To tell you how I overcame my fear of spiders?

[AdventureTed]

I was terrified of them, but by using a Katcha Bug / Bug Katcha (whatever it's called) from the Betterware catalogue, I'm not that bothered by them any more.

I bought one to put spiders outside - I didn't realise it would also make me less scared of them. I take one with me when I go on holiday - it'it's made a big difference to my life.

I tried one of those vacuum catchers, but couldn't stand the thought of a spider zoom towards my hand even if it is in a plastic tube.

I think the Katcha Bug works because it puts you in control of the situation, while the spider is kept at arms length. I think they should mention this phobia lessening effect in the catalogue. I bought one for my mum and it's helped her too.

YANBU at all! Im petrified of spiders, I can just about stand one in the same room as me. My teen DD is worse, and I feel so sorry for her that Im considering hypnotherapy..Ive never ever showed my distaste of spiders in front of her, but she shakes when she sees one..goes back to when she was very young, waking up to see a spider on her pillow inches from her face.

Maybe we should both go for therapy..but the Katchabug thing sounds good, so Im going to get one..its just, I cant imagine even approaching a spider tho! I tell myself theyre much smaller than me and probably more scared than I am but, still..I hate them

Up your DP's nose? You're going to have me phobic again!

I used to be scared of even tiny "eight wheelers", but now even if I catch a big one, I can put my hand right under it while it's in the Bugcatcher - I wouldn't have even stayed in the same room before.

I keep one in the car too. I think it helps to practice being near to spiders outside- this gives you a sense of control because you can walk away if you want to.

I can't even look at them

I even go camping now! I bought an Outwell tent that has mesh that zips up around the doorways and an attached groundsheet. I've never seen a spider in it yet.

We have a big Steve Backshall poster on the wall with him holding a big furry one, and that doesn't bother me now either, whereas before, I couldn't look at a little one in a book.

London zoo run an absolutely brilliant program to help people overcome their fear of spiders.

I want one!! I am so petrified of thehuge, scary hairy venomous evil eight legged creatures of doomm that I too am too scared to just hoover them up because even though are in the plastic tube they are still coming closer to me. I know it makes no sense, but phobia is illogical!

KittensoftPuppydog what do they do? Do they make you hold spiders?!

Funnily enough if I were forced to hold a spider then I think I could cope with a tarantula. If someone else were there beside me calmly talking me through it. Even tho Id probably still cry. But its housespiders that terrify me. They move quickly..you look up and theyre just there, and I dont know where they crawled from..Im freaking myself out now...!

I couldn't look at them either, let alone touch a photo...

The did this and was happily holding massive house spiders and a tarantula three hours later. If you'd told me I'd touch a spider I wouldn't have gone on the course as I wouldn't have been able to think of anything worse.

One year on and I would still happily hold a tarantula, although probably not a big house spider. I would happily put it in a glass and outside though.

Sounds dramatic but has changed my life.

Massive cross post with kitty!

We have had some massive spiders this year, last night I went to bed earlier than planned as I could hear the pitter patter of spider feet on my conservatory floor.

Even the word spider makes me shudder. I widh I could get over the fear.

Wish not widh

I've just seen that you can get the bug katcha from Amazon as well. They get great reviews, but if there's something even better out there I'll be getting some of those too.

This sounds stupid, but the less clearly I can see the spider, the less I'm bothered by it. I suppose it's like looking at a bug under a microscope as opposed to seeing it in real life and not seeing the details.

I should get one of those and try to get DH and DD to use it.

I used to be quite scared of spiders - not phobic - and oddly enough got a lot better when I returned to the UK after a couple of years in the US. Because I knew that while they did have some really nasty ones, ours really aren't harmful. Sort of 'meh - its not like its a black widow'.

I second the catcher it's great. I used to be terrified and would have the 'spidey sense' walking into a room with a spider in and the hairs on the back of my neck would stand up. After moving to an old house and seeing one every day in September which I had to get somebody to remove , I thought that's it - I have to get a grip of this or it will control me forever! So bought a catcher and now deal with them myself. I find it helps to have a silly conversation with them to make them seem less scary. I am keen that my dd is not scared of them so don't make any drama and she calls them Mr Skinnylegs like Peppa Pig does! My Mum used to scream the place down with any insect and I'm sure this was passed on to me. She also got me stung by a wasp by flapping,but that's another story!

I saw Bear Grylls pick a massive one off a wall and gobble it up - bleurghh. Put me off my tin of Roses (for at least a minute - quite a feat).

Several zoos do spider programmes, and if you really have a serious problem your GP can refer you for NHS treatment. It can change your life.

Crumbly - when I was house-hunting years ago, I ruled out one house because it had spiders in it. I was really bad.

I think I will take my children along to the zoo to desensitise them. It really is life changing. I too used to be able to sense when there was a "sidney" about, but I was always subconsciously looking for them. I would sit with my feet up on the sofa in case one legged it across the floor.

You can get anti spider spray (containing chestnut oil? ). I don't know if it works.

Spiders don't like conkers or mint, just saying. :P

If you lightly spray doorframes and any "holey" areas with a solution of warm water and fresh mint leaves, you'll find the number of unwanted visitors decrease significantly.

I did it in our ivy hell hole 1500s cottage which was full of huge spiders when we moved in - it works. :) Never saw a big one walk in front of me again!!

I'm not sure I could hold the bug catcher with a spider in it. Still plucking up courage to Hoover a dead one up in the lounge!

I did manage to hold a tarantula last year but house spiders are a whole different thing.

Someone on here recommended Dethlac spray - I've bought three cans, used it twice so far, kills them fairly quickly. Squashing them with the cats scratching post aided a hasty demise

Thanks for the heads up Ted I will be investing in one :-)

I forgot to say as you most probably already know but it is very bad luck to kill spiders so I have adhered to this throughout my fear of spiders,i've always used a glass with card to trap