Spider Phobia

[Biscombe]

It's time to sort mine out............

Re potting my many many aloe vera plants and I see a average sized spider, I shriek and flee with a racing heart feeling nauseous!
I know this may sound crazy to many of you but this is my normal reaction when encountering a spider, and it's gettin on my nerves, I feel like a twit!
I really want to like spiders, so I'm taking action, what, I don't know!
Have any of you ever had a phobia treated?
Help............. ::)
PS other creepy crawlies give me the same reaction,which buggers up my gardening! My DH has to come to the rescue!!

[Biscombe]

[Barnowl]

My Mum is also phobic about spiders. I got her a spider vacuum which she has found very useful.  I think it makes her feel more in control.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fito-Spider-Bug-Buster/dp/B000LW1SWG/ref=pd_bbs_3?ie=UTF8&s=garden&qid=1199453424&sr=8-3

[lorna]

Will watch this thread with interest Biscombe. My son and son-in-law who top the 6ft mark are both terrified of spiders, and no 1 daughter can sense when there is a spider anywhere in the room and makes a quick exit.

[elsie]

At the height of my fear I used to have spider sense too! I once had my mum turn a room upside down looking for one, she couldn't find it anywhere, eventually persuaded to go in I pushed the door to and there it was hiding on the back of the door!!! :o Nowadays I'm very scared of them, rather than petrified, and the main problem for me is that I'm as scared of them dead as I am alive!?!
I will be very interested to see if anyone has any tips, as it's so hard to do things at the allotment when I'm scared to move anything that hasn't been moved for a week! Drives my OH bananas, especially when I keep collecting "useful junk" for the allotment by our back door.

[Jeannine]

This probably won't help but as a child I was scared to death of spiders, my dad convinced me somehow that I needed to make friends with them and to start by giving them a name, it certainly worked with me as a child as I am very fond of them now, but as an adult I don't know. I have tried it with other  kids and it seems work.

My Dad used to say, call it George and make it your friend.

I do hope this doesn't sound too frivolous as I realise a phobia can be a nightmare, but it is a thought if you have a young child that is getting worried.

XX Jeannine

[carolinej]

I was always really scared of spiders.

One day, I was cleaning out the garage and moved an old rag. Underneath was a nest of minute baby spiders. Their mum stood over them with her legs stretched out to protect them, instead of running away.

This really touched me, as I had never thought about spiders being protective of their offspring, especially to the extent where they would put their own life at risk for them.

Call me mad, but since then, I have found it easier to live with them.

That was years ago. Last month, there was a tiny spider in the bath. Usually, I get them out with a piece of paper. I decided to go for it and try letting it run on to my hand to help it get out. I did it!!

I shouldnt imagine getting over any phobia is a quick job, Best of luck!

cj :)

[Biscombe]

Great stories, thanks  :-* It took me a while before I could go out and tend to my aloes!
Barnowl, I like the vaccum idea, the DH made me pooter device  (shown below) but It meant sucking the pipe at one end placing the other end on the spider, then spider ends up in the jar! bless him  ;D the problem is, I don't being that close never mind sucking, that close to a spider!!!  :-\ I think I'll go for your device Barnowl or see If I can get hold of a Psychiatrist!  ;) ::)

[Baccy Man]

You don't need a psychiatrist modern technology has produced a virtual reality cure for arachnophobia now.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3231029.stm

[elvis2003]

ill be following this thread with great interest,as i am terribly spider phobic,to the degree of not being able to go in our shed..not so bad as OH always makes yje yea ho ho ho...even a pic of a spider makes me shriek,so ta baccy man for the link and the photo of the tarantula!!!! xx

[Froglegs]

I have the same problem with Moths. :'(

[manicscousers]

mine's wasps  :-X

[Lauren S]

And mine will be slow worms as they look like snakes  :'(  :'(  :'(

[valmarg]

I was taught the old saying 'If you want to live and thrive, let a spider run alive'.

I find it difficult to understand arachnophobia.  Spiders are so much smaller than humans, they don't bite, they don't sting, so what's to be afraid of?  After all they are 'good guys' they eat flies

manics, I can understand your phobia of wasps in Autumn, but in the Spring they are one of the best 'good guys'.  Their voracious appetite for insects, catarpillars, etc to feed their larvae makes them a very welcome visitor to the garden.  In the Autumn, when they no longer have larvae to feed, and are close to death, they get a bit dozy on rotting/fermenting fruit, and that's the time they are most likely to sting.

valmarg

[Jeannine]

OK Valmarg, now explain slugs to me,,,ggrhh  XX Jeannine

[Biscombe]

I was taught the old saying 'If you want to live and thrive, let a spider run alive'.

I find it difficult to understand arachnophobia.  Spiders are so much smaller than humans, they don't bite, they don't sting, so what's to be afraid of?  After all they are 'good guys' they eat flies

Valmarg, I totally understand what you are saying, I know spiders are good for the planet, and I wouldn't dream of killing one, Phobias are totally irrational and I hate having one! I need help!!  ;)

[rosebud]

My phobia is flipping earwigs. ::) ::)

[Jeannine]

So  why do you flip them, sorry couldn't resist XX Jeannine

[valmarg]

OK Valmarg, now explain slugs to me,,,ggrhh  XX Jeannine

Well I certainly don't have a phobia about them, but I really cannot think of a rational reason for them to be on the planet.

I understand some of them do good in the compost heap, but to go into the greenhouse, only to find that your seedlings/cuttings have been 'mown off'.  No I can't explain them.  In fact I hate them. >:( >:(

valmarg