The two suggestions above are purely behavioural aproaches. Whilst not necessarily invalid, such approaches often require a more conscious, mental preparation in order for them to be most productive.
A cognitive behaviourial therapist would probably ask you questions aimed at ascertaining exactly what it is about arachnids that makes you feel as you do. The theory goes that pinpointing what the fear boils down to is the first step in tackling the fear (this by itself is likely to achieve very little, but as part of a wider approach could be very useful).
General relaxation techniques work for some people - sort of training yourself to relax in a low key meditative kind of way. Once developed, they can be used as a tool to be deployed in particular situations, eg when confronted, either physically or mentally, by arachnids.
Being emotionally equipped in this way is likely to yield greater results, when entering the arachnid section of the zoo, than if you had not done this. Just to labour the point yet further(!), without the relaxation ability, it may be difficult to cope with the fear.
There could (and one might argue, should) be further steps after the relaxation techniques but before reaching the zoo compound. Such steps would probably include gradual habituation and mental rehearsal, approached at in a step by step manner commencing with small goals and raising the "bar of difficulty" in increments. A therapist would be able to help you plan a program.
The therapist would also (probably) allow you to discuss any other fears, feelings or occurences, either from childhood or more recently, that may be contributing to this.
Take the above with a pinch of salt - therapy may not be the right thing for you. Some of the above can be developed and attempted by yourself, without a therapist. There is almost certainly plenty of material on overcoming fears and, since it is a common one, overcoming arachnid related fears, both online and in books. Your local library may be a good place to start.
Good luck!
Originally posted by shavixmirCome to my house... we'll go downstairs to my computer room and I'll show you all the spiders I let live down there....
Does anyone have any hints (which work!!!) to help me rid myself of my arachnaphobia?
One lives under the monitor... one lives in the window... there is a big brown racer that just runs all over my desk and wherever.... I see him every few day.
Countless other ones here or there.
If one gets on my monitor I sweep the web with my finger and move them off to the side and put them down... I get right up near them and swear they look up at me wondering why the heck I moved them, and why I am not smashing them?
Who knows, but for the most part spiders are harmless (in my area, anyway). They do a good job, I have very few unwanted bugs in the basement... or the ones that make it in become food for my 8-leg friends.
Never met a spider I didn't like.
P-
Originally posted by shavixmirYes, hypnotherapy will remove the phobia for good.
Does anyone have any hints (which work!!!) to help me rid myself of my arachnaphobia?
I've personally removed a snake phobia from a relative. the phobia is gone, not simply covered up. The method involves hypnotic regression to the instigating event (there always is one), followed by desensitization by reliving the event a number of times until the emotional charge has been totally removed. The charge will be considered removed when the subject is able to recount the events with no emotion. The fear that you re-experience over and over again whenever you see a spider is emotional memory.
Recommendation: consult your yellow pages for a qualified hypnotherapist in your area.
-Ray.
Originally posted by NathanMarchARE YOU MAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm sorry to sa this but the best way would be to visit a spider zoo or something and have them walk over you or just watch them. There aren't really any other ways to rid yourself of the fear other than facing it.
Sorry again.
P.S. I have a bit of a fear of spiders.
*shudders!!!!!!!!!!!
Shavi!!! Don't do it!
Be afraid of spiders!!!!! Be very afraid!!! Especially the hairy ones! The bigger they are, the longer their legs, the scarier they are!!!!!
I can deal with roaches and any other bug for that matter, but not SPIDERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!😲🙁
Originally posted by elvendreamgirlI'm with her! RUN! RUN! WHY ARE YOU STILL READING THIS?! WHY ARE YOU STILL SITTING THERE? THEY COULD BE COMING FOR YOU RIGHT THIS SECOND! RUN, MAN! RUNNNN!!!!! 😲😲😲😲
ARE YOU MAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*shudders!!!!!!!!!!!
Shavi!!! Don't do it!
Be afraid of spiders!!!!! Be very afraid!!! Especially the hairy ones! The bigger they are, the longer their legs, the scarier they are!!!!!
I can deal with roaches and any other bug for that matter, but not SPIDERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!😲🙁
Originally posted by Remora91yeah, but if you tried that with a funnel-web, you'd probably be dead. as you died, you may have thought to yourself 'hmmm, now i understand why nature in her wisdom endowed me with a fear of spiders'...
Spiders are pretty much harmless unless you bother them. I used to be afraid of them until I held a tarantula. It was calm, fuzzy, and it didn't bite me so after that I figured that I had no reason to be scared of them.
I once had a fear of spiders. I didn't like the idea of an 8-legged freaky thing walking over my bare skin, or even over my clothes! The way I got around it is to realise the source of all fears is in the mind. If we change our mind, we can change our fears (or remove them). Every time you see a spider, you might think "eek", but immediately after, contemplate some of the benefits of losing your fear of spiders, and in fact, contemplate some of the benefits of liking spiders. Each time you scream or think "ewww", continue to contemplate them.
Eventually, the contemplations will arise in your mind before the "ewww" and "eek", and soon, the "ewww" and "eek" won't come at all.
It works, I know, because it's what I did. I've also done it with annoying people (they don't irritate me much anymore).