Is anyone's fear of spiders as big as mine ...

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Absolutely hate this time of year.

I absolutely dread coming across 1 and even more so hate the dreaded scared little voice of my dd saying ... mum, theres a big spider in my room. 😱😱 (this moment just happened 😫) and yep, i have passed on my fear. I was hoping not to pass it on so she would catch them for me 😉 (she is 10) No such luck.

When I see one, I normally call my sister who provides me with encouragement (through laughter) to catch it. It can take me anytime up an hour on face time to her to catch it.. one time.. there was a shoe and a mop hanging out my toilet bowl trying to knock the dreaded monster off the wall .. much to my sisters amusement

On a serious note, my fear is so bad that I can't open my windows at this time of year. I know they come from all places but with windows shut I definitely get less

I am just so scared of them. I know they are more scared of me, but that little spider fact does not in anyway reduce my fear of them.

I do have a spider spray, that I spray around all doors, windows and nooks etc and it seems to be the best one yet as I have been getting less spiders than before i was using it but I wish so badly I could eliminate them all together.

Anyone else?

They terrify me. I think you’re a hero for catching them. I hoover them up or hit them with a shoe. Maybe throw a heavy book. I know it’s not nice but I need to sleep and if I put them outside they’ll just come back. I practically have a cellar spider brewing programme in place to make sure natural predation on the house spiders is high but plenty get past them. What’s the spray called? I tried one of those high frequency noise deterrent things and found the biggest house spider I think I’ve ever seen sitting right next to it. DH threw that one over the neighbours’ wall!

Breeding not brewing!!!

Over the years my control over my fear has improved. The fear hasn't gone away - a solid large spider will still take my breath away and have my heart racing whilst I work out what to do. But I now live alone, so I have to figure it out. Admittedly, the last very big one appeared in my bedroom. I shut the door on it and slept in my daughter's room instead!

Smaller ones go up the spider vacuum, ironically bought for me last Christmas by the now-ex husband! I was shaking like a leaf the first time I used it, but now I know how it works I'm more confident.

Apparently peppermint round your window frames will keep spiders away but it's toxic to cats.

Does the peppermint actually work? No cats here so not a worry, and perfectly happy to have a minty fresh home if it keeps me safe from the arachnid menace. I do try to use the Dyson mini vac for smaller ones. I suck them up and then put it outside and wait for them to climb out.

I’m with you, OP!

I’m not quite as bad as I used to be, but I still dislike this time of year.

Education is the best way to overcome your fear. Obviously it's hard to even want to learn about something you're that terrified of, but it sounds like your sister can give you lots of support and encouragement.
I used to be terrified of them - I'd scream so loudly if I saw one in my room as a kid (though it never helped), but by learning about them, I managed to overcome it and now I am a huge fan of them.
There are Facebook groups you can join where you can learn about them too and everyone is very encouraging.

The funny thing I used to be like you but I've overcome it in the last few years. I once avoided using my bathroom for weeks because of a spider. I just used the kitchen sink to have a wash down! I don't really know how I overcame it. I used to ask my husband to put them outside but he'd always just kill or maim them. I found this so upsetting that I started forcing myself to catch them with a glass and card. At first it would take me an hour to do it but now I just go straight up to them and do it. It's all done in seconds. I still feel nervous when I see a big house spider but I don't stop and think about it. I just grab the glass and do it. It took me years to get to this point but it's so liberating. I no longer worry about DH going away because I know I can deal with any spider I see.

I love spiders and am the family spider remover. They are lovely and very peaceful, unlike wasps which I hate.

@Confuciusornis oh no sorry wrong wording .. my catching them, is killing them. I could not physically catch it and have it in anything to take it outside. I have to splat them so I know it is gone. And even at that, I really really struggle to get close to them. My fear is probably more a phobia. Its really really bad. I will screenshot the spray. I have found a few dead because of this spray. I know it's terrible but either they die, or I do of a heart attack.

