunil Maria Benedict, Clinical Psychologist at HOSMAT Hospitals, told indiatoday.in.

Roshni Chakrabarty, a Delhi-based professional, once tried to counter her fear of lizards while she was in school.

“I bought a realistic rubber lizard keychain and attached it to my schoolbag. The goal was to get rid of my fear by exposing myself to a tiktiki lookalike every day. I don’t think it really worked,” she said.

Clearly, in vain.

“In college, I remember opening my bag one day at home and jumping a mile thanks to a tiny baby house lizard. I went running to my mother in the kitchen, begging for help. By the time I explained, I was crying big puffy tears,” Roshni added.

And then came every lizard-phobic person’s worst nightmare.

“I had an accident once where a lizard fell on my left shoulder near the washbasin. It’s been almost 30 years since then, and I swear I can still feel it,” Roshni said.

Roshni’s experience, thus, leads to a significant question: when does ordinary fear cross into something more serious?

So, when does a normal fear of lizards become a phobia or anxiety disorder?

Dr Shah believes fear, in itself, is not the problem.

“In fact, fear is a healthy and necessary emotion that helps protect us from genuine danger. The concern arises when the fear becomes excessive and begins to interfere with everyday life. As psychiatrists, we look not only at the intensity of the fear but also at how much it disrupts daily functioning,” Dr Shah said.

A person may dislike lizards and still function normally.

“However, if they avoid entering certain rooms, refuse to stay alone at home, repeatedly check walls and ceilings, experience panic attacks, or spend significant time worrying about encountering a lizard, the fear may have crossed into the territory of a specific phobia,” Dr Shah said.

Now for the real deal: is this fear forever? Will a lizard scare you to death every single time? Can this phobia be treated?

There is good news.

Dr Shah says phobias are highly treatable: “Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) can help individuals identify and challenge the thoughts that fuel their fear. Gradual exposure therapy, conducted in a structured and supportive manner, helps the brain learn that the feared object is not actually dangerous. Over time, the emotional response becomes less intense, and people are often surprised to discover that a fear they have carried for decades can improve significantly with the right guidance and support.”

So yes, this can be treated.

But it is important to understand that it takes time. As Roshni said, it has been 30 years since her cataclysmic encounter with a lizard, and she can still feel it.

That kind of lasting terror is what Dr Benedict describes as a phobia - fear that becomes acute, persistent and disproportionate to the actual threat posed.

So till that happens, and till you learn to manage your fear of lizards, it is pointless to laugh at someone or dismiss them with a casual, “Woh kuch nahi karenge.”

Because sure, woh kuch nahi karenge. Lekin tab tak, kya hum rahenge?

That is why, for people who are phobic, there has always been only one theory: either the lizard stays in the room, or we do.

- Ends