If you're an arachnaphobe like me......

I have been a bit wary for the past few weeks as I know it is coming to "That time of year" .I won't get up to use the toilet in the middle of the night ,last year I had gone to the toilet about 4 ish then tossed and turned so decided to put my bedside lamp on and read when I spotted a huge one on the carpet I screamed and swore until OH woke up in his bedroom and removed it out of the bedroom window but not before it ran behind some books( that said I no longer have a pile of books next to my book case).I know it is an irrational fear and the only one I have but I think it's the way they move so quickly ,I also know they can't hurt me and I should feel sorry for them as they have terrible eyesight but I am terrified of them...it is the only time of year I wear slippers in case I accidentally stand on one.

I think mine came from when I was living in Singapore and a massive spider, the size of a dinner plate, appeared on the wall next my bed and inches from me. I would never go through any treatment to get rid of the phobia as it means looking at them and touching them. No I will just avoid them.

Sorry, poor wording, Yes, I am afraid of some things, in a normal way, but have no phobias.

Fluerpepper
I can’t look at a picture, one popped up on my phone for some odd reason the other evening, and I threw my phone across the room screaming.
So any sort of aversion therapy would be completely out.

Fleurpepper

I understand it is a phobia- but do any of you have any ideas why, where it comes from and how/when? Inherited from a parent?

My parents taught me to not be afraid of anything- and I am very grateful.

Have you ever thought about having treatment for this. I mean, many OHs would not have been able to come home from work or not go on essential meetings/conferences, etc, because of a partner's phobia.

Not inherited from a parent in my case. It’s irrational, as phobias are, and I can’t pinpoint where it came from. I don’t like creepy legs that you don’t know where they are going and things I can feel walking on me. I don’t believe you when you say you don’t have fear of anything, that actually is much less normal than having a fear of something (whatever).

Barmeoldbat
I’m the same, but my family don’t play tricks because they know I am truly terrified.
Sadly my children are pretty neurotic, my fault I know, but my mother wasn’t remotely bothered, she’d pick them up and put them out.

I read my daughter Charlottes Web which she loved and because of it she would never hurt a spider. But she thinks that she was lying in bed one night and a spider fell on her which set off a lifelong fear of spiders. She once tried to get out of a moving car because she saw a spider in it.

I understand it is a phobia- but do any of you have any ideas why, where it comes from and how/when? Inherited from a parent?

My parents taught me to not be afraid of anything- and I am very grateful.

Have you ever thought about having treatment for this. I mean, many OHs would not have been able to come home from work or not go on essential meetings/conferences, etc, because of a partner's phobia.

I am so afraid of them, irrational I know, but it’s a truly terrible fear. I can’t even touch them in a picture and have to turn the page quickly. My horrible children when they were young would take great delight in putting a small piece of black paper on my shoulder and then shouting what’s that on your shoulder, you just turn your head enough to black and then go into total meltdown because you think it’s a spider..

Teacheranne
Much to my poor husbands irritation, every time I wake up during the night I put the light on and check all the bedding, of course his great fear is that I will see one, and he’ll spend the rest of the night looking for it.

Patsy70

I was listening to someone on BBC Radio Kent this morning, offering advice on how to keep spiders out of the home. Apparently, the female spiders are already in, and it’s the male spiders who come in looking for a mate. Once they have ‘done the deed’ the male dies! He suggested keeping the curtains open, as they dislike light, spraying (as above) with peppermint or lemon oil, sprinkling around the windows with bicarbonate of soda, avoiding using cardboard boxes for storing in dark corners. There were other tips ………….

I knew about the male spiders looking for a mate and thought that by removing the female ones constantly throughout the summer, the big fat hairy males ones would not come in to mate. All was well, no big ones seen for a few years - until last week!!

I was going to the toilet at 2 am and saw one lurking on my bedroom floor! Luckily I’d put a small light on which I think froze it as I was able to grab an empty glass and piece of card to catch it before it scuttled away. I do have a spider catcher that vacuums them into a tube but I tripped up after I grabbed it and the battery fell out so I had to resort to a more dangerous method!

I’m now keeping an eye out every time I get up in the night! Over the years I have found dead spiders in bed with me after I must have squashed them in my sleep - at least three times! Nightmare!

It definitely seems earlier this year, I don’t normally see them until September/October.

Lucca

CoolCoco

Spiders in the UK can't hurt anyone, and they are a vital part of the ecosystem. Think positively about these amazing creatures.

You can’t say that about phobias. It’s like telling someone with depression to cheer up.

I'm not frightened of spiders but my GD is ,it doesn't matter what you say nothing affects her attitude. She has a phobia just like I knew someone who went hysterical when seagulls flew near and I don't like snakes. I have nearly stood on an adder and nearly fainted on it.

CoolCoco

Spiders in the UK can't hurt anyone, and they are a vital part of the ecosystem. Think positively about these amazing creatures.

You can’t say that about phobias. It’s like telling someone with depression to cheer up.

Spiders in the UK can't hurt anyone, and they are a vital part of the ecosystem. Think positively about these amazing creatures.

There was a tarantula hiding under the tv unit last week which migrated to my bedroom. I spotted it lurking and managed to put it out. Funnily enough Oldbat there was a Daddy -long-legs at my bedroom window last night,trying to get in, and another at a bedroom window this morning. I did think it was a bit early for them. Franbern I'm not a big fan of them either.

crane flies area particular fear of mine. My children still recall, with amusement, that whenever we came home during September and October, the 'ritual' we had to go through to come into the house. Front door open, everyone scuttle through as quickly as possible, no light permitted to be put on until we were all indoors and door closed and all curtains closed.

I have always maintained that my greatest parental achievement was that none of my children are scared of spiders.

I do not want them killed, but do not want them in my home.

Early yet for a daddy long legs!

I’m petrified if they start running! The ones who live behind picture frames tend not to move much I can cope with. Those humongous big bodied long legged racers are too much for me. No daddy long legs in evidence as yet this year - I don’t mind them.

Fleurpepper

How sad. Spiders do a brilliant job of getting rid of all sorts of others bugs and are totally harmless.

Do you have any idea where this phobia comes from?

Everybody has irrational fears Fleurpepper, it’s part of the human condition.

No problems with spiders personally, hate flies in the house but not bothered by spiders.

Always told by mum it was bad luck to kill a spider, so just catch them and pop them outside.

Thanks for the warning but a little bit too late!!! Came downstairs this morning and there was a monster of a spider in our kitchen sink. Think the neighbours heard the scream ?

Oh I’m already completely neurotic, I wouldn’t be able to live on my own I’m sure.
I have got my husband home from work on several occasions, he is meant to go to a conference in Germany every September but has to explain he can’t go.
None of the gadgets work for me because I can’t get close enough.
I have those electronic gadgets everywhere, but I shall definitely buy some peppermint oil.

How sad. Spiders do a brilliant job of getting rid of all sorts of others bugs and are totally harmless.

Do you have any idea where this phobia comes from?

I was listening to someone on BBC Radio Kent this morning, offering advice on how to keep spiders out of the home. Apparently, the female spiders are already in, and it’s the male spiders who come in looking for a mate. Once they have ‘done the deed’ the male dies! He suggested keeping the curtains open, as they dislike light, spraying (as above) with peppermint or lemon oil, sprinkling around the windows with bicarbonate of soda, avoiding using cardboard boxes for storing in dark corners. There were other tips ………….

Be careful with conkers if you have a dog as they’re poisonous to them.