Sparklefizz
I am an arachnaphobe and getting worse. I can't even type the sp word. The trouble is, in order to tackle my phobia, I would have to picture them or think about them.... and I can't bear to do that.
I was like you. Terrified of them until I took 4 of my grandchildren to a Creepy Crawly Rainforest Roadshow. The very name should have given me an idea of the treats in store. Everything was fine to start with when the cockroaches, millipedes and stick insects were brought round but then came the arachnids. One GD who was around 4 wanted to hold one. Her hands were very small and I was demonstrating how to place one palm over the other like wings when the handler deposited this huge red kneed tarantula on my hands. I stood like a statue praying this thing would not move. I was mightily relieved when the lady took it but just that few moments changed my feelings towards spiders. I am not terrified of them anymore. If I come across them in the house I am afraid to say I squash them (howls of protest) because I don't like the thought of them running around but I no longer scream of the sight of them. I can see how exposure to your fear is a good way of tackling it.