I was terrified of spiders, big ones, small ones, hairy ones, I did not like them. I would freak out if I knew one was in a room, and the thought of them made me anxious and sweaty. I think my fear stems from a small spider falling on my face, from a wall, when I was a child, and I had issues with them ever since. Arachnophobia is very common, and spiders are hated by many. Getting over a fear of spiders is possible though. I did it.
When I first moved to London, to work as a nanny, I lived with a lovely family, who had a small cottage in their garden, which was where I resided at the end of my days work. It was perfect, except for ONE thing, it came with some seriously monstrous house spiders, that seemed to think they had a right to share my living space, and would scare the daylights out of me at frequent intervals. I would either have to get the Dad of the children I nannied for to come and get rid of them, or I would use a can of hairspray to spray them to death, then vacuum them up! (Yes, I know this is mean, please don’t send members of the Spider Lovers Society round to get me, I am reformed, I kill spiders no more)
It became a bit of a joke, my fear of these hairy beasties, and I used to dread spring and autumn, when they were most prevalent They are harmless, but are big, hairy, scuttle fast, and like to lurk and appear when you least expect them. Until one day, one of my friends, for my 21st birthday, sent me a voucher, for a Spider Therapy Course that she and some of my other mates had clubbed together to pay for me to attend. London Zoo do a special day where you can go and learn how to not be so scared of spiders.
I thought she had lost the plot, and was pulling my leg, and was totally aghast. I did NOT want to go, and have to face big hairy spiders! But when I rang them to book, the lady at the other end of the phone was so lovely, and reassuring, that I decided to give it a go, and went along.
The day is geared around talking about our fear of spiders and why we are scared. Lots of myths are dispelled and techniques similar to CBT are used to talk about our reactions to spiders. There is also hypnotherapy and some learning.
You also get to meet spiders, some big and rather scary looking ones and some British and not as scary. I was able to hold a Mexican bird-eating spider.
It was an AMAZING feeling, she was very gentle and slow, and her feet tickled, and she didn’t seem at all bothered by me. She was actually quite beautiful, and serene and it was truly a magic moment! I held a massive, hairy, quite scary-looking spider, and didn’t freak out, throw up, scream or try to run away! I am still not a huge lover of spiders, but they don’t freak me out, I can happily pick one up in a wine glass and despatch it outside, I can watch tv programs with them in, and see pictures without being upset. Just as well really, because I am married to a South African who is terrified of anything that has eight legs, someone in the house needs to be able to cope with them, don’t they?
How could you be scared of that little face? I’m not anymore.
A spider course would be my worst nightmare! Popping over from Magic Moments. x
Lol, I thought so too, even as I was doing the day, but it really did help me. Was definitely and unforgettable experience!
wow this is amazing,i had no idea there were courses for this..i am scared of spiders xx popping over from #Magicmoments xx
London Zoo and others do them. I had no idea until someone decided I needed to go on one! I know you can do hypnotherapy etc. for arachnophobia, but this course was much more informative and helpful, I reckon!
I am much better with them, since the course. It definitely helped me!
OMG Karen I am in awe! Although i dont freak out at them i dont like being near them but that big one would of made me wee!!
Another fab post honey, thanks for linking up for #magicmoments 🙂 x
Lol! Your comment made me laugh! It was a pretty cool experience! 🙂
Oh my god you brave woman – I would have probably slightly freaked out thinking the spider would be able to sense fear of something, well done! It does look v beautiful when you look at it.
She apparently was the best, most friendly spider, who didn’t mind being handled, hence why they used her for the course. She didn’t move fast or seem bothered by me at all!
Living where we do, our house is shared with spiders and whilst I don’t love them, I now just scoop them up and put them outside. Although many years ago when I worked with the Army, I had an enormous Rosie dropped onto the top of my head and feeling the legs crawling through my hair freaked me out and then it jumped really quite high and far and I thought I was going to faint hahaha.
It is brilliant that she has cured you of your fear though.
Gosh, I think I would freak out if one landed on my head! A friend of mine tells a very funny story of one landing on her leg when she was on the loo one night, in the dark and she screamed and woke up the whole house, they may not bother me any more, but landing on me out of nowhere would probably make me freak out!
I don’t mind spiders, but wasps! If I had to do this with wasps, I would freak! Well done you for going and facing your fears!
I LOATHE wasps, I don’t think there is a course that could persuade me to love them! 😉
Wow brave lady. I would have run a mile! I didnt even know spider therapy courses existed!
They’re apparently very popular, definitely helped me!
Wow you’re very brave – I never knew such courses existed!! Popped over from magic moments xx
I think I should let London Zoo know I have been promoting their course on my blog! 😉 Thanks for commenting!