How can I get rid of my horrible fear of spiders? I guess you could say I have aracnaphobia (sp?).?

Question

I get panic attackes, I hyperventilate, etc. I don't want to live like this anymore.

Answer 1

Cure that fear the way you cure most fears, with knowledge and desensitization.

First you have to determine what it is about spiders that bothers you. Is it the way they look, the way they move, the fear of getting bitten, stigmas attached to them, any or all of the above? Or is it something else, or maybe a particular incident involving spiders or something you've come to associate with spiders? Identifying "the why" can greatly focus your search for knowledge.

Knowledge for spiders can be gathered by reading about them on websites or in books. Look for children's books and encyclopedias or reputable websites. Look specifically for lists of reasons why you should love/hate/respect/fear spiders and compare them. Look for descriptions of the anatomy, motivations of actions, fixed-action-patterns, heuristics to know which are poisonous and which are not, life spans, etc. Look for lists of common spiders in the areas you visit frequently.

Once you've gathered some knowledge you can begin trying to desensitize yourself to their presence. This doesn't mean that you just begin to ignore them or don't care about them at all but that you slowly build a tolerance to their presence, enough that you don't have a noticeable reaction to them. For instance, if you saw one out of the corner of your eye you shouldn't have any more of a reaction than if it was a rock or puppy that you saw. To actually do the desensitizing you have to put yourself in the situation that bothers you, but always keep safety in mind. For instance, look at pictures, watch movies (especially great if you pick apart what's wrong with the spiders in the movie), play with toys, draw pictures, visit friends with pet spiders, go to the zoo, etc. Remember to be aware of the animal and remember what knowledge you've gained when you're looking at them, feed it in. This will help remove any mystique around the animal since you're analyzing it.

You'll have to do all of this over time so don't hurry it. You'll be uncomfortable at first, every time, then you'll only be uncomfortable in certain situations. Then eventually you'll get to the natural balance of what I call "disregarding alertness." That is, you're alert and realize the object is there but don't really care because you understand its motivations and know there is no danger unless you make it. And if for some reason danger occurs, you know what to do to counter-act it.

It helps to set little goals for yourself, like to not panic at house spiders, or to be able to function during a panic, or to not jump when you see a picture of one, etc.

The one thing I remember generally is the size of the spider/insect/etc. in comparison to my foot, I always win that battle. Only ones that give me a problem there is jumping spiders (like wolf spiders), but for those I just know to use a ranged attack. ;o)

Hope that helps.

Answer 2

I don't believe in best ways. There's a lot of ways though. Try different things until you've beat it. Imagine how good you'll feel after overcoming your fear and how that's good reason to overcome other fears you might have. Google this: NLP Swish technique. Basically you change the association you have with spiders by repeating a process in your mind until when you see a spider you will have neutral or positive associations to one. The funny thing is.. the way you'll overcome the fear is by exposing yourself more and more to spiders. That's when it's truly real and you have your own proof that you no longer have that fear. Check out hypnosis but I don't advise spending money on hypnosis until you've tried free / other ways. Good luck with it.

Answer 3

See a counselor. There are psychologists who specialize in phobias. Since you have panic attacks when you see the spiders, you may need to have some medicine to help you out.
Also, occasionally, information helps, too. So, it's important to know that spiders are a valuable contribution to the health of the environment. They are good for the environment, thus, good for us. I hope I have helped you even in some small way.

Answer 4

Do you live somewhere prone to spiders? You might want to try browsing the web. Make yourself look at them in a safe setting like through the computer screen.
Read up about their anatomy and why the look the way they do. I know that they are ugly and creepy but they are built that way for a reason. Spiders are very helpful keeping other bugs proliferation in check. Also keep in mind that a little spider is probably WAY more scared of your huge body, then you are of its little one! :)

Answer 5

Read all you can about spiders. Most of them cannot bite, and even fewer can harm you at all.

I got my daughter over it by showing her a dead spider. She slowly came to terms with the fact that they are harmless.

But you are not alone. The big brave man you call to get rid of the spider is probably as scared of them as you are, but not allowed to show it.!

Try remembering that spiders are less harmful than flies.....

Answer 6

If you find out, let me know. I am also deathly afraid of spiders, and if my husband finds one in the house, he will catch it, look it up on internet to see what kind it is, and then let it go outside, like it's not going to come back in.

Answer 7

learn more about them. they can't get you, really. you are big; they are little
watch them rather than smash them

Answer 8

I wish I knew...I have the same problem! :(