I have an enormous fear of spiders. Does anybody have a cure?

Question

I know this is a stupid question but I've benn struggling with this fear ever since a was little. People don't understand the magnitude of my fear. They all say your such a girl, get over it. But it's not just that simple. I need help.

Thanks for the advice. I still don't know if I'll be able to handle spiders but now I think I've found a better way of manging my fear.

Answer 1

Ok. I totally know exactly how you feel. I used to be deathly afraid spiders, bees and any other insect that I deemed harmful. I would've much rather jumped out of a moving car window, off a ladder etc. then have a spider crawling toward me.

As far as getting over my fear: I didn't really have a set plan or goal (which is probably the exact opposite of what the professionals will tell you). And I didn't have any "panic plans" or special rituals to rid myself of "spider germs." What I did was start Smalll. If there was a really smal spider in the house (say those ones that make webs on window sills or on stuff that you haven't used in a couple of weeks) I would kill it with a BIG shoe. Or sometimes I would get up close and just stare it down and say "Look at you, what could you possibly do to me? As a matter of fact, you're no larger than the tip of a mechanical pencil." Then I would lightly blow the web and all it would do is change position or hide.
So at this point, I was still afraid of spiders, but not of the really tiny ones. The real challenge was getting bold enough to kill the ones that were the size of a dime. Standard practice was to let the spider get to a point where I could get a clean shot with my BIG shoe and then proceed to over aggressively pulverize the thing; shouting "HA, GOTCHA YOU DUMB SPIDER." I usually had the adrenaline pumping by the time I got around to killing it. After lots of successfully kills, I deemed myself as the "Spider Hunter" in my house. Then the 'big one' came. It was a spider that was about the size of a quarter and it was in the garage. I got my BIG SHOE and ended up staring the thing down for about an hour before I threw the shoe at it. My aim is not perfect but I was good enough to stun it. I moved in and stomped on it before it knew what was happening. From then on, any spider that was smaller than that size was not a problem- and after some time, the fear just seemed to slowly melt away. Nowadays, I see a spider outside, as long as it isn't attached to my front porch or any other part of my house It's fine with me. Any spider that I catch inside of my house is a goner.
And now for some technical stuff. I learned in a Psychology class in college that fear and aggression are two of the most basic and primitive feelings in human biology. If you could some how turn your fear of spiders into aggression towards spiders, you will have a better chance at being able to kill them rather than shrinking away in terror. Don't get me wrong, I know that first starting out as a "spidonator" (LoL) is terrifying, but trust me, once you kill your first spider, I only gets better. Oh yes, I almost forgot. Another thing you can do to help you with your fear I to get some basic books and read bout them. I found that sometimes learning more about something you fear will help you understand it more and fear it less. You may even come to find that they are not as bad as your mind is telling you they are.

Hope this helps.

P.S. Feel free to e-mail me if you have any more questions or concerns, tips etc. I know what you are going through. I almost seriously injured myself and someone else trying to get away from a spider. My fear was that bad.

Answer 2

I have a huge fear of spiders to. When I was Little. I put my sweater on in the morning to go to school and a million baby spiders where all over me and in my hair. The mom has laid eggs in my sweater. It was the scariest thing ever. I am so scared of spiders now when I see one it makes me squirm and I scream. The best thing I would tell u to do is face ur fear. I havnt done this yet but most spiders as we know arnt harmful and wont hurt you. hopefully one day we can both say we got over our fear Good Luck!

Answer 3

Not a stupid question at all. I completely understand.
I used to be deathly afraid of spiders too until I just couldn't take it any longer.
I bought a book with hundreds of pictures of spiders and sat looking at them...when I got a little braver, I touched the pictures, when I got braver still I started watching documentories on T.V. and video.
Now I can work out in my garden without periodically running for my life (so to speak).
I still don't want them touching me but I am not the fearful maniac I once was. I can actually appreciate how complex their tiny lives really are...I got to know my enemy!
Good luck, I hope you can get better too!

Answer 4

You obviously have an intense phobia. For a long time there had been no specific remedy for this, however, lately, there have been studies where researchers have managed to cure specific anxieties in people. The University of Texas had a specific program where it treated all types of phobias. I think Dr. Telch was the person behind it. But since you are probably not there, you'll have to do some looking around.

Another explanation is that there is an unknown root cause to your fear, that needs to be addressed.

Answer 5

Fear of the spiders is called arachnophobia. I am one of those who fear spiders. However if you can identify the poisonous type in your region you can try to control your fear for the others. Most spiders will not bite without provocation. But if you ask me, keep away from them, i would say.What is there to like in spiders any way?

Answer 6

there is a way 2 keep spiders away.. call pest control.. have them come out every 3 mo.s and spray.. altho it seems in the fall of the year is when you might see more because of the change in season..

Answer 7

sadly i believe its just always gonna be like that, I am the same way and unless you want to go into expensive therapy, just let someone else step on them or kill them when they get in your way... if it makes you feel better Hundreds of Thousands of people deeply fear Spiders... and personally i dont think i know of anyone who actually isnt scared of them in some way...

Answer 8

Try buying a pet spider

Answer 9

Overcome your phobia, join "Fear Factor"

Answer 10

lock yourself in a room full of spiders duh youll make new friends! ha