Arachnophobia: Could you combat a fear of spiders? - BBC London

Arachnophobia is something many people can relate to, but what if they could combat it?

ZSL London Zoo's Friendly Spider Programme aims to help people combat their fear through a combination of cognitive behavioural therapy and hypnotherapy.

Catherine Moon went from not being able to look a photograph of spiders to now being able to hold them.

She said: "I would like you to know it is possible to take courage in both hands and to do something about it."

Video by Gem O'Reilly

[crawlzzz]

I literally solved arachnophobia in one night by getting drunk and going to take a piss outside when I saw a wolf spider. Felt an urge to pick it up that I just couldn't break while intoxicated so I just picked it up and that was it. Little guy didn't bite and felt cute on me and now I respect them again like I did as a kid.

[Clownish.mp]

me personally i love tarantulas, but when i see those fast common house spiders with long legs i freak out, i think its the leg span and speed of them that freaks me out, but it makes me sad as i love looking at spiders but i cant get a closer look because my body uncontrollably panics, my mental self loves them but my physical body hates them.

[juliandunn]

They move too quickly, I don't trust that.

[sammylpt]

I looked into this program years ago but for me what works best is to just try to pick up spiders when ever I see them. So, sure, people probably think “yeah but if I could do that I wouldn’t be scared of them”. But with me I had to rationalise why I am scared of them. Tiny spiders, the ones no bigger than a pin head have little to no effect on me, actually spiders around the leg span of my thumbnail have no effect. But UK house spiders that are approximately 10-12cm (leg span) freak me out totally. So basically, every time I see a spider that’s small I always pick it up for a few seconds. And those that I can’t yet pick up I make a point to at least poke them gently with either a finger if I can dare to, or a stick or something. I’m not trying to hurt them. Over time however, it has worked. I’m now comfortable picking up spiders that are about 5-8cm and the really big ones I can catch with a glass or jug. Truth is, every time I try to pick them up, like this fella says, all the spider wants to do is run away. Obviously if they are dangerous it’s a different story. My bro had a pet tarantula but it never cured him of house spiders, I think like anything, you just have to challenge yourself and keep the milestones low. It gets a lot easier.

[Annabelle]

I have a house spider living with me that I couldn’t kill but I’m still scared of him😬😓🕷🕸👀

[ursula.m]

A spider bit me and the site got infected I had to go for a surgery so I have no sympathy for them.

[kathysingh]

Thank you for helping people overcome this fear. we need spiders to co-exist with us. They are very much needed for our Eco System. They do soo much good with eating all of the insects and mosquitos. They mean no harm to us.

[tinterlight]

At this point I call only listen to this and not looking at the sidebar. Help!!!!

[keithhughes]

I had a fear of spiders up to three years ago, had to get over it so bought an Australian tarantula spiderling, i now have 16 tarantulas in size from 150mm down to 20mm, and now have an appreciation for them.

[neros]

I have no problem with cerral spiders or tarantulas or even huntsman. it's just the house spiders that terrify me

[angelwazeerah]

I'm really suffering from arachnophobia, I'm scared of this too much.
Plz someone can help.
I'm from Mauritius

[mehitabel]

Trouble is, the Friendly Spider programme assumes we arachnphobes are ignorant. Not so. I'm extremely knowledgeable about spiders -- and have no fear at all of large garden spiders here in the UK, or even tarantulas -- but I've yet to find a programme which addresses the specific loathing of the Tegeneria genus which blights my life.

[feliciadavenport]

Ok but when it was writhing around in that plastic container I almost lost it 😅

[captainireland]

I avoid certain places at certain times of the year because of spiders, meadows are the worst because garden spiders live there, those are probably my biggest fear and then the shed because house spiders and false widows, sometimes I go to dace my fear and pick one up but then last second I'm like no not a chance

[MaximBarbin-uq]

I almost cried watching this I have extrem arachnophobia

[mrwizzardknight]

My mum needs this! Screw arachnophobia! 😤😤😤

[Mybad]

My anxiety level while watching this: 📈📈

[clarebell]

Dave Clarke was on an episode of Animal Hospital in the early 90s where a member of the public was freaked out about a weird looking spider on the wall of a London estate……..i5 turned out to be a pregnant garden spider - the most common breed in England apparently! Lol 🕷

[fishfun]

I m english, hate them but never kill em (almost), had one giant house spider in my beard and god knows how long it sat there i got rescued by an aussie of all people who said he has never seen anything like that before….anyway the moral is im not so scared anymore

[caelanshpak]

I have a terrible fear of I know we have to have them I just want them to stay away from me