Yup - that's more than a normal fear. Time to get help, as it is inerfering with you living your life.

I LIKE snakes. I was a complete disappointment to boys on the elementary school playground who would find a snake and use it to chase girls. I didn;t scream. I didn;t run away. I said "Can I hold it? " and they never let me, they just went in search of more gullible girls.

Little ol' garter snake isn't gonna hurt you, I promise.