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Arachnophobia.

(69 Posts)
Whingey Sun 13-Oct-24 18:03:58

Don't say its only a little spider. Was in a swimming pool once and all the women ran out screaming. Two girls on reception and one said to the other catch it in a cup from the vending machine. Girl came back and said it was too big to fit in the cup

Fleurpepper Sun 13-Oct-24 18:27:57

Genuine question 'WHY?. Where does this phobia come from???

BlueBelle Sun 13-Oct-24 18:40:56

They don’t bother me I just try and move them on When two of my grandkids were young we had a resident one in the loo and they were scared of it I gave it a name I think it was Mabel and we wove all sorts of stories around Mabel and she even sent a message after she left on her ‘hols’

Fleurpepper Sun 13-Oct-24 18:43:08

It's the time of year when they come in- in our house they are called 'Fred'. They eat lots of other critters and do a great job. If really necessary, it is 'upside down glass over and a piece of card, and gently out into garden.

henetha Sun 13-Oct-24 18:47:05

I try always to catch them and take them for a walk. But they seem to be getting larger lately and some are too big for my spider catching device.
I don't have a phobia about them, but don't want them actually ON me .smile

MissInterpreted Sun 13-Oct-24 19:04:09

Fleurpepper

Genuine question 'WHY?. Where does this phobia come from???

I'd hazard a guess that it's harking back to a very basic instinct to avoid spiders which could potentially be venomous.

fancythat Sun 13-Oct-24 19:07:33

I am not too bad with them unless they really big.

I think part of their problem is that they are ugly.

I may have said on here once, I went into the night time place for animals, in London Zoo. Boy, were the creatures in there ugly.

Babs03 Sun 13-Oct-24 19:23:37

I have a phobia, spiders and mice make me rush from wherever I am shrieking like a loon. Only big spiders, smaller ones that hang on webs in corners and don’t move are fine. But the big buggers move so quickly and always towards me.
I think could be a primordial fear of spiders that are venomous, sone do bite,

Babs03 Sun 13-Oct-24 19:25:14

Sorry posted prematurely meant to say some do bite, one bit my SiL whilst gardening and his arm swelled up and went red. Only when the redness had faded did he see the two pincer bites. Terrifying 😳

GrannyGravy13 Sun 13-Oct-24 19:33:30

I was petrified of spiders, our first trip to Australia staying in friends ranch drew back the curtains to see a dozen huntsman spiders (big hairy buggers)

I had a melt down, DH calmly said you have a choice you can fly back to UK today on your own or get over your fear.

I managed to get over my fear, I am the go to spider catcher at home, gym and friends houses. Quite happy to pick them up gently and relocate them.

Would never pick up a false widow, and know the deadly Aussie ones by sight.

Shinamae Sun 13-Oct-24 19:34:19

A couple of years ago, I pulled back my duvet to get into bed and a bloody great spider came galloping up and disappeared down the back of the headboard
Since then, I never get into bed unless I’ve checked my pillows lifted up the duvet and had a good look at the ceiling .
I don’t think they would be so scary to me if they ambled along, but they don’t,they move as though they’re jet propelled 😵‍💫😬

Oreo Sun 13-Oct-24 19:39:25

No such thing as removing gently with glass and card in the Oreo household😄they get zapped asap.

Tenko Sun 13-Oct-24 19:45:11

I don’t have a problem with spiders and leave them be. My dd has a phobia , no idea where it came from as dh is ok with spiders . So I’m the spider remover in our house , I take them outside , no squishing them . As they get rid of other bugs .

Nannynoodles Sun 13-Oct-24 19:48:14

We call them all Cotton Eye Joe, “where did you come from, where did you go?” 😂

watermeadow Sun 13-Oct-24 19:49:16

This common phobia is ‘atavistic’ - an instinctive fear inherited from our distant ancestors. Some people think spiders are alien, from outer space.
I’m not afraid of snakes or rats or any other beast ( though octopuses are repulsive) but am terrified of spiders. So was my mother and so is one daughter, despite us all taking care not to influence each other.

Shinamae Sun 13-Oct-24 20:00:07

Nannynoodles

We call them all Cotton Eye Joe, “where did you come from, where did you go?” 😂

Love it 😂😂😂

Mollygo Sun 13-Oct-24 20:14:11

Nannynoodles

We call them all Cotton Eye Joe, “where did you come from, where did you go?” 😂

We’re all enjoying that. Thanks Nannynoodles!

Madmeg Sun 13-Oct-24 20:24:58

Absolutely petrified of anything larger than a money spider - apart from the thin-legged garden ones. DH was once abroad for 4 months and I spotted a huge spider on the lounge carpet. I had to drop the heavy family bible on it - and there it stayed for 4 months. I hate killing anything but my fear is worse.

Babs03 Sun 13-Oct-24 20:29:04

Madmeg

Absolutely petrified of anything larger than a money spider - apart from the thin-legged garden ones. DH was once abroad for 4 months and I spotted a huge spider on the lounge carpet. I had to drop the heavy family bible on it - and there it stayed for 4 months. I hate killing anything but my fear is worse.

I hoover them up. Am a bit worried one might escape the hoover so I then put it in the garden until my OH is free to empty it.🤪

25Avalon Sun 13-Oct-24 20:46:01

If you wish to live and thrive
Let a spider run alive.

AreWeThereYet Sun 13-Oct-24 21:04:29

Spent the whole night awake a few nights ago watching a very big spider march around the top of the bedroom walls and across the ceiling. He may be the same one we ejected about this time last year, or his brother. He runs very fast and one time I tried to catch him with a jar he jumped over the jar, ran down my arm, down onto the floor and away.

Eventually I decided to get the spider-catcher (big jar and cardboard) and when I turned back he was on the bed and disappearing under the duvet. Took a while and lots of threats but I did finally catch him and eject him to the garden. He was bigger than the palm of my hand. Then spent most of the day sleeping.

MissInterpreted Sun 13-Oct-24 21:54:15

We've had a couple of big ones in the kitchen just the past couple of weeks - both times, the dog has calmly whacked them with a paw then eaten them! And I'm afraid if I get to them, then they get the same treatment as any other home invader would - and it ain't pretty!

Allira Sun 13-Oct-24 21:57:35

Fleurpepper

It's the time of year when they come in- in our house they are called 'Fred'. They eat lots of other critters and do a great job. If really necessary, it is 'upside down glass over and a piece of card, and gently out into garden.

Are they all called Fred?

My MIL had one that lived under her TV and came out each evening, he was called Fred too.
Some must be Freda.

The only ones that bite in this country have jaws too weak to bite humans.

SOS - Save Our Spiders

Shinamae Sun 13-Oct-24 22:05:42

I won’t kill one either, but if I can’t find it, I’ll sometimes sleep on the couch….😳
I am very short sighted and before I had my cataract done once I took my glasses off I couldn’t.of seen a spider if it was 6 inches from my nose, however now……

Skydancer Sun 13-Oct-24 22:31:38

I like them. They are fascinating if you watch them spinning their webs. They are amazing creatures. Please don’t kill them. They are part of the ecosystem which is in trouble.