Spiders

[Purplepixii]

It's late, and I'm puzzled enough to post this.

When I was a kid I loved spiders. I would go into woods with my dad & sister and would love turning over logs to see creepy crawlies. Spiders never bothered me - I could pick them up with my hands and move them (out of the house for example). They tickled, which amused me.

At some stage I then became terrified of them. Yes, I saw the film Arachnophobia, but that just made me laugh. The purpose of a Dyson vacuum cleaner for me was to suck up spiders (I do feel bad about this).

I don't recall a bad experience with a spider, although I am aware of the (possible urban legend) story that the average human being eats 3 spiders per year in their sleep.

Nowadays I'm again not too scared of them (I'm now 32). I can pick one up using a glass piece of card, but I can't touch one - however I don't run from the room screaming or looking for the Dyson. I still don't like the way they move, but I can tolerate them.

However, I am struggling with pictures of them on this forum - I get the shivers / my skin crawls. But a picture can't hurt me!

Am I going mad?

Purplepixii
(off to bed with her mouth firmly closed!)

[Ukwildlifeo]

this seems rather common with women especially. My little sister used to go bug hunting with me - then one of her friends said she was scared of spiders, and then my sister became freaked out by them, and has been ever since - where any of your childhood friends scared of spiders? it appears arachnophobia is contageous!

[Venger]

Yes, totally mad!


just kidding!
Well its a start, view more pictures and hopefully you get more use to them.
Generally a lack of knowledge does nothing for unconfirmed fears (as per 'great whites off England's coast's we're all going to get eaten.... as an example)

As a child you're always curious, something which we lose as adult life intrudes upon us. You just have to become curious again.
It's good you found this site - if people here can't make you curious about stuff, then I don't know who can.

Try finding out about some of the spiders in your house - then find pictures of them, then go and find them!
As I said in a previous post - if you are putting spiders outside, make sure your spider is an outdoor spider!

(oh and the eating spiders - its pure urban legend, I mean how do they know they've eaten a spider?
"I woke up with a spider's leg sticking out of my mouth" - I want photos!)

[Purplepixii]

I agree lack of knowledge increases the fear of something itself, and this site has re-awoken my interest in wildlife, including spiders, so maybe that's why I can accept them now.

I also agree that women/females tend to be more scared of spiders than males (although I know a male who is absolutely petrified of them). I'm guessing it must have been a fear I picked up later in childhood for some reason that I can't remember.

I'm just not sure why I find pictures more scary than the real thing, but I'm sure the more I face up to this fear that it will go away.

Thanks for the replies

Purplepixii