To people with a spider phobia
- Thread starter Miss Chicken
- Start date
I got to scrolling to the start of the second post - realised that it already contained photos I really didn't want to see, and haven't read any more.
The theory of desensitisation is sound, I just don't think I'd survive the experience with my sanity intact.
The theory of desensitisation is sound, I just don't think I'd survive the experience with my sanity intact.
I can handle spiders. Not my favorites, and that brood up there would send me looking for bug spray, but I can deal.
What I absolutely cannot handle is cockroaches. I have an utterly visceral reaction to them that involves leaving the vicinity as quickly as possible and pretending they don't exist. Over time I've been able to screw up my courage enough to spray at them from a distance, but they don't die right away and you have to chase them. Disposing of dead ones is nearly as bad as encountering live ones. Not quite, but close enough to be nearly negligible.
What I absolutely cannot handle is cockroaches. I have an utterly visceral reaction to them that involves leaving the vicinity as quickly as possible and pretending they don't exist. Over time I've been able to screw up my courage enough to spray at them from a distance, but they don't die right away and you have to chase them. Disposing of dead ones is nearly as bad as encountering live ones. Not quite, but close enough to be nearly negligible.
Sorry, I was hurt pretty badly by a spider bite and can't afford to 'be nice' to them.
Die you web-farting pricks!
Die you web-farting pricks!
I have a solution for you. Migrate to Tasmania. All we have here are native cockroaches which don't live in houses.
We do however have the deadliest ants in the world (they kill more Tasmanians than sharks, spiders and snakes combined do).
Man, I hope spiders and cockroaches never mate; flying, hissing spiders ... as you were.
I'll never forget my roommate had one of those in her room in our first apartment. I had to spend all night tearing through her shit trying to find this Palmetto. I lied and said OK found it...you're all good -- bitch wanted me to produce the body...I was busted.She wouldn't sleep in her room for at least a week.
To everyone freaked out by the spider and her brood...I guess you all are city folk?
Nope. I'm a suburban boy.
If I had encountered it in my house, that brood would have suffered from a blast of salt out of an air rifle (probably several-that's like bird-shot for bugs), a good coating of bug spray, followed by me yelling for a parent to do something with it. Most of the time, I'm a scaredy cat...When we first moved into this house, going on 4 years now, one spring day I came home from school to probably 500 baby spiders covering out kitchen ceiling, near where the brick from the fireplace meets the plaster of the wall. They also spilled into the family foom. even my mom was a bit freaked out...she took the vacuum, and spent an hour sucking them up. Still gives me the shakes when I think about it.
I'll never forget my roommate had one of those in her room in our first apartment. I had to spend all night tearing through her shit trying to find this Palmetto. I lied and said OK found it...you're all good -- bitch wanted me to produce the body...I was busted.
Im the same way, if there's a palmetto in the room I wont return to the room until its DEAD.And geez are those suckers hard to kill!
whacking them with a broom will not phase them, and it takes a ton of bug spray to take them down!yeah, I always need someone to kill them for me b/c just the thought and sound of them being squished grosses me out.
How big is that supposed to be? Or am I supposed to notice the monkey face?
AAaaAAaargh!
This thread is a sure fire way of developing a spider phobia, it seems...
This is exactly the technique I used to treat myself. I picked up a Collins Gem book on Spiders and read up on them. This combined with studying arthropod evolution and palaeontology gave me not only the required perspective that they're just creepy crawlies like any other, but also a healthy respect for their long presence on the planet and their skill as predators. I've had tarantulas walk across my hand (feather touch -- really soft like fluffy kittens) and my daughter has been raised with no fear of them (unlike myself!).
Being in the UK we get European house spiders which are much larger than the ones in North America (and apparently less aggressive). The males will roam in search of mates and whilst their bodies aren't too large their legspan can approach 7cm which is quite impressive when you catch sight of one crossing the floor. The cats usually get those; otherwise we put them outside. I have a smaller spider (NA house spider sized) in a corner of the shower room. I'm now with the traditional Chinese view that "spiders in the house are good luck," though the aggressive/venomous variety would not be welcome in my home!
Being in the UK we get European house spiders which are much larger than the ones in North America (and apparently less aggressive). The males will roam in search of mates and whilst their bodies aren't too large their legspan can approach 7cm which is quite impressive when you catch sight of one crossing the floor. The cats usually get those; otherwise we put them outside. I have a smaller spider (NA house spider sized) in a corner of the shower room. I'm now with the traditional Chinese view that "spiders in the house are good luck," though the aggressive/venomous variety would not be welcome in my home!
I'll never forget my roommate had one of those in her room in our first apartment. I had to spend all night tearing through her shit trying to find this Palmetto. I lied and said OK found it...you're all good -- bitch wanted me to produce the body...I was busted.
Im the same way, if there's a palmetto in the room I wont return to the room until its DEAD.And geez are those suckers hard to kill!
I've found that my heel works best...
I suddenly feel compelled to start a spider phobia recovery group. $20.00 per person.