Spiders

[lb24]

Why are so many people scared of spiders? They're not poisonous over here and yet we're still scared of them....?

[catlavender]

I'm petrified of spiders and there really is no logical explanation for it. I always have been though I have got better the older I've got. I think it's because of how they suddenly appear, it's the shock of them being in the bath or running across the floor in front of you when you least expect it. I can manage to move the odd small one now using a harmless spider catcher I have but big ones forget it. I've been know to get people off the street to move them and I can't sleep if I know there's one on the loose in my bedroom. Years ago I used to go cold and start shaking and crying if I saw one but that only happens now and again now. I really wish I wasn't like this but I just can't get over it. Any tips on how to deal with this fear would be greatly appreciated.

[naz_nomad]

---Ditto---

[lb24]

Apparently hypnotherapy helps.

[mosesg]

I understand how you feel Catlavender

I have resorted to getting the hoover out to hoover them up!!!!

If they are in the bath I drown them with boiling hot water!!!

[catlavender]

moses beware - I have a hair catcher in the shower cos I have long hair and it blocks the drains. One day last year I was pulling the hair out and there was a big clump. Whilst it was in my hand I suddenly realised it was a HUGE yellowish spider. I screamed, threw it in the sink and assuming it was dead as it had been under the shower with me (urgh!) tried to rinse it down the sink. It was too big and wouldn't go down the plug hole so I tried hot water hoping it would break it down but it wouldn't. I left it and went to work deciding to get someone to move it for me that night. I got home, looked in the sink and there it was sat up large as life. I couldn't believe it lived through all that but apparently they don't drown. You would have thought the hot water would scald them but this was one feisty spider. So be careful and make sure they are completely gone and block the plughole back up!

Personally my quandry is I don't like to kill them, although I have hoovered them up in sheer moments of panic.

I had hypnotherapy about 10 years ago now but only 2 sessions. I'd say it worked a little because I'm not as bad as I used to be like I said previously but I think I'd need a fair few sessions before I'm completely cured and it's too expensive for me at the moment. Can I take it you're not scared of them Ib24?

[vicious_sid]

Spiders not poisonous, hah, a couple of years ago I found this strange spider sitting in my bath (The bath was empty) and I did the usual thing and lifted the spider out and put it on the ground outside. The ungrateful brute bit me and my left arm subsequently inflated like a balloon. I won't describe tthe culprit (for the benefit of arachnophobes) but have posted the following urls for the curious.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/wildfacts/factfile s/353.shtml

http://www.uksafari.com/woodlousespiders.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodlouse_Spider

Happy viewing

[RLM89]

We do actually have the most poisonous spider on home soil I think you will find, it just isn't the deadliest because it has no way of injecting the venom into you, but if they did mutate it would kill you pretty quickly, it is known as the humble, Daddy Long-Legs

[pixie_woo]

Is a daddy-long-legs a spider?
I think they are also called Crane Flies.

[lb24]

Yes, i am scared of spiders. I was just wondering why it is that so many people are. I don't think i know anyone who isn't scared of them. Maybe we learn not to like them as we grow up through our parents?

By poisonous i meant a bite won't kill us like in Australia, etc. although the odd poisonous one apparently finds its way over here in people's luggage.

[catlavender]

My parents aren't scared of them so I can't blame them. Infact my Dad goes mad when I have a hissy fit and phone him up to come and move one. He doesn't understand!

I do think we probably learn not to like them from seeing other people's reaction to them in general though. I've never liked any form of insect, always been scared, but have improved a lot in recent years so hopefully will carry on getting better and by the time I'm ready to pop my clogs might just about be used to them!

[jump79]

Its their disgusting, long hairy legs ... its not normal to have eight legs!!

[mosesg]

Catlavender - My granny sprays them with hairspray before she hoovers them as this renders them immobile, haven't tried it myself, but must by very firm hold hairspray!!!!

[JOEYGREEN]

Oh my god Catlavender, I thought I was reading my own post! I am ABSOLUTELY petrified of the little blighters, to the extreme. I've thought about having hypnotherapy I'm that bad. I also know what you mean about your Dad having a go at you about being so scared. My fiance is exactly the same, he just doesn't understand. I don't like killing them either. I tend to either get someone to get them or if I'm alone I'll get the hoover out. I've even been known to squirt tomato sauce at one! Here at work my boss has to get them. I've tried the hairspray thing too but watching them curl up & die is horrible. One time I saw a massive spider run across the floor in our living room so I ran upstairs told my fiance & his mate to go get it and I stayed up there all night. In the morning I came downstairs to find a curled up dead spider on top of the fire place. I screamed at my fiance for not getting rid and he said that his mate was going to put it in my wallet. I would have actually died of heart attack. I hate any kind of insect too. You name it I hate it. I think I need help!

[elpea]

here's a previous post about the Daddy Long Legs spider

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Animals-and-Nat ure/Question294273.html

[snodhutch]

i hate spiders and they do appear to be getting bigger but rather than run from them i hit them with a shoe, sweep them up and put them down the toilet. We may not have any poisonous ones but i found out recently that they do bite, there was one in my bath towel which bit me under the arm, it hurt for days. Might give the hair spray a go next time