Day 1 (continued): Zeron's Turn
Zeron: By the time it was my turn I had managed to calm down a bit but still felt dizzy. To be honest they could have asked me anything and I would have agreed, my mind and body were numb. Producer Steve came out to collect me and said something about strapping my arm to a table, something about the sensitive equipment that couldn't be moved or jerked suddenly. All I could think of asking him was, "No snakes yet, right?" He promised me there wasn't. He knew at this stage he had no choice but to lie, otherwise I would never have made it into the reptile house again.

Everything at this point is vague. My mind seems to jump from one event to another. People are talking to me; I know because I can see their mouths moving, but I can't hear any sounds. I'm dizzy and feeling faint. My belly is like a block of cement. I can feel stress and tension welling up inside me. I think I'm trying to smile. I think I might even be cracking a joke or two. I don't know; my conscious mind seems to have left me.

Mike is doing something to my wrists... strapping them down? I don't want them tight because I must be able to run! I am now completely unaware of what is going on. Peter is talking to me, his words are so soothing. I wish my mother was there to hold me.

Mark O'Shea is now talking to me. I don't hear a word of what he is saying. I really feel as though I am floating. I don't know what is going on. Then he shows me a book of snakes!! I don't know how I've reacted to this physically because my conscious mind has shut down. All I know is I am shaking. I am so cold my teeth are rattling! Steve told me no snakes - he's broken his promise.

Mike: I felt really guilty about helping to strap his wrists down, because he was really worried. The first big test was a few worms and he freaked at even touching the tip of their tails.

Zeron: From somewhere I see a worm coming to touch my hand. That's it - I go completely to pieces. I want out! Get me out of here; I need air before I pass out. I am so dizzy I really don't have any idea of what is going on. They release me and I feel so thankful to be free of the table and my torment.

I am shaking like a leaf. I even notice for the first time I am crying. Everybody around me is saying I've done well but I don't get it. I'm shaking and crying like a child. Peter comes across to me and helps me to relax. Somehow he brings my conscious mind back to where I am. I still don't fully recollect what's taken place. I'm asked if I can manage to go back to the table. My conscious mind now kicks in and tells me that I can't spend the rest of my life living in fear of snakes. These people here can help me. Stop being a coward and get yourself cured.

I agree to go back to the table but this time unrestrained so I have control of my limbs. I am still terrified but Dr Naish is talking away my anxieties. I don't know if I am hypnotised but I feel able to have another go.

Back in the dreaded chair I shakily allow Mike O'Shea to place a live worm in my palm. This is the first time in my life I have ever touched a worm. I am numb. Should I feel pleased at my achievement or will I be back to my phobia the second this ordeal is over? I am now confused.

Mike: Bit by bit, with help from Peter and encouragement from me and Mark, he worked his way through a cuddly toy snake, a snake's skin, a rubber snake and then onto the wriggling creatures themselves.

Zeron: Mark brought out a corn snake. He holds it for a long time. I watch it wriggle in his grasp. Then he offers it for me to touch. I know snakes are not slimy (I've been told that often enough). It's not the slime I fear - I've touched slugs. It's the wriggling and writhing! Mark asks me not to move suddenly so I don't frighten the snake. He holds it close for me to touch it and I have to muster every ounce of strength I have in me to reach out a finger and touch my first live snake. As I touch it I notice its body reacting to my touch. I can feel my fear subsiding.

Mark is telling me how beautiful the corn snake is and I started to agree with him. My shaking slowly stopped. I'm not instantly cured but I do feel that I have nothing to fear. It's just a creature. Mark allows me to hold it. At this point I can feel myself getting dizzy again and I worry that if the snake wraps itself around me I might faint. But then I start to feel concern that I'm not holding it right, in fact I might hurt it. It really is the most beautiful creature I have ever seen.

Mike: Cool stuff! Respect to the guy. As I watched him trembling and summoning up all his emotional strength and then overcoming his very real phobia to the point that he could appreciate the beauty of the different snakes, my eyes began to well up. It was a genuinely moving experience.

Zeron: Finally Mark brings out a python. By now I'm feeling in control of my body. I'm not shaking. My stomach has let go of the knot. My head isn't spinning. I can hear and see every thing around me. For the first time I even notice the interior of the reptile house. Mark places the python gently on me. And at last my fear is conquered. I can hold the python. I feel almost stupid knowing that a few moments ago I would have passed out or fled the scene.

My fear is gone. In its place I just feel a void where I expect to feel fear and terror. I still feel anxious and keep thinking maybe the fear is still in that cavern waiting to rush out and engulf me again.

My friend Mike is silent as I hold the python. I can see in his eyes that he is genuinely impressed that I have confronted, and overcome, such a profound fear. Dr Naish tells me that my reading had actually gone off the scale earlier on but now: they are normal.

I want to hug everybody - Mike, Mark O'Shea, Dr Naish, Producer Steve, anyone passing! I am so comfortable that Mark takes me for a look around his beloved reptile house. Then they give me the ultimate challenge; spend a night in the python enclosure! You'd have thought I'd gone through enough - but I'm so elated that I agree... reluctantly!

Mike: The day had gone well and had been a success, but even I wouldn't have wanted to take up the challenge given to Zeron - to spend a night in a snake tank with two reticulated pythons. After all, they definitely have the ability to kill a man.

Zeron: Over a well-earned beer I decided it was time to taunt Mike about his fear of heights. I handed him a scale model of the tower crane he was going to have to climb. He didn't look too pleased. But by then he was too drunk to care.

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Content last updated: 25/08/2005