I bought spider plugs from amazon, got a 6 pack for £15 and I've not seen a single spider all spider season! I wasn't sure if they would work but I'm very happy! They send vibrations that we can't hear and it doesn't affect pets either but spiders hate it and don't come anywhere near and it has honestly worked!

@Confuciusornis sorry I can't bring myself to Google the spray because pictures of spiders come up. It's on amazon, called spider and insect killer spray. Black & red bottle.

I’m with you. In fact my fear has got worse rather than better. Totally irrational, totally out of control. I can’t get near them, let alone do the glass and paper trick, but at the same time I HAVE to know where they are meaning I’m frozen to the spot then frantically calling anyone I can think of who can save me.
The worst time was when I noticed a massive one in the car whilst driving (luckily in a small residential road that someone I knew someone lived on) parked/abandoned car, got out shouting for someone to help me. Cue a group of builders to the rescue … all whilst I’d left the baby and toddler in the car to fend for themselves

@Windy999 😂😂

That is one of my fears..I honestly hope that never happens to me whilst driving.

I am also like that. I hate looking at them but I cannot take my eyes off it incase it moves. I had to get my dd to keep her eyes on it tonight whilst I worked out a plan of action.

I once lived in a flat with a couple of other girls and we all had the fear. We screamed so loudly trying to get a massive spider that the neighbour chapped and asked if everything was OK.

I hate spiders, I really do but my new cat brought in either a mouse or a baby rat twice in a week. I managed to catch those and evict as I couldn’t kill them. Now spiders don’t seem too bad? Worth getting a cat to bring in rodents to make spiders not seem too bad?

And my cat is super cute which is the only reason she hasn’t been evicted!

She is also now an indoor cat for a few weeks until I recover!

I think the spray is Spiderex - I have it! It has a minty smell to it. I hate them too and won't open the windows yet either. I feel your pain OP!

@Confuciusornis no idea, I'm a cat owner and was this >< close to buying some when I thought I'd check about toxicity. But I'd read it in several places as being effective. Conkers and pennies do not work, I've tried those.

Both my cats kill them. I often come across flat ones that have been squashed by a paw. No live ones. They eat moths and flies but they refuse to eat spiders.

This is the stuff you need! I've cropped the picture to take out the picture of the spider, but this really works. Spray it liberally around doors/window frames and skirting boards and it keeps them away.

YANBU. I’m the same and I’m seeing a hypnotist next week so I’m hoping that might help. It’s actually ruining my life, I can’t relax at night so end up going to bed early and i’m constantly scanning the room looking for them. I’ve always been scared but this spider season my fear has ramped up. I know it’s not logical but it’s absolutely terrifying.

I think it’s the same can that I bought from Lakeland, not sure how effective it is as I used it in my bedroom but still found a big hairy spider in there two days later! I have a battery operated spider catcher, also from Lakeland, which is very effective although I have to be quick to get the big ones in at this time of year as they move so fast! Then I shake the tube down the toilet and flush it away! It’s no use putting them outside as I’ve seen tv programmes where they come straight in again!

Aw leave the beasties alone! They're trying to get laid at the moment so they can make lots of wee babies😂😂😂😂😂. I LOVE spiders!!!!!

My fear is crippling. It's a completely debilitating phobia, that only seems to get worse the older I get. I can't even contemplate the glass/card, long handled catcher or vacuum. Even at a distance that would feel like touching them.
I have managed to spray them at a distance, but I've had to get someone else to remove the body. I can't even cope with a dead one, but it's been a few years since I even managed the spray.
This year I've done a combination of the previously recommended spray (I had to put a sticker over the picture- why someone thought putting a picture of the fucker on the bottle, I have no idea) & the Indorex flea spray.
I'm also trying to live with those cellar things, because they apparently kill the big ones. They also don't move much, which is half the problem with the house/garden version & they don't look as bad because they're so thin.
All in all it's been a winning combo. I haven't had one runner 🤞I'm worried I may be now lulled into a false sense of security, but I'm hoping the season is pretty much over.