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Original poster

London Zoo Spider Course

63 replies

brokenwand · 05/02/2025 15:19

Hi, I suffer very badly from arachnophobia & am considering doing the London Zoo spider programme.
Has anyone done this or can recommend anything similar & does it actually work?
I really need to improve on this as it really affects me eg won't go in the garage in case I encounter a spider & it's really affecting parts of my life

OP posts:
barstar · 05/02/2025 15:29

I have done it, it's been helpful but not a cure tbh. I can now capture small to medium sized house spiders, on the floor. Yet to encounter a larger one on the floor to give it the real test, I have come across one on the ceiling and one on the corner of a wall and had to get DH to deal. I'm not as scared as I was though, I get the initial fright then immediately feel ok and work out whether I can sort it or need help which is an improvement.

I was able to catch the spiders on the course from the table and the floor, I held a tarantula and put my hand in a tank with a reasonable sized house spider to tap its legs and 'steer' it about.

I think the course was worth every penny, even if i can't always do it, and haven't tested the big guys on the floor, it's still made a huge difference in how I cope with seeing spiders.

The course itself is fine, a bit weird when they get you to lie on the floor and be hypnotised (I sat in a chair due to disability) but apart from that it was good.

PinkBuffalo · 05/02/2025 15:50

I did the London zoo program. For me it been life changing!

100% recommend it has work for me. I was absolutely terrified (I always think peoples would think I was no much scared of them in the first place) but it was ruining my life I would see them in every room and could no be in the same room.

years later I live quite happily with them, my catch phrase now is “it is just a spider!” I can take out big ones or small ones in a plastic tub I catch them in with a a bit of card which we did practice on the course

i still get the initial shock if it be a big one, but other than say to it oh you be a big one, I can still deal with it

genuinely be the best thing I have ever done and as I have to live by my own now it makes a massive difference to no be scared of them

good luck op 🍀

Original poster
brokenwand · 05/02/2025 16:37

thank you both that helps my decision

OP posts:
PurpleChrayn · 05/02/2025 23:40

Just get a cat. I haven't seen a single spider or bug in the house since we've had ours.

Original poster
brokenwand · 06/02/2025 12:34

I have a cat & he is really very good at dealing with them but unfortunately he is currently unable to fly so ceiling or high wall spiders are safe along with the wheelie bin handle spiders & terrifying shed spiders

OP posts:
OldTinHat · 06/02/2025 12:41

Not London Zoo, but I tried one of these courses. I was given a tarantula to hold.

Have you ever seen a tarantula fly through the air and zoo people try to catch it? If yes, we were on the same course. And I can't even throw a ball more than about 2ft!

Original poster
brokenwand · 11/02/2025 15:06

Unfortunately missed out on the dates but have decided that I will definitely give it a go when they release the spring events

OP posts:
Maboscelar · 11/02/2025 15:08

OldTinHat · 06/02/2025 12:41

Not London Zoo, but I tried one of these courses. I was given a tarantula to hold.

Have you ever seen a tarantula fly through the air and zoo people try to catch it? If yes, we were on the same course. And I can't even throw a ball more than about 2ft!

I think this would be me! The very thought of having to touch one (I can't even type the word) freaks me out. I would need a pre course which didn't actually involve the creatures first

Original poster
brokenwand · 11/02/2025 15:11

It's my understanding they do this & the first half of the day is spider free

OP posts:
Bonjovispyjamas · 11/02/2025 15:17

PurpleChrayn · 05/02/2025 23:40

Just get a cat. I haven't seen a single spider or bug in the house since we've had ours.

My cat just casually glanced at a huge spider running across the floor, then went back to sleep.

ParsnipPuree · 11/02/2025 21:46

Not what anyone wants to hear but my phobia's so bad I don't even want to be cured.
It was given to me when I was little by my dad who still has it in his 90's. I have heard great things about the London zoo course though.

Laiste · 11/02/2025 22:04

ParsnipPuree · 11/02/2025 21:46

Not what anyone wants to hear but my phobia's so bad I don't even want to be cured.
It was given to me when I was little by my dad who still has it in his 90's. I have heard great things about the London zoo course though.

Same here. So scared i can't even think about being cured.

