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.

I think they should make a spider catcher with a right angled handle for when the begger is on the ceiling. I wouldn't want it dropping on my head.

Hugh - I suppose you could use a very long pencil to push it shut!

I hope I dont have spider nightmares tonight ! You lot have set my recovery back somewhat!

I hate big spiders and also struggle with Hoover solution, however have begun to master it as a necessity since divorce! Horrid spider story... My friend was camping in Greece and woke up with her eye all swollen, unable to open it, went to chemist for sting treatment, and they said it was a spider bite, this also happened to my friends little boy in Australia again on the eye. She was told eyes and corners of mouth when you are sleeping are the most likely places for this as they are attracted to the moisture while you sleep.....They drink from you!!! Aargh!! Took me ages to sleep soundly again.

Jocasta - thanks for that little bedtime gem!

The corners of my eyes and mouth feel moist now, and I can just imagine a spider up my nose - you lot are terrors!

Ha sorry I've scared myself if it's any consolation.... Do you think I should invent some kind of preventative spider contact nightwear/headgear and approach dragons den with it? There could be a market :)

Another vote here for the London Zoo programme - it really is good.

I'm still going to buy one of these Katcha things, though. Thanks for the tip.

I remember the absolute revulsion I felt once when I opened the front door, stepped through and something massive and black fell right in front of my face, bounced off my arm and went scuttling away... it was one of those huge tarantula-like spiders, must have been on the outside of the door. Ugh ugh ugh.

It's just the sheer SPEED with which a lot of the big hairy house spiders scurry across the floor that horrifies me... I can cope with the ones that just sit up in a corner and stay put. Those ones are allowed in the house, as long as they are high up and away from my face.

In conclusion, I could probably do with one of these Bug Katcha things.

Jocasta - admit it - you're trying to create a market for your netting headwear - and it's working! I want one NOW! I feel like sleeping in my tent (all zipped up)!

I was talking to someone about spiders and she highly recommended one of these

you have to be careful not to damage the brush but apparently it works brilliantly (thanks you have reminded me I wanted to buy one!)

I was out with a friend Tuesday and the webs in the woods were beautiful as it was foggy they were all white and dewy - I tried not to think about the fact that the hundreds of webs around me meant there were spiders to go with them

BlueSky - I'm going to get one (or two). I like the Katcha Bug because the spider is inside it, but this catcher thingy sounds better for corners.

Adventure - her advice though was don't store it standing on the brush, she was on her second one as she had done that.

BlueSky - thanks for the tip!

I have a huge spider phobia. I hate this time of year when they all start appearing inside.
Strangely, finding out a fact has actually helped me a bit.

Did you know that all these gigantic spiders appearing indoors are NOT doing so because they're looking for somewhere warm (as most people think). The cold doesn't bother them. They are usually mature males just searching for a mate in the autumn mating season. Hence why most of those appearing indoors are huge!

The fact that i've found out that these spiders are just out looking for a girlfriend and are not going to try creeping into my bed because it's so cosy has actually made me mind them a lot less.

True gangsters. Also, they don't actually want to be in your house at all. House spiders is a misnomer, they only come in by accident. I used to feel under siege in autumn, imagining them all making a beeline from the fields towards my inviting house but it's not the case.

I really do recommend the London zoo programme though. I'm honestly cured of my phobia. Yesterday I let DS carry a big un downstairs by himself and take it outside, would never have done that before in case he dropped it! Also caught one on the sofa, sat back on the sofa afterwards and didn't even think until much later how I would have been a nervous wreck this time last year, probably wouldn't have sat on the sofa again for several days and definitely wouldn't have been able to sleep that night. It has transformed my life.

It has transformed my life

Congratulations! A good friend of mine says exactly the same as you, although she got her treatment through the NHS. It was so successful that they later videoed her handling spiders for training purposes.

I wish more people would get this wretched phobia treated, if only to avoid passing the same problem on to their children.

That was a consideration for me too. I thought there is no way DS won't absorb the message that they are terrifying and dangerous so I had to do something about it.

Sally - yes! My DH really doesn't like spiders, although he will catch them with an arm's length device. But our boys have picked up on it, and started saying stuff about not wanting to go in the bathroom if there's a spider in there. Not impressed! They get regular lectures on how much bigger and scarier they are than a spider.

The thing is, I know that I am bigger and scarier to the spider that it should be to me, but that makes NO difference at all to how I react to them.

Strangely, I am not nearly so bothered by them outdoors. I wouldn't go and pick one up or anything, but they BELONG there and I have plenty of space, if that makes sense. It is when they come into the house that they terrify me. I feel cornered, and almost as if they might march on me.

I know it is irrational, but I can't seem to stop it, and as someone else said, phobias are irrational by definition.

YY Ehric - that's the thought that's helped me. The knowledge that the spiders are there by accident and they're not intentionally making for my house.

Very strange way to think about it...because I know the spiders have no intentions to be in my house, I don't mind their presence quite so much...df thinks i'm a nut lol.

Most of the fears we have about spiders are actually myths. Sometimes it helps to bring some humor into the situation. Take a look at this short animation on the fear of spiders:

So that'd be SIXTEEN legs all tangled together?? Yep that makes it so much easier to handle!

And then thousands of tiny baby ones ...arghhhh