I am no longer scared of spiders - there is hope for you as well

[Emmanuelll]

For some reason I have totally lost my fear of spiders. I used to have a fear so bad that I would feel like I was going to vomit if one appeared.

For some reason, they now just don't really bother me. I don't love them. But now, if I see one I just leave it where it is because I know it's not trying to chase me around the house. It will usually disappear and I don't see it again.

I put it down to better mental health but who really knows.

How are people jumping on a poster for hoovering up a spider?! You can’t be serious.

I’m arachnophobic and only clicked on this thread because I thought OP was about to post tips telling us how they got over their fear! I can’t look at a picture of a spider let alone deal with one in real life.

The fact that someone who has a genuine phobia is even able to get close to an insect and get rid of it is great. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with hoovering a spider the same way there isn’t any wrong with killing a fly/wasp/bee with a slipper.

You really think people with genuine fears are going to try and catch a live spider, find a way to carry it without being close to tears and then release it outside? Anyone who thinks that simple doesn’t have a fear of spiders

I love spiders and have the cellar ones all over the house, but the giant house ones still make me a bit eek, just because they're so fast and dark. Put them in the glass and they're going nuts, and have the biggish fangs too so I don't feel too unreasonable 😆

@ItsTheGAGGGGGGGG Thank you!!! You described the terror i feel perfectly.

Insects are animals. Spiders are arachnids, anyway - not insects, but they are all animals. Very cruel to kill something just because you can't cope with it being in your vicinity.

what?
insects are animals!
what did you think they were, plants?

What?!

Other posters have already replied to this so I’ll just say, it’s absolutely NOT normal to want to ‘get rid of’ an animal just because they’re in your vicinity. Phobia or not.

And I’m speaking as someone who has a phobia of spiders. I’m just not an animal killer.

Yes, I think part of the 'healing' for me has been realising that they all always inside the house but usually you can't see them. Last year, for the first time I started just ushering them out of the way if they were on something.

My dog is scared of the big spiders. She's a Newfoundland.

OP: I am slowly becoming less scared of them through what is basically exposure therapy. Giant house spiders are frequent visitors here in Autumn and I have to put them outside. Before we moved here there was no way I could get close enough to do this.

I have read that they are quite happy outside as well as inside (and maybe they'll feed a bird, who knows).

No, and I didn't say it was.

This is EXACTLY how I feel too! Hoovering them up stops me from having a panic attack as I know there’s ones near me.

My dad was the same.
Was terrified of spiders for all of his life. If one appeared indoors, he would go outside until it was removed.
Then one day, it seemed like he didn't care anymore. He put a glass over one, and moved out outside.
Now, he will pick them up with his bare hands. Even I can't do that, and spiders don't bother me.

London Zoo friendly spider course will tell you otherwise...they are not supposed to live in houses, they don't like it

I studied entomology as part of my degree so I can pick up spiders and touch them OUTSIDE no issues. In my house I can't if it's over a inch.

I'd like to be desensitised with wolf spiders etc but I just can't touch them in the house. I love going up to a ginormous spider in the garden and touching their legs to watch them walk off.

I'd never touch a tarantula after seeing how fast one ran up Gordon Ramsey as they was cooking them in Thailand. Nope, nope nope.

Never kill them please. Glass and cardboard and throw them near your neighbours back door as they like being in houses ( I take them far from my house for this reason or leave them by my neighbours back gate 😄

I'm with you. Even using a hoover I go into a sweaty meltdown and if I didn't do that I'd not sleep. Where I live we get enormous ones this time of year (large enough to make a sound when they drop off something or walk over something like a plastic bag 😵). I've had it before where they hide in my towel 🤮. My dad or SO used to deal with them for me but since living on my own the hoover is honestly the only option and even then it's difficult.

I was bitten by a woodlouse spider when I was younger and I can now tolerate cellar spiders but hate all others. I can just about glass them but only because dh refuses and if I don't then I feel like I can't sit in the room I saw them for weeks.

I still wouldn't pick one up, but I went from not being able to be in the same room as a big spider to being fine with it, and even being able to catch them with a glass and a piece of paper.

The thing that changed it for me was owning, nearly 20 years ago, a 'bug hoover', a device with a long transparent tube that allowed you to gently 'hoover up' spiders and then release them. After I was able to remove them for a bit, I stopped being bothered by them.

I can’t even hoover a dead spider up I am that scared of them 😂😂

There was one in my bedroom a month ago and I panic every single night going to bed since.

there was one in the living room of my OLD HOUSE this time last year and I’ve recently remembered and can’t relax in the new living room properly.

The strangest thing is I moved to Australia not a bother (also didn’t see a single spider whilst there)

so if anyone else has any tips to get over the fear I’d love to hear them.

This thread is giving me the heeby jeebies 😅

interesting, though I thought this depends on the type of spider. Cellar spiders for example often live their whole lives inside one structure.

Not in my house though as nothing makes it past the dog, so there’s zero chance of me catching and releasing one. I leave them be but a couple of times a week there’ll be a big bodied one you can actually hear on the wooden floor, followed by a Tom and Jerry style chase (dog usually wins but if spider wins with a wall climb it’s all repeated another day). Am always just relieved it’s not a mouse tbh.

Bloody hell I would never hoover up a spider

What happens when you have to empty the hoover? 😱

For some reason, they now just don't really bother me. ... I put it down to better mental health but who really knows.

OK, can you at least tell us how you improved your mental health, in case THAT helps someone? Thanks.

you have to carefully seal the bag to keep the hundreds of spider babies in

if bagless, you have your own spider tank 😉

I am terrified of spiders, I literally cannot be in the same room if they are huge. (I can cope with the spindly ones)
I know what to do, I just can't do it.
A spider catcher requires me to be way too close. Literally couldn't contemplate a glass and card
DH does get them in the hoover

@Endica1

interesting, though I thought this depends on the type of spider

Well yes, but the comment I replied to specified house spiders.

Sweaty meltdown describes it perfectly. Even with a hoover my hearts jumping out of my chest and I'm shaking like a leaf😅