"Curing" arachnophobia

[MKR&*42]

I don't have just a tiny phobia , its absolutely massive and I get petrified of the smallest spider. I jump and scream near them and its really starting to bug me now cause I don't want to be afraid of such a silly thing (which is actually quite cute if you stare at it whilst its in a glass or sommet).

I've actually had a few nightmares recently involving spiders too and I just feel its at the point where I need to change it before it just gets even worse.

Trouble is I'm not actually sure how I'm meant to get over this phobia. I'm not gonna throw myself in the deep end and try and hold a tarantula or something cause id collapse I'm fear , but I'm not sire how else to get over it (inc. "professional" treatments)

Any help ? :/

[Mr-Trainor]

I'm also interested in what people suggest, because as you know I also have a fear of spiders.. Although maybe not as bad as you ;). But yeah idk really :S.

[noddy]

Try systematic desensitization. This is essentially a hierarchy of different levels of exposure to spiders, eg. the first stage being a looking a picture of a cartoon spider, and the final stage being holding a live tarantula. Gradually expose yourself more and more to a level of the hierarchy until you are comfortable with it 100%, then move on.

[lemons]

http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view/87392/killing-a-spider-o.gif



http://gifs.gifbin.com/062010/1277193438_huge-spider-on-the-ceiling.gif



but seriously just try to warm to spiders more in general like holding one :)

[OldLoveSong]

watch this vid
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNHK565cVe8
honestly this guy has such a love for tarantulas like their his family and its pretty heartwarming, try checking out his other vids. I was deathly afraid of spiders but after looking thru all his vids i even wanted to get my own tarantula !

[Empired]

My aunt did this thing where she went to a hypnotising course type thing. Basically it's like that thing where you can get hypnotised to stop smoking but they talk about spiders instead (A)

[geo]

andy's idea seemed pretty good but if u can look at a spider thru a jar then maybe you're not as scared as you think. :P if you really do wanna 'cure' it and fast, you could just try being really brave and next time you see a spider, get your parents to get it and hold it or be close to it or w/e.

[buttons]

Try systematic desensitization. This is essentially a hierarchy of different levels of exposure to spiders, eg. the first stage being a looking a picture of a cartoon spider, and the final stage being holding a live tarantula. Gradually expose yourself more and more to a level of the hierarchy until you are comfortable with it 100%, then move on.
yeah this is true BUT for every stage u pass you may just worry about the next stage, knowing it's going to be worse as you go along. imo jumping into your fear is the most effective way to get over it because it can teach you that it isn't as bad as you THINK but whatever, i feel like most people are happy to be scared instead of face their fear.

[noddy]

yeah this is true BUT for every stage u pass you may just worry about the next stage, knowing it's going to be worse as you go along. imo jumping into your fear is the most effective way to get over it because it can teach you that it isn't as bad as you THINK but whatever, i feel like most people are happy to be scared instead of face their fear.

well i tried 'jumping into it' with my Hemophobia and fainted lol

[buttons]

well i tried 'jumping into it' with my Hemophobia and fainted lol
idk i gradually got over my emetophobia somehow i guess by taking my mind off it whenever in the situation. or maybe being around loads of drunk kids desensitised me towards it.
have u tried systematic desensitization then?

[noddy]

not yet i am planning to start this summer

[Cerys]

Yeah, I guess the above answers are the best.
I can't really speak as I hate spiders too but:
Next time you see a spider, perhaps instead of freaking out and running away or whatever, just take it slow and perhaps study it for a second. As creepy as they look, they're completely harmless :)

[noddy]

Yeah, I guess the above answers are the best.
I can't really speak as I hate spiders too but:
Next time you see a spider, perhaps instead of freaking out and running away or whatever, just take it slow and perhaps study it for a second. As creepy as they look, they're completely harmless :)
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_DeVkd7Dag10/TCo_6xZrTLI/AAAAAAAAC9w/m7scEddDlQU/Brown_recluse_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_DeVkd7Dag10/TCpABt4VQPI/AAAAAAAAC94/LGNfM7VNUWU/black-widow-spider_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_DeVkd7Dag10/TCpAQ8KnWHI/AAAAAAAAC-Q/6vjKjQy1ifk/wandering_spider_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800p

these can all kill you

[Cerys]

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_DeVkd7Dag10/TCo_6xZrTLI/AAAAAAAAC9w/m7scEddDlQU/Brown_recluse_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_DeVkd7Dag10/TCpABt4VQPI/AAAAAAAAC94/LGNfM7VNUWU/black-widow-spider_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_DeVkd7Dag10/TCpAQ8KnWHI/AAAAAAAAC-Q/6vjKjQy1ifk/wandering_spider_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800p

these can all kill you


Saying harmless as in the ones over here/the majority over here.

I'm not going to say to someone who is so scared of spiders 'oh yeah btw they can kill you' am I.

[noddy]

haha i guess

[Chris]

Ask yourself what part of the spider is scaring you and then try to overcome that. At the end of the day they're not going to hurt you (most of them anyway) so you have nothing to fear.

[lolcatTheTiny]

i was terrified of spiders being around me, like crawling on me/touching. however, i still loved them, liked looking @ them (just didn't want them near me). few yrs ago, i was like i'm facing this, held a chilean rose tarantula twice, loved it! now i am fairly alright with spiders. so cure=hold a spider.

[Shar]

I am the same but when it comes to dogs and nothing can cure it :(

[chantellehugs]

I think one problem I have with my fear is the fact that there's so many different types of spiders that all look different. So even if I got used to one type I'd still worry about another one. E.g. the small jumping ones, those thin wispy ones that you sometimes miss and the normal house ones.
If you're really afraid you're not likely to willingly go near a spider but if there was ever a situation where you had absolutely no choice but to go near a spider or even catch one you'd eventually just do it. Sometimes my nerves and anxiety, when faced with any kind of insect whilst home alone, just turn into adrenaline and I end up egging myself on out loud as I catch/kill the insect.

[Phil]

I love spiders! I think they're so cool! The one in the video Sarah posted is beautiful! My girlfriend is also terrified of spiders so will be following this thread for advice.

As much as I love spiders, I'm terrified of daddy long legs. Not because they're highly poisonous, they just really freak me out.