I've been afraid of spiders for as long as I could remember. Most people I know are arachnophobic, but then again they're also scared of every other insect known to man. For me, it's just spiders; I can pick up ants, cup moths/centipedes in my hand, etc. just as easy as picking up a bunny but I cringe at the thought of touching a spider.
The reason that I am going to confront my fear is because I am an avid camper, and I am always bothered by spiders or even just the thought of spiders when I'm camping, especially when I sleep or take a shit in the outhouse/outdoors; I always have these irrational fears that spiders will enter a cavity in my body, bite my dick, or something else silly along those lines. Sure, I've brushed off/touched spiders before during camping, but it's usually very brief contact and I get shivers down my spines every time that I do touch one.
So tomorrow, I am going over to a friend's place. I've told him about my arachnophobia, and at his place he's going to teach me how to handle his pet tarantula. I'm guess "handling" would entail touching/stroke the tarantula (oooo going to be so furry), picking it up and letting it crawl on my hand/arms.
I am terrified and secretly debating whether to go through with this, but I feel it is necessary. I'm trying to man up to tomorrow as much as possible; I forced myself to pick up a small spider from the washroom floor and let it crawl on my arms earlier today. I managed to keep my composure for a good 10-15 seconds before the little fucker was about to go into my sleeve, which engendered me to lose my cool completely, flicking it off frantically then stomping it into oblivion.
I was going to ask why you need to confront the fear if it bugs you that much (no pun intended), but I guess if you are out camping a lot then this could be a good thing. Even for someone who isn't afraid of spiders in particular, it takes balls to handle a tarantula. I'd be pretty skeptical myself. gl
Jimmy: Yo come to my house and I'll teach you to handle my tarantula so you can get over your fear. Me: Fuck you Jimmy. Fuck you right in your stupid face.
your a fucking bad ass if you go with your plan and and confront your fear in this way.
personally for me, i just start yelling and trashing talking spiders when i see them... like "HEY FUCK YOU, YOU THINK YOU'RE SCARY?" "FUCK YOUR SHIT" and that kind of helps
Yeah I had arachnophobia for 24 years. Eventually I just got sick of it (I didnt want to be an adult who was still afraid of tiny bugs) and got two pet tarantulas. After you handle an arachnid that large house spiders wont even bother you any more.
Please don't lose your cool at your friends and stomp the tarantula the way you did to the small spider in your washroom, situation would get quite sticky no pun intended.
I will offer advice! I've had three tarantulas (one for 5 years and two babies now). I bought my first tarantula to confront my fear of spiders. It worked well. Tarantulas are fascinating. Here are my tips:
1. Learn a little about tarantulas before you handle one. It will help a lot, and I bet you'll find them interesting, too. Just general facts about which species are mean, which are nice, how long they live, molting, etc.
2. Don't handle a spider unless you've learned about it. You don't know if that little spider was poisonous or aggressive or defensive. Most are none of those things, but you need to know for sure if you're letting it crawl on you. A bitey one will just add to your phobia!
3. When you handle the spider, don't pet it. They don't like that. It's not likely to hurt you, but you might end up hurting it. It could freak out and run or fall.
4. Tarantulas are dumb as rocks. If you find yourself going "OMG! Is it thinking about biting me???" just remember what the spider is really thinking, which is "Duuuuuuur! This tree feels weird! I'm gonna crawwwwwllllll... aw, no more tree. Turn around!" The only thing a tarantula knows is how big stuff is by feeling vibrations, so it knows you're not food.
You can also check out my tarantula Nuke At Nights to learn a little about them. I've had quite a few arachnophobes tell me the videos help. This video includes my first tarantula handling!
On July 05 2011 14:37 NukeTheStars wrote: I will offer advice! I've had three tarantulas (one for 5 years and two babies now). I bought my first tarantula to confront my fear of spiders. It worked well. Tarantulas are fascinating. Here are my tips:
1. Learn a little about tarantulas before you handle one. It will help a lot, and I bet you'll find them interesting, too. Just general facts about which species are mean, which are nice, how long they live, molting, etc.
2. Don't handle a spider unless you've learned about it. You don't know if that little spider was poisonous or aggressive or defensive. Most are none of those things, but you need to know for sure if you're letting it crawl on you. A bitey one will just add to your phobia!
3. When you handle the spider, don't pet it. They don't like that. It's not likely to hurt you, but you might end up hurting it. It could freak out and run or fall.
4. Tarantulas are dumb as rocks. If you find yourself going "OMG! Is it thinking about biting me???" just remember what the spider is really thinking, which is "Duuuuuuur! This tree feels weird! I'm gonna crawwwwwllllll... aw, no more tree. Turn around!" The only thing a tarantula knows is how big stuff is by feeling vibrations, so it knows you're not food.
You can also check out my tarantula Nuke At Nights to learn a little about them. I've had quite a few arachnophobes tell me the videos help. This video includes my first tarantula handling!
Wow thanks for all the advice, and that video helped a lot. The revelation (well yah, never thought about it before) that they're dumb creatures is really comforting for some reason, I'm guessing as long as I make sure my movements are slow aka not panic, I'll be fine under the guidance of my friend. Still, I'd very much rather hold my pet rabbit... ahhhhhh 2am can't sleep thinking about tomorrow.
