Anyone successfully conquered arachnophobia?

[Seziah]

Just back from a few days in the countryside and the Airbnb was absolutely full of spiders. Most were small but I came down the first morning to two giant thick whoppers and barely slept after that.

I tell myself they can’t hurt me, they’re more scared of me etc. but it just doesn’t make any difference. Completely irrational, and hard when you live alone.

Has anyone tried any therapies to get over the fear? I’ve heard of the spider programme at London Zoo but there doesn’t seem to be any availability, it’s a bit of a journey and not sure if it truly works

Same! I have vivid memories of holding a fascinated toddler DS up to see into a tarantula display case and prattling away about the red bands on the legs, while actively having to look anywhere but the case.

Now I can look at ordinary British spiders, give them stupid names, and even coexist with the ones who live in corners. Still can’t catch or kill them, though.

I've done the London Zoo course and it was worth every penny. I had a massive fear but I'm a lot better now and can regularly catch spiders and move them outside.

I think the dates get released in April time and sell out almost instantly, it was like trtinf to get tickets for a festival!. It cost £200 when I did it last year.

Remedial hypnosis; essentially hypnotherapy but without the trance bit.

Oh gosh, that sounds really difficult, keeping you in my thoughts.

Ouch, I think describing me as grotesque is a bit extreme (way to make my day start nice, not!)

I'm proud of myself for getting over the fear. And I love my pets.

They can live twice as long as your typical cats and dogs. Females can live 20-30 years in captivity. They groom themselves like little cats and are fastidious about cleanliness. They have personalities - not like a mammal does, but they do have personality traits. When they dig out the dirt for their burrow, they carry it over to their spoil pile and pat it down gently like they're making biscuits. They are endearing to get to know as individuals.

There are no pics of any on that link.
I ordered a bottle of spray once and it had a pic of a huge hairy one on the front. I was like, KNOW YOUR DEMOGRAPHIC!!! Ffs.

Also, I would highly recommend the product. I’ve just moved house but in my last house I used to get loads, huge big ones as well. I got these little plug ins, and it was lifechanging. Initially it did draw out some which was horrible for a week or so. They used to run in circles clearly very discombobulated by the ultrasonic waves. Once they were gone, I barely had another beast for the rest of the years I lived there!
Have three in the new house and praying they work as well here!!

Yes I was totally terrified until one day I was alone with my young child and she was playing with a large spider abd I realized that if I reacted in my normal way I was going to make her frightened so I managed to contain myself and started talking to her about the spider I them trapped it under a glass and put it in the garden. (Previously I wouldn't have been able to be in the same room !)
After that I have been fine