I don't know if you classify this as a phobia, but I am terrified of deer. Yes, bambi. Every time I see one I pretty much have a panic atteck. I know how you'll are wondering how this is, well let me tell you. I was coming home from work one evening and there were about two different families of deer on the side of the road waiting to jump how they all do. As I drove I honked my horn and flashed my lights to try and keep them from jumping. They did not move. A little further down the road was a buck, I mean huge antlers on the same side of the road waiting to jump. Well he started running toward me so I hit the breaks and he jumped over the car not in front. Now the conditions of the road was not normal but slightly wet. By this deer jumping like he did caused me to do several doughnuts in the road and slam into a tree with the tree about five inches from the back of neck. and the engine practically in my lap!!!!!

Hi misstee,

Firstly -welcome to Ofear

Secondly - A phobia is an irrational fear. Considering what actually did happen with you and the deer - is it irrational to fear it may happen again?
It would also depend on the extent of your fear - or how it affects your life - if you simply drive very slow or even stop to let them pass when in your car - that would be understandable and perhaps not a problem to a clinical degree.
However, if, when you perhaps see a Bambi poster, you break into a sweat and curl up on the floor and lie there screaming "Kill BAMBI!" ... that would be different!

How does the fear effect you?

I have a full blown phobia of deer. It started out where I just got a little nervous driving down deer-infested roads and over the years has gotten to the point that if I even think there's a slim chance of seeing a deer I'll be breathing heavy, heart pounding, shaking, and overheating. I think it started because the first time I had ever seen a live deer was when I was in the passenger side of the car and yelled to my dad that somethign was in the road. I know that there is logic behind it, but I also know that it is irrational. I've heard people say "oh look! over there! a deer!!" If it were me i'd be driving as far away from it as I could (while trying to be equally as far from the other side of the road where more deer must be lurking) trying my hardest to breathe. The one time I actually saw a deer very close to me I was driving by myself and it was about halfway into my lane of a 2 lane road and all I wanted to do was slam my breaks and close my eyes (unfortunately, that was the best defense plan i've come up with over the years) and I found myself squinting as much as I could that the deer was out of focus but I could still see the empty road ahead and I drove slowly and panicky around it. And then got to where I was going about 2 minutes later and just cried. I have no idea what to do about this phobia - it very much so affects my life: I have to plan out routes that are deer-free to get where I'm going, even if its out of the way, and if I see a deer on one of those routes I have to make a new route.

I had one single idea of how to overcome it, I saw a mazda (i think) commericial once where the car was driving through a video tunnel, like a huge drive through movie and the screen would keep showing different images- I figured if I had a million dollars and could get a screen tunnel like this to show me deer images so I can figure out how to deal with the anxiety while still knowing that they were not real....... but that wont happen =(

Hi anamcharafmx and welcome to oFear

It's difficult to decide where the cut off is for 'being cautious' and 'being irrational' - especially when you have evidence (experience) of it happening. It's a fact - deer walk out on the road and they do not mix well with moving cars.

Here in Oz there are kangaroos that come out at dusk and hop in front of the car - I know this because they do it to me and I see the less than lucky ones that are lay on the road. So I drive at a reduced speed after dusk. Not everyone does - but everyone knows the 'roos are about.

If you are planning your route to avoid the deer then it would depend how far out of your way you're going to avoid them. Two routes of similar distance but choosing the less 'risky' one - is that irrational?
Going out of your way by 200 miles? Probably, yes.

But even if it's not a phobia - does not mean you aren't anxious about it. Anxiety is a normal reaction to a threatening situation. What makes anxiety a mental health issue is when the perceived threat is not as bad as it seems - "irrational".

The only other time anxiety becomes a clinically significant issue is when it is present a lot. This leads to emotional burn out. So, I'd say your anxiety and fear is not clinically irrational - but, if it is causing you worries, it may be that you are having anxiety too frequently.

SO, here is my delema, I've hit 2 deer within about a year of each other. The first one was about 6 pm it was light out and i saw it running from an open field, and i couldnt stop fast enough, it nailed the front of my car taking out the driver side headlight and leaving a nice deer impression on my hood. the second one was about 4 weeks ago, driving into work at 4 am, i did not see it, it smacked into my diverside door, breaking my mirror. NOW im absolutley terrified that one will jump out at me again, so i always looking on the sides of the road anticipating one just running out in front of me. every little shadow i see sends a shot of adreneline coursing through me. I want to know is there a way for me to NOT be so terrified while driving? Im constantly looking for "safe zones" like bridges, or fences along the road where i know there is not chance for them to jump out at me, i even have deer whistles on my car, but do not have complete faith that they work. Any suggestions on how i can calm my nerves and not think the deer are out to get me??

Hello OhioSal

Im afraid that i dont have any firm ideas and i can understand your concerns.

Hopefully someone will pop in soon and have some suggestions that may help

(07-03-2012 09:58 AM)OhioSAL Wrote:  SO, here is my delema, I've hit 2 deer within about a year of each other. The first one was about 6 pm it was light out and i saw it running from an open field, and i couldnt stop fast enough, it nailed the front of my car taking out the driver side headlight and leaving a nice deer impression on my hood. the second one was about 4 weeks ago, driving into work at 4 am, i did not see it, it smacked into my diverside door, breaking my mirror. NOW im absolutley terrified that one will jump out at me again, so i always looking on the sides of the road anticipating one just running out in front of me. every little shadow i see sends a shot of adreneline coursing through me. I want to know is there a way for me to NOT be so terrified while driving? Im constantly looking for "safe zones" like bridges, or fences along the road where i know there is not chance for them to jump out at me, i even have deer whistles on my car, but do not have complete faith that they work. Any suggestions on how i can calm my nerves and not think the deer are out to get me??

I think once having had an accident with a deer, one can't help but feel either anxiety or be super-vigilant when it comes to them.

Seeing deer on the side of the road didn't affect me at all until we had one decide to cross right in front of us one night on a long trip. My husband tried to avert it, but it was not to be and too late. My husband's side of the car was quite damaged but the vehicle was still drivable. It was quite traumatic and ever since then I do get a touch anxious when seeing a deer or more on the side of the road.

I guess the only thing one can do is just to slow down and be vigilant as the deer are very unpredictable, what else is there?