I am afraid of spiders more than anything else. I can even play with any sort of insect / centipede / any other shit, but I can barely see a spider. I had to train a lot and now I am able to see them on TV and in magazines.
I'm quite surprised to see people in this thread who bought a tarantula to cure their fear of spiders. I guess they were not as afraid as I am, because just seeing the spider in the pet would keep me at least 5 meters away.
Just writing this made me almost sick, I wanna puke my Carls Jr now.
I wish you good luck. You look really brave as I couldn't even have a small spider crawl on my arms. When I was a kid I had an airsoft gun to kill them as I couldn't use the traditional slipper or rolled-up magazine.
I will offer advice! I've had three tarantulas (one for 5 years and two babies now). I bought my first tarantula to confront my fear of spiders. It worked well. Tarantulas are fascinating. Here are my tips:
1. Learn a little about tarantulas before you handle one. It will help a lot, and I bet you'll find them interesting, too. Just general facts about which species are mean, which are nice, how long they live, molting, etc.
2. Don't handle a spider unless you've learned about it. You don't know if that little spider was poisonous or aggressive or defensive. Most are none of those things, but you need to know for sure if you're letting it crawl on you. A bitey one will just add to your phobia!
3. When you handle the spider, don't pet it. They don't like that. It's not likely to hurt you, but you might end up hurting it. It could freak out and run or fall.
4. Tarantulas are dumb as rocks. If you find yourself going "OMG! Is it thinking about biting me???" just remember what the spider is really thinking, which is "Duuuuuuur! This tree feels weird! I'm gonna crawwwwwllllll... aw, no more tree. Turn around!" The only thing a tarantula knows is how big stuff is by feeling vibrations, so it knows you're not food.
You can also check out my tarantula Nuke At Nights to learn a little about them. I've had quite a few arachnophobes tell me the videos help. This video includes my first tarantula handling!
Hahaha awesome post. That video freaked me out once the spider started crawling on your hand. It's so strange to me that big spiders give such a visceral fear reaction to most people. I can't understand how spiders would have such an impact on human psychological evolution that most people would gain such an exaggerated and specific fear of them...
I don't ever see myself ever being able to get over my fear of spiders. I think "facing my fear" would just give me nightmares over the following months. Nonetheless, when I can safely observe a spider from a distance or from behind a glass barrier (ie. at the zoo), I find them to be really interesting and beautiful creatures. Just... I would like them not to touch me, thanks.
On July 05 2011 14:37 NukeTheStars wrote: 4. Tarantulas are dumb as rocks. If you find yourself going "OMG! Is it thinking about biting me???" just remember what the spider is really thinking, which is "Duuuuuuur! This tree feels weird! I'm gonna crawwwwwllllll... aw, no more tree. Turn around!" The only thing a tarantula knows is how big stuff is by feeling vibrations, so it knows you're not food.
Hahahaha. Although sometimes that is the only thing going through my head, too.
OP: Good luck! Spiders are nothing but really helpful creatures. They eat mosquitos and all sorts of shit crawling or flying through your house. Go conquer your fear of household friends!
EDIT: Just watched parts of the Nuke at Night video. That hairy little thing is adorable! He really likes your hand there at the end, doesn't wanna enter the cage!
On July 05 2011 14:37 NukeTheStars wrote: I will offer advice! I've had three tarantulas (one for 5 years and two babies now). I bought my first tarantula to confront my fear of spiders. It worked well. Tarantulas are fascinating. Here are my tips:
1. Learn a little about tarantulas before you handle one. It will help a lot, and I bet you'll find them interesting, too. Just general facts about which species are mean, which are nice, how long they live, molting, etc.
2. Don't handle a spider unless you've learned about it. You don't know if that little spider was poisonous or aggressive or defensive. Most are none of those things, but you need to know for sure if you're letting it crawl on you. A bitey one will just add to your phobia!
3. When you handle the spider, don't pet it. They don't like that. It's not likely to hurt you, but you might end up hurting it. It could freak out and run or fall.
4. Tarantulas are dumb as rocks. If you find yourself going "OMG! Is it thinking about biting me???" just remember what the spider is really thinking, which is "Duuuuuuur! This tree feels weird! I'm gonna crawwwwwllllll... aw, no more tree. Turn around!" The only thing a tarantula knows is how big stuff is by feeling vibrations, so it knows you're not food.
You can also check out my tarantula Nuke At Nights to learn a little about them. I've had quite a few arachnophobes tell me the videos help. This video includes my first tarantula handling!
I would not recommend getting over it by starting off with handling a tarantula... Start off slow, and use systematic desensitisation. You basically get in a calm mood and the idea of spiders is brought up. While you are calm, you may be shown some pictures of spiders. The idea is that you'll eventually associate the calm mood with spiders and when you actually find a spider you will be okay.
