London Zoo Spider Course

[brokenwand]

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

I’m looking forward to hearing how it goes OP. I have considered it for a couple of years but I keep making excuses to myself about the travel etc. I think there’s part of me that just can’t see how it could work and I’m scared I’ll try and it won’t work and then all my hope will be gone.

Its absolutely life-ruining. I cry and panic when I see them. I don’t spend time in the garden. I don’t peg washing on the line. I look for them every time I enter a room and seeing any tiny bits of fluff on the floor sends my heart racing. The big house spiders that come out in autumn genuinely send my mental health declining and between august and November I am an absolute nervous wreck.

My husband is also phobic - probably only slightly less than me and there’s times I’ve considered divorcing and going living with my parents because at least they can deal with them for me.

My family and friends often book weekends away to cottages in the countryside or near the beach in summer and I cannot go because they’re the kind of places just full of spiders.

I am genuinely so envious of people with phobias of things that you don’t constantly encounter unexpectedly. I mean obviously having no phobia at all is the ideal, but if I was going to have one why does it have to be for a creature that’s just bloody everywhere and turns up by surprise so often?

All the “it won’t hurt you” just doesn’t help at all because it’s not just a fear - it’s this disgust and revulsion too that feels so involuntary. I really know logically that it makes no sense but it makes no difference.

I know it has such good reviews but I’m scared it won’t work for me and then I don’t know what’s left to do.

Hi OP and fellow arachnophobes,

I did this course over 25 years ago and it was brilliant. One thing that stayed with me which really helped is that you may never lose the startle reaction you get when you first see a spider unexpectedly. That is a kind of inbuilt thing for some people. But after the initial reaction you will be much more able to deal with the spider than before the course.

This proved to be very true for me. I still shit myself when I first glimpse a spider but I'm usually able to catch it with a cup and piece of card underneath.

At the end of the course we had the opportunity to hold a tarantula. I still remember her name, Flora. I got a photograph and a certificate and still feel a rush of pride when I look at them!!!
Hope you enjoyed the day OP 🕷️ 🕷️ 🕷️

How did it go OP?

I took DS (13) to the ZSL session in May - he was very unenthusiastic and still dislikes spiders (fair), but he isn’t quite so hysterical about them. He managed to hold the tarantula and do everything and while he’s not keen, there is a more live and let live situation going on now. I haven’t been called in a panic to remove a spider since!

There were some properly phobic people there, but I think everyone managed to do everything eventually. The staff were all really, really good!

@hardycap I don't know anyone who's tried it and not seen a significant improvement in their feelings towards spiders. On the course they do say that half the battle is booking/attending it. I um and ah d for ages but I wish I had done it sooner.

Like a previous poster said (and even the course leader finds this) you still get the initial startle at something maybe quite large where it's not supposed to be, but then a second later my brain kicks in and I think "its only a spider".

You really won't regret it, it's rubbed off on my kids too so whilst other kids get upset mine check them out for interesting markings!

I haven’t done a course but I have held a tarantula and it helped. Also I use a spider catcher for them and this also helps as most of the fear comes from when you’re trying to catch them and freaking out.

Morning.

I did almost chicken out & there were a couple of tears when I entered however I very much was not alone & met some lovely people just as bad as me. The volunteer's are absolutely fantastic & with you every step being incredibly supportive.

I have to say it was great & in my absolute surprise I caught a spider under a clear cup & even held the tarantula at the end of the course (completely optional) & was amazed how she was not at all how I expected her to feel.

I'm so very pleased with myself after & would absolutely recommend it although I do now feel I want to find some spiders so I can have a little practise & make sure I don't revert back to how I was and I never ever thought that would be something I would say!

If your thinking about it do it, I have a whole new world of sheds & garages in my future

ooh that sounds amazing! so sad that they are now closed for any bookings or waiting lists cos i really need this. :-/

Ahhh yeeyyy OP amazing news 😍😍😍

Wow! There’s not a chance I could picture doing that so that’s amazing

Pleased to say I am confident that the course was a success. Last night a huge house spider strolled into my bathroom & I remained perfectly calm, caught her under a plastic glass & took her outside to a new home.

I was wondering if it would still be successful after the day

Ahhhhh fantastic!

What a nice thread! Congrats @brokenwand. So glad it worked for you.