I am 16 and have a horrible fear of bugs. Specifically flying bugs. I get petrified when I'm near them. I feel like my lungs collapse and I can't move. I have wanted to swim for a couple of days but can't get down the stairs. There are four wasps at the bottom of the stairs. My fear is making it hard to have fun. It also is affecting my relationship with my parents because they say "Get over it" but I can't. I know it's irrational but I cant "get over it". I don't know what to do. Im going to tell my therapist that I need to do something about my fear. How do I explain to my parents that this isn't something I can just get over?
Clearly explain to them that your fear is more serious than it is just a plain fear and that you can't get over them. Lots of people have extreme cases of phobias, such as yours, and they cause huge anxiety and panic attacks. Highlight the link below and paste it on a search bar for more info.
https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/entomophobia
exposure therapy can be very helpful if you find a therapist offering it