Gardening arachnaphobes

[Lamboluke]

Does anyone else suffering with arachnophobia aka being scared of spiders? I've been terrified since a child and now at 26 they still make my skin crawl. I know it's an irrational fear but I can't help it.

Trying to not panic every time I go in the greenhouse and see them and I know they are a benefit but anyone else who suffers hopefully gets what I mean.

Wish I could pay to be cured!

[cariann88]

Your not alone, I don't like spiders either. I panic every time I see one.

[Penellype]

I used to panic when I saw one and wouldn't go in the room with one. Gradually I got used to them from working with horses and doing the gardening, and now they don't really bother me that much. I wouldn't say I'd be keen to pick one up, but they don't stop me in my tracks like they used to. I haven't any magic formula, except perhaps to say that if you have to do things and spiders are in the environment you gradually learn that they don't actually hurt you (at least the ones in this country don't).

[alldigging]

I don't mind picking them up. I dislike them jumping out at me. Try some conkers on the floor. We've had some in our lounge this year and thats kept the spiders out.

[SkyChild]

Yeah you can get spiderstop sprays to deter them which are made of conker-based stuff.
I don't like them either. I used to try and catch them in a glass and put them outside but kept smashing glasses when the wiggled inside and I dropped the whole lot.
Now I just rush away and get someone else to deal with them.

[Jungle Jane]

I don't like it when spiders suddenly appear & when I go into the shed,I'm careful I don't walk into one (have walked face into a web in the dark) what helps me is to watch the spider for a while,just looking at it,you see how tiny & fragile it really is & then you'll get used to them. If you avoid them,you'll never be able to convince yourself they're ok.

[veggiechicken]

I like spiders - they're my friends. I give them pet names, especially the ones that live in the house.
Spiders are good, spiders are kind, spiders help the gardener.
A spider's web is a thing of beauty. Look at one on a sunny morning, sparkling with dew. How can they spin such an intricate web - from nothing? Amazing little creatures.
Don't let them frighten you, learn to love them, they can't harm you.

[Jay-ell]

Years ago I heard my sister screaming and ran panicking - a tiny spider was in th bath.

Next day she screamed again. I ignored it. That time her waters had broken.


Two ways of getting used spiders.

Gradual - starting off with a spider in a see through box at the other end of a long room an inch by inch getting closer to it until it no longer bothers you.


Flooding - your tied into a bathtub and covered with 100 tarantulas. If you survive the little ones will never be as bad again - although you may end up with habits that make Renfew look sane.

[Scoot]

I'm the same, but with wasps. Hate then and run a mile when one comes near me.

[treepixie]

I hate the things, if I know there's one in the house I cant go in that room until its been removed.

[Alison]

I like spiders - they're my friends. I give them pet names, especially the ones that live in the house.
Spiders are good, spiders are kind, spiders help the gardener.
A spider's web is a thing of beauty. Look at one on a sunny morning, sparkling with dew. How can they spin such an intricate web - from nothing? Amazing little creatures.
Don't let them frighten you, learn to love them, they can't harm you.

Me too, lively things. But if you want to talk about scary stuff then that's birds. Am OK with normal garden birds but I've been struggling to spend much time at the plot since last autumn as some free ranging chickens keep getting onto my plot. Am terrified of them pecking me and although they run away from other people, I'll end up with half a dozen if them charging at me as I shout at them and flap my arms. Usually end up having to go home at that point . OH has tried to make the plot secure but they keep findings ways in, they're not even from the site but kept behind a garage next door and let out all day. It's making me shudder thinking about their beady eyes and peck peck peck.....

[sparrow100]

Oh gawd please no. If it says arachnophobes I assume it's safe to click. Please don't stick pictures of the ruddy things on a thread.

I. Cannot. Bear. Spiders. Seeing even a picture of one makes me want to hurl. I can only bear them at the plot if I can walk away from any I see.

[Bohobumble]

Oh gawd please no. If it says arachnophobes I assume it's safe to click. Please don't stick pictures of the ruddy things on a thread.

I. Cannot. Bear. Spiders. Seeing even a picture of one makes me want to hurl. I can only bear them at the plot if I can walk away from any I see.

Don't click on the thumbnail on mine. Nothing to see there!

[Hazel at the Hill]

I'm not keen on spiders, but it's ok if they are outside where they (should!) live.

If there's one in the bedroom, I'd have to get it in a glass and take it outside before I can go to sleep.

Takes me back - when I was a wee slip of a thing with a student job at the local pub, I would often be escorted home by the boy of the moment , but I could never concentrate on the big 'goodnight kiss' as we had a resident garden spider who would put a web up each night either across the porch, or at face height in the hedge either side.

Wonder if it was my dad who arranged this - the possibility of a spider in your hair/face/boyfriends face certainly dampened any ardour that might otherwise manifest itself!

[Nicos]

I've just pulled the 2 posts with spider piccies - even though they are interesting to see

Sparrow- you're right...this should be a spider- free zone