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 did the spider one years ago, and it was brilliant. I need a top up though. The hypnosis part feels like nothing is happening. I was sitting there thinking, no way is this working. But it did.

Please don't kill them. They are really good creatures.

I started thinking of them as animals, which they are, who are just trying to go about their lives like the rest of us. Now when I see one I think about it as a little being, trying to live its best life.

I don’t like to look at close-up photos though, I feel like we aren’t meant to see them in such detail 😂 Nor would I want one on me.

Btw I developed arachnophobia as a young child when our neighbour placed a tarantula on my sleeping face, which I woke up to. I can never forget that sensation.

I wish I'd known about this course earlier. I'm going to Australia soon, and I am imagining all sorts of situations that probably aren't going to happen!

I've booked my train ticket! Attendance still not guaranteed but much more likely now, after reading everyone's replies. Thank you all so much, especially people who've described what happens in the session.

If I can ever move a spider outdoors it will feel miraculous. But if I don't go that's never going to happen, if I go it seems like it might. I don't want to kill any more spiders.

@Tolber Great news! You CAN do this. Good luck...let us know how you get on?

Fantastic. Well done!

I feel really proud of you for booking your ticket! I'm not scared of spiders (I just intently dislike them) but I do have another phobia which I've had exposure therapy for and it's so so so hard facing your fears. But so worth it. Good luck!

Well done op

I am really interested in doing this but concerned about the laying on the floor. No way can I lay on the floor. I am 70 and have some mobility issues. Do they ask everyone to lay down?

@mydogisthebest I'd have thought there'll be chairs available but I'll let you know after I've been.

Thank you. I would assume that there have been people before that can't lie on the floor for whatever reason.

I just don't want to be there and feel silly if they ask everyone to lay down and I have to say that I can't

Email them beforehand, even before you book to just check.
I'm sure they can accommodate a chair.

You don’t have to lie down. There were a few chairs or some people just sat on the floor if they couldn’t lie down. If you definitely needed a chair though, email them in advance. I’m sure they’d accommodate you.

@Tolber - well done on booking your ticket! When is the course date?

I've looked at this before, severe arachnophobia to the point of panic attacks, I even have a spider scream. The time I had one on me, I went into shock and sat rocking backwards and forwards for half an hour. I bought one of those spider catchers from Lakeland once, got home and took it back. It was too short.

There's a Facebook group called Spiders, Bugs and Bites UK which is really helpful, it's helped me to get to the stage where I can actually run out of the room instead of standing frozen on the spot, I can get the hoover (sorry everyone who thinks this is cruel) and hoover them up.

I'm on my way there on the train, feeling even more sick and panicky than I expected. I'm definitely going to get there though! I'm just trying to breath slowly and think about how gutted I'll be if I bail out now.

Sounds fantastic! Don’t have fear but might go anyway, love them.

Good luck, OP 😃

You're really brave!!!

I hope it helps. Please keep us updated :)

Good luck. Please come back to tell us all about it and how you got on.
Every year I think about booking myself on to the course and then think of a hundred reasons for being too busy to commit to it. Would love to get over the fear.

@MackintoshGalore I definitely will. This is actually my second attempt, I tried to attend one earlier this year but cancelled due to fear. I do feel on the verge of a panic attack right now so am using all the calming strategies I can think of and just hoping that as soon as I get to the zoo there'll be someone experienced and understanding there who'll help me stay the right side of okay...

Good luck 🤞 🤞

I heard some advice recently I loved - “you’re already doing it!” Keep going!!

How did it go OP?

@GhibliCat I don't think it's worked, it's just filled my head with thoughts and images of spiders, which is very uncomfortable now. I suppose I'll only know for sure when I next see a spider in my house.

I couldn't do the 'catch and release' at the end and at one point earlier, when plastic spiders were being passed around, I had to leave the room. I did go back in though.

It was at Edinburgh Zoo and I don't think it was done as well as the London Zoo one. The invertebrates expert didn't guide his section clearly and didn't give much info about spiders, then the counsellor gave a really simple, short guided mindfulness meditation. Saying that, most people did do the 'catch and release' at the end but nothing in the session made it at all possible for me to do it. I don't know how they managed! I feel disappointed, but at least I tried.

You should be really proud of yourself for trying. It’s a shame if it hasn’t worked but the fact that you did it is a big achievement already. Maybe in the far future you could try the London Zoo or consider 1:1 CBT. But give yourself some credit anyway for what you’ve already done - just go to the beginning of the thread and read your first messages to see that you really have achieved something.