Spiders!!!!?

Question

Ive always been scared of spiders and im now getting to the point where im sick of it!!! Ive got one in my bathroom at the moment which I have named Peter but im too scared of him getting me (i know that sounds stupid) Any ideas on how I can get over this fear without expense?

Answer 1

you can always kill every spider you see. helps you release your anger, and you get rid of your fear.

Answer 2

You could try contacting triumph over phobia they run self help groups and also have books and information leaflets to help people with phobias.

You could get books from the library. Overcoming obsessions and compulsions by Dr. Frank Tallis or Living With Fear by Isaac Marks.

What you need to do is make a list of the things you fear.
For example looking at a spider, touching a plastic spider, touching a big or little spider, a poisionous spider, seeing a spider inside a glass box etc.

Put the biggest fear at the top and the least at the bottom. Then tackle the least fear repeating the exercise until your level of anxiety comes down and you feel comfortable dont move on to the next step until you have mastered the first.
Practice every day for longer and longer periods.
For example if looking at a spider picture freaks you out look at it for one minute only, then two minutes, then five etc etc.
You will feel anxious at first but the anxiety will lessen each time until you can do it with ease.
Work your way up the list.
It may be that you need to put down how close you can get to a spider before feeling afraid. Like the other side of the room, a few feet away, decreasing the distance each time.
For some the fear of spiders comes from the unexpectedness of movement. They may also be afraid of dogs too. You need to pinpoint exactly what it is about spiders you fear.
Talk to people who will encourage you rather than make fun of your phobia.
Good luck! This method really works i have used it myself!

Answer 3

get a jar, catch Peter, and keep him as a pet for a couple weeks. Feed him a bug daily. Look at him closely in the jar multiple times daily. If you feel like it, get a straw or stick, and just poke around at him (dont literally poke him) and just observe. Over time, you may realize how relatively helpless a spider is compared to an animal with logic and reasoning that outweighs the spider by a million to one. Then, once you finally realize how petty a spider really is and how it really cant harm you, release it outside. It'll take care of some insects that could cause you more harm than it would. Enjoy!

Answer 4

The most successful treatment of phobias seems to be gradual exposure.

If you have a phobia of spiders, you cannot just walked up to one and squish it.

You need to start small. There is a spider in your bathroom which is a good start. Do you find it easier to be in the bathroom with him now than you did when you first spotted him?

I'm working on 'Gradual Exposure' to overcome my fear of spiders. 2 years ago, if I saw a spider I'd cry and have a panic attack. I'm at the stage now where I can put a glass over a medium size spider. That may not sound like huge progress, but it is such a weight of my mind to know that I've made steps. One day, I'll be able to remove large spiders.

Try getting a little closer to Peter every day - don't rush or you risk upsetting yourself. Just work at taking little steps to getting used to having spiders around. Work up to being able to place a glass over spiders. Once you are comfortable with that, you can progress to taking them outside. Where you stop is up to you - I'm sure if you continued to work at it you could get to the stage where you can pick spiders up.

This method does take time, but it does work and you don't need to spend any money. Hope it helps you like it has with me.

Answer 5

do you have children

i was always afraid of spiders i suppose i still am really but what i can do now that i have got my niece and nephew living down the road is try to show off how brave i am i pretend that i am not afraid that way i need to be able to get rid of it withour showing the children that actually i am scared because the last thing i want to do is to transfer my fear to the children have a go at that

even try it with your husband because now that i can pick up the spiders he no longer chases me round the house with them trying to frighten me that feels so much better knowing he cant scare me now

good luck


xxx

Answer 6

Sorry, I'm pathetic, I cal the mrs when I see a spider. I can't stand them and just live with the hoover close at hand. There is no way on earth I could ever let on near me physically. Even the tiny ones bite you know, just their venom doesn't do anything to humans (most of them).

As for you getting over your fear, spending time with Peter and get to know and trust him, then see if you can let it crawl over your hand before you batter it with a frying pan! Honestly, I'd rather live with the fear tan get over it.

Answer 7

The small ones i can handle but the garden size ones freak me out! I end up standing there for about half an hour with a glass in hand, i always think they will pounce!

I normally stay focused on it the keep taking small steps towards it with the glass and paper aimed ready to trap. Never easy but it gets eaiser the more you do it.

Answer 8

ugggh! I hate them too. I cant even bear to look at them. I try and tell myself they wont hurt me and I'm bigger than they are. I hate killing them and if my hubby is in I get him to get it but if I'm alone then sadly I kill them. Sorry all you spider lovers out there but its My house and I dont want to share it lol. You can buy spider catcher things where they have a long handle and a compartment at the end you put over the spider and put it outside.

Answer 9

You're a million times bigger than the spider, so why the fear? If you want just sqaush it or spray it with Raid.
I myself don't like to kill spiders because I think they're cool and they kill and eat flies and other bugs I don't like. Of course if I see a black widow, it's history.

Answer 10

Hold your breath, walk into the bathroom and whack it hard with your shoe. I hate killing anything, but you must get over the phobia. My niece - who is even more phobic than you over spiders did this, when a huge hairy spider was in her baby's room. It worked. She doesn't like spiders but she isn't absolutely terrified of them any more.

Answer 11

One way is used by psychologists is systematic desensitization.

You can do this by relaxing yourself and showing yourselves pictures of spiders. Your body will link the spiders to being relaxed rather than your normal fear response.