x
Breaking News
More () »

Face Your Fears Week: Alicia vs. Birds

For the final edition of 'Face Your Fears Week', Alicia visits Max the Eagle at the Gabbert Raptor Center.

MINNEAPOLIS — I have a fear of BIRDS and it's called Ornithophobia!

From the Parrots and Parakeets, to the birds of prey like eagles and hawks… birds when they fly near me and are in close proximity, they freak me out!

So to face my fear Dr. Kaz Nelson, who is in the Psychiatry department at the U of M Medical School, says exposure therapy might work for me.

“What they might do is have someone hold a picture of a bird and think about a bird and feel that fear response and do a technique to bring that fear response down while they are holding a picture of a bird,” said Dr. Nelson. “The next step would be holding a stuffed animal of a bird and that fear response will come up. Pretty soon by the end of the therapy people will be petting and holding birds.”

RELATED: Police help free tangled eagles in Apple Valley

RELATED: Researchers: New virus affected nearly a third of bald eagles

Before You Leave, Check This Out