I was super nervous when I first got mine a few months ago. I used to be ridiculously frightened of snakes, in general, though. When I would visit my aunt's place up in the mountains in California, she would warn me about rattlesnakes when I was kid. She always said to run and get one of them to get rid of it and not to get close to them. I think I just took that early childhood warning and assumed all snakes were dangerous from then on. I got talked into holding a BP a while back and fell in love with the species immediately! When I first got mine, I was still a little nervous. I didn't like picking her up because I always thought she would strike, so I always had my boyfriend do it.What helped me relax was just holding her often. I think it helped her too. She was a little skittish at first, but now (in just a couple months time) she's a sweetie. She practically begs to be held. You just have to be gentle with them. Have a good hold on them (don't squeeze) and just support their body. Since you just got it, I'd say let it settle in for a few days and then start getting it out to hold it. Don't go any longer than maybe 10-15 minutes of holding time for now. I think it'll settle in fine. As for being head-shy, that's normal. Mine used to freak out about movements around the head too. I'm not sure when this stopped...but the other night I successfully touched her head without her freaking out. I think she just got used to the handling and realized I wasn't going to hurt her.
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