The tarantula flying through the air made me laugh. (i know it's not good for these big spiders to fall or be dropped so i'm not laughing at them getting hurt it's just the image)

One of my cats is fab at catching spiders. I'll find a loooong spider leg or two in the upstairs hall in the morning sometimes and think good lad 😃

He's daft though. He'll play with the spider and then it gets in his whiskers or on a foot so he'll eat it ... and then sit there looking for it 🙄

ParsnipPuree · 11/02/2025 22:23

Laiste

My cats are only interested whilst the spiders are moving.. once they’re dead and no fun they’re left for me (or dh) to deal with!

Glorybox2025 · 11/02/2025 22:25

OldTinHat · 06/02/2025 12:41

Not London Zoo, but I tried one of these courses. I was given a tarantula to hold.

Have you ever seen a tarantula fly through the air and zoo people try to catch it? If yes, we were on the same course. And I can't even throw a ball more than about 2ft!

Well this was a really shit course as nobody should have handled the tarantula who wasn't prepared.

OP I did the course and it was amazing. I held a tarantula and touched a house spider. I can catch big house spiders now.

Glorybox2025 · 11/02/2025 22:28

brokenwand · 11/02/2025 15:11

It's my understanding they do this & the first half of the day is spider free

That's correct. It's not even a day, it's about 3 hours. The first bit is a discussion and meditation/hypnosis. It's very gentle and non confrontational.

Heartfullofcheese · 11/02/2025 22:30

Life changing. Best money I ever spent. Did it 25 years ago and have never gone back to the utter terror I previously felt.

Vitriolinsanity · 11/02/2025 22:46

There is literally no way I could do that course. I would be the woman who goes berserk and stamps on the tarantula.

fashionqueen0123 · 11/02/2025 22:48

See I want the outcome but I’m too scared to go on the course. Even seeing the word spider on here freaks me out!

Deathraystare · 12/02/2025 07:29

Bonjovispyjamas · 11/02/2025 15:17

My cat just casually glanced at a huge spider running across the floor, then went back to sleep.

Show quote history

My (rip) cat would go to it, bat it, remove a leg then ignore it, then come back again, remove a let etc etc then the sickening sound of crunch!

Bonjovispyjamas · 12/02/2025 08:12

Deathraystare · 12/02/2025 07:29

My (rip) cat would go to it, bat it, remove a leg then ignore it, then come back again, remove a let etc etc then the sickening sound of crunch!

Show quote history

😱

FrutenGlee · 12/02/2025 08:20

Jesus Christ what did I just read, flying tarantulas?? Nightmarish

SilvieBear · 12/02/2025 08:31

@brokenwand Sign up for the waiting list and then they’ll contact you in advance of the main date release.

I’ve done the course and as PPs have said it’s been life changing for me. A bit like you, I was restricted with going outside because of spiders, wouldn’t open windows in case any came in etc…Absolutely couldn’t catch them (would freak out etc).
Now can happily do all the above. It’s amazing and I wish I’d done it sooner!

For those people who said they are so phobic they couldn’t even go on it, I was like that. I nearly walked straight past the entrance on the morning of the course, and didn’t go in. I rated myself a 10 /10 on the scale. But thought ‘sod it, I’ve got to try something’ and it was so worth it!

Good luck op!

Talisin · 12/02/2025 08:49

I remember Caitlin Moran did this a few years back and wrote an article about it. It really helped her as I recall but I’m with those who are so phobic even the thought is making me panic 🙁

MyFlightWasAwfulThanksForAsking · 12/02/2025 08:52

OldTinHat · 06/02/2025 12:41

Not London Zoo, but I tried one of these courses. I was given a tarantula to hold.

Have you ever seen a tarantula fly through the air and zoo people try to catch it? If yes, we were on the same course. And I can't even throw a ball more than about 2ft!

You threw a tarantula?! OMG that's awful. I hope the poor thing wasn't injured.

Original poster
brokenwand · 12/02/2025 09:06

@SilvieBear thank you - I have signed up to the pre-release list

as other's have said I am very phobic as is my mum so it's ingrained from as early as I can remember. It's bad enough that every time I walk into a room I can almost sense when there is one & I look for them

OP posts:
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