Bed bugs can have a heavy impact on our normal emotional state of mind therefore affecting everything in our lives including our sleep, mood, appetite, and as a result not enjoy the quality of life we otherwise would have before the dreaded bed bug issue.
The psychological effect of bed bugs crawling on your sheets or even worse, our beloved skin, is enough to cause insomnia to some. I read accounts of people abandoning their homes because the thought of bugs crawling on them was horrifying enough. Others completely emptying their homes of all furniture and starting over…..only to get reinfested.
Why do we dread this bug so much, compared to other hated bugs?
The Vampire Cometh!
Throughout our day we go about handling our business and exert the proper amount of mental and emotional strength to handle the tasks at hand. It enables us to steady the emotional ship along the rough waters of everyday life. Eventually we anchor at the doorstep of our homes to finally let go and relax our minds and souls…. and when you are most vulnerable, usually during R.E.M. sleep, where we emit the most carbon dioxide on our exhales (what bed bugs are looking for, besides body heat and movement), out comes the blood sucking vampires to do their bidding….
After feeding, they frantically crawl back into their harborages to digest your blood. They hide during the day, allowing them to discreetly populate your home.
It is this vampire like characteristic that adds to the disdain and psychological stress to us all! Notice the beak/fang on the bed bug below…..(omg!!)
Is That A Bed Bug?
Studies have been conducted on the effects that bed bugs have on humans, both emotional and physical and it shows bed bug activity causes anxiety, paranoia and nervousness in some of its victims causing the phenomenon of “everything looks like a bed bug” syndrome, and folks, I experienced this with my significant other, and trust me……its not fun!
With people affected by this, the thought of going to bed becomes a burden which leads to other complications like sleeplessness, anger, frustration and stress. Some of these issues are considered clinical, so bed bugs should not be taken lightly.
I Itch All Over!!
There are two obvious reasons why people itch as to related to bed bugs: they are getting bit or, they “think” they are getting bit.
Many of us have experienced this symptom before at one point or another. I remember watching Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom at the movie theaters (gosh, must have been early eighties) and on the scene when they enter the insect infested cave, I literally felt bugs crawling all over me!
An individual may also have a case of Entomophobia or Insectophobia which is basically an extreme fear of insects in general, and bed bugs can trigger this phobia on its victims causing them to “itch” at the mere thought of a bed bug. Problems can escalate in some to the point of causing a reported PTSD case due to bed bugs!
The other obvious point is that you are actually getting bit, and you are reacting to the allergens found in bed bug saliva. On many, it causes itchiness around the area affected, and depending on your sensitivity, you will see bites ranging from a small red bump to a swelling the size of a quarter. They will be clumped together usually forming patterns like lines or triangles.
My Friend Told Me So……
Once inflicted with this problem, some people feel embarrassed and tend to seek refuge in the avalanche of misinformation on bed bugs incoming from friends, family members and urban myths, implementing ineffective techniques and methods as a solution only to exacerbate the issue at hand, or become even more paranoid even though no bed bugs are present in their homes. It is a common occurrence of people feeling like they are getting bit months after bed bugs have been eradicated from their establishments. If interested, check out my article “Bed Bugs Facts and Myths” for some interesting information.
Conclusion
We can determine without a doubt that bed bugs are a problem to our mental, emotional and physical health. Even though they are not known to transmit diseases, their effect on us is more macabre than that, penetrating not just our epidermis, but also our Psyche, making these bugs the perfect parasite!
My mission here at Greenbedbugsolutions is to crush these bugs and send them back to the caves in which they evolved from…..green and safe and effective! Nature always finds a way, and surely there is a clear path to exterminating these vampires once and for all.
If you are interested in checking your home for bed bugs, read my article “Identify if you have bed bugs. The 101” for some helpful tips on this matter. Remember, I’m here to guide you every step of the way, so feel assured you will be successful.
If you are looking for some guidance on how to treat your home safely and naturally, read my “Preparing for a Bed Bug Treatment” article. Hopefully it will give you guys a little clarity on the subject.
In the military, they taught me to utilize fear not as a hindrance, but as an advantage. When we experience fear, the body reacts by releasing into the bloodstream a concoction of hormones to deal with this, including elevating our sensory capabilities, cognitive reaction, and even increased strength! So whatever emotion you are feeling as you read this article, use it to your advantage to be meticulous in your process in getting rid of your bed bug problem, and remember, I’m here to supply you with the knowledge to do so.
Feel free to shoot me a comment or question below. I would love to hear your story.
Best Regards,
Wilson.
