Has anyone been on a 'spider friendly' course at London/Edinburgh Zoo?

[Tolber]

I booked a place on one last year but now the day is nearly here I'm too scared to go.

I can't believe it'll work and have convinced myself it'll give me nightmares. An autumn of terror at all the fucking monsters that have already started invading my house seems preferable to doing the course right now. I feel so ridiculous. Is there anyone who's attended one of these courses who can reassure me that it might actually work and not just increase my phobia?

I've not done the course but I got over my arachnophobia.

I went from sleeping downstairs if I saw a spider upstairs to having pet spiders!
I've just bought a cuddly spider toy, I love them now.

Well, I love alot of species and I tolerate medium house spiders and am still a bit scared of the big house spiders (but I like tarantulas??! ) Go figure!!

@GhibliCat how did you get over your arachnophobia? (it's amazing that you can now have pet spiders but please please please don't share any photos of them here!)

Yes I did and it was amazing, life changing, best thing I ever did. Trust me, just go.

I’d never heard of this but it sounds absolutely fantastic. Lots of testimonials raving about it. I might take my DC when they’re a little older.

Sounds great OP and I'm not being sarcastic I promise.
Trigger for me: watching film arachnophobia as a six year old (thanks dad).
What helped: watching you tube videos about them. Talking to them. Trying to see them as friends, little buddies 🤣 no I'm not mental even though I sound it. Also when they run across the room I try to see it as cute.

It also says pictures and animals are only used at the end so it’s at least worth going and doing the first bit and seeing how you feel when you get to the end bit

Exposure.

I started out looking at photos of jumping spiders and cartoon drawings of them.

Then I started watching videos of jumping spiders. They're very cute.

I watched hours of videos.

Then started watching videos of baby tarantulas.

Then big ones.

This was over months and months.

Then one day there was an open day at a local petshop and I realised the guy walking passed me had a tarantula.
6 months before I would have screamed and ran out of the shop but I watched little kids handle the spider and I went over and asked to.

I held a bloody tarantula! And that was it. I was smitten.

I think part of the appeal is the adrenaline I do get from them but it's a positive version now, not total fear.

@GuestFeatu I can hardly bear anyone even mentioning spiders (just writing this post has got me on high alert) so I don't understand how they'll even introduce the subject to a group terrified people, won't we all be complete wrecks? Would you mind explaining how they start please? I've found it impossible to get any more info than what was in the booking details.

I'm terrified of spiders to the point where I can barely read the responses on this post. I just don't see how the courses would work? I'm too scared to even try them and I know I couldn't look at one or touch one.

I'd love to hear if they have worked for anyone.

Good luck op.

I used to be terrified to the point of tears, but used a similar technique to another poster and I'd gentle exposure. Looked at photos/cartoons that anthropomorphised spiders. There's a group called Ophelia the Monster that's all about jumping spiders and they are very cute. Slowly, very slowly I just became less afraid and became able to pick them up without absolute dread, I'd even go as far as to say I like them!

If looking at pictures/talking makes you uncomfortable I wouldn't think the course would work miracles. I'd say going slowly at your own pace in an environment you are comfortable with (as opposed to lots of other distressed people) might be better - that said, I don't know the content/psychology of the course so I may be totally wrong!

I did it about 15 years ago. It was fantastic... I remember before, spending an entire evening on the dining room table because there was a spider on the floor and it was the only way to keep my eye on it until.mt husband got home.

The course was really good. Since then I cam go.to.sleep with a spider in the room, or I am happy to get a glass to put it outside. Really recommend it.

Just do it. If you don’t like it, leave. But go.

you owe it to yourself

@GhibliCat @Lolatusernamesuggestions
But I can't even look at a photo of one, never mind a video. I scream and thrown my phone across the room if a pic comes up when I'm scrolling.

@frecklejuice I'm the same as you, but last year promised myself I'd try and deal with it after yet another sleepless night (literally) because of a big one in my sitting room. The course blurb say they have 80% success rate - but what happens to the other 20%?!

Do you know what jumping spiders are?

Exactly! Do the other 20% run out screaming and crying?! I feel like that would be me and I’d be traumatised!!

@GhibliCat no I don't but they sound even worse than ones that don't jump. I can't Google 'jumping spiders' for obvious reasons!

I did it about 9 years ago and it changed my life.

I knew I needed serious help when I was so jumpy about spiders that I screamed at a grape DH dropped in the kitchen and I saw it roll out of the corner of my eye 😂

The course was brilliant and worked amazingly. I don't love spiders by any means, but I don't live in fear now and can deal with most of them without totally freaking out.

There was only one lady on my course that couldn't complete it. They do not pressure you at all to do anything you don't want to.

They don't look like 'normal' spiders.

They're fluffy and tiny.

I'm possibly completely wrong, but I understood that really arachnophobiac people were more amenable to therapy than less phobic ones.

I consider myself to be arachnophobic; but for me it became a size thing. And, I found, if I were among 'Kill It!' people, I'd summond more courage and capture it, then release.

I'll never be a fan, but my response is now more 'Okaaay', not 'how can I kill you!'

This phobia is a real problem; I sympathise.

Did it around 25 years ago! Life changing. I used to be terrified, utterly terrified.
Nothing is forced on you and everyone was stunned by the difference it made.
It’s amazing. Best £100 odd quid I ever spent.

Our psychology sixth formers went there for a phobias day- recommended.

@User100000000000000000001 eek a rolling grape - almost as bad as those tomato stalks...

Could you please tell me how they actually start the session? I feel like I won't be able to breathe. Or I'll hyperventilate. Or just sob. I really do want and need to deal with my phobia and it is helping (just a little bit) hearing that the course has worked for others.

@Tolber I’ve done it. And as others here who have also done it said, best £150 I have EVER spent!
I was a full on arachnophobe for 30+ years. Gibbering, hysterical wreck etc….
One day on the course, boom - changed woman. I can confidently pick them up in a glass, I even slept with one in my room a few weeks ago. This was unheard of / unthinkable 12 months ago.

Like you, I very nearly didn’t go. But bloody hell, I am sooo glad I did!

They ease you in gently. I won’t go into detail as it may have changed. But you absolutely are not forced to do anything you don’t want to do. The volunteers are amazing. And remember, you are there with loads of other people in the same boat. So get chatting to them. I made some great spider-mates who I still keep in touch with!

Good luck - you can do it!

My friend and I did one years ago. It didn't help either of us one bit. We felt distinctly twitchy afterwards. It was at a different zoo though. We were in an old building and had to lie on yoga mats to relax before hand. Can you imagine wanting to lie on the floor of an old building knowing that just metres away were several spiders in plastic containers.
The one thung that has helped me though is Raid. I have 6 cans all within easy reach during spider season and I spray around once a year before we go on holiday in the summer.
Today I was home alone and encountered my first one of the season in the porch. It was a biggun. Thankfully I was able to spray it from a couple of metres away and then plucked up the courage to suck it's carcass up through the vacuum. Raid is the Novichok of the spider world. It doesn't matter if they scuttle off afterwards. One drop and they are dead within minutes. It has made my life much more bearable.