On July 05 2011 14:37 NukeTheStars wrote: I will offer advice! I've had three tarantulas (one for 5 years and two babies now). I bought my first tarantula to confront my fear of spiders. It worked well. Tarantulas are fascinating. Here are my tips:
1. Learn a little about tarantulas before you handle one. It will help a lot, and I bet you'll find them interesting, too. Just general facts about which species are mean, which are nice, how long they live, molting, etc.
2. Don't handle a spider unless you've learned about it. You don't know if that little spider was poisonous or aggressive or defensive. Most are none of those things, but you need to know for sure if you're letting it crawl on you. A bitey one will just add to your phobia!
3. When you handle the spider, don't pet it. They don't like that. It's not likely to hurt you, but you might end up hurting it. It could freak out and run or fall.
4. Tarantulas are dumb as rocks. If you find yourself going "OMG! Is it thinking about biting me???" just remember what the spider is really thinking, which is "Duuuuuuur! This tree feels weird! I'm gonna crawwwwwllllll... aw, no more tree. Turn around!" The only thing a tarantula knows is how big stuff is by feeling vibrations, so it knows you're not food.
You can also check out my tarantula Nuke At Nights to learn a little about them. I've had quite a few arachnophobes tell me the videos help. This video includes my first tarantula handling!
Not to bad mouth you and sorry if it comes off that way, I believe Number 4 to be wrong. They can differentiate a tree from a person and other insects. Also they use their sight to determine the size of something and whether it's food or not. It uses vibrations to tell when something is nearby.
And to the OP, tarantulas aren't poisonous. They're hunter spiders not trappers. Don't twitch or make sudden movements and you'll be fine. Don't do anything that makes it feel like it has to defend itself.
At least you don't live in Arizona like me. Out here we have these things called "Sun Spiders". They are super fast, super ugly and super territorial. They look like a cross between an Ant, Spider and Scorpion. If you're even in eyesight of them, they charge you. They're poisonous too.
On July 05 2011 14:37 NukeTheStars wrote: I will offer advice! I've had three tarantulas (one for 5 years and two babies now). I bought my first tarantula to confront my fear of spiders. It worked well. Tarantulas are fascinating. Here are my tips:
1. Learn a little about tarantulas before you handle one. It will help a lot, and I bet you'll find them interesting, too. Just general facts about which species are mean, which are nice, how long they live, molting, etc.
2. Don't handle a spider unless you've learned about it. You don't know if that little spider was poisonous or aggressive or defensive. Most are none of those things, but you need to know for sure if you're letting it crawl on you. A bitey one will just add to your phobia!
3. When you handle the spider, don't pet it. They don't like that. It's not likely to hurt you, but you might end up hurting it. It could freak out and run or fall.
4. Tarantulas are dumb as rocks. If you find yourself going "OMG! Is it thinking about biting me???" just remember what the spider is really thinking, which is "Duuuuuuur! This tree feels weird! I'm gonna crawwwwwllllll... aw, no more tree. Turn around!" The only thing a tarantula knows is how big stuff is by feeling vibrations, so it knows you're not food.
You can also check out my tarantula Nuke At Nights to learn a little about them. I've had quite a few arachnophobes tell me the videos help. This video includes my first tarantula handling!
Not to bad mouth you and sorry if it comes off that way, I believe Number 4 to be wrong. They can differentiate a tree from a person and other insects. Also they use their sight to determine the size of something and whether it's food or not. It uses vibrations to tell when something is nearby.
And to the OP, tarantulas aren't poisonous. They're hunter spiders not trappers. Don't twitch or make sudden movements and you'll be fine. Don't do anything that makes it feel like it has to defend itself.
At least you don't live in Arizona like me. Out here we have these things called "Sun Spiders". They are super fast, super ugly and super territorial. They look like a cross between an Ant, Spider and Scorpion. If you're even in eyesight of them, they charge you. They're poisonous too.
That's possibly one of the most terrifying things I've ever heard.. Are they scared of cities, because I've never been warned about them when ever I visited friends in Arizona. Not that I'm disappointed, experiencing that would be harrowing.
On July 05 2011 14:37 NukeTheStars wrote: I will offer advice! I've had three tarantulas (one for 5 years and two babies now). I bought my first tarantula to confront my fear of spiders. It worked well. Tarantulas are fascinating. Here are my tips:
1. Learn a little about tarantulas before you handle one. It will help a lot, and I bet you'll find them interesting, too. Just general facts about which species are mean, which are nice, how long they live, molting, etc.
2. Don't handle a spider unless you've learned about it. You don't know if that little spider was poisonous or aggressive or defensive. Most are none of those things, but you need to know for sure if you're letting it crawl on you. A bitey one will just add to your phobia!
3. When you handle the spider, don't pet it. They don't like that. It's not likely to hurt you, but you might end up hurting it. It could freak out and run or fall.
4. Tarantulas are dumb as rocks. If you find yourself going "OMG! Is it thinking about biting me???" just remember what the spider is really thinking, which is "Duuuuuuur! This tree feels weird! I'm gonna crawwwwwllllll... aw, no more tree. Turn around!" The only thing a tarantula knows is how big stuff is by feeling vibrations, so it knows you're not food.
You can also check out my tarantula Nuke At Nights to learn a little about them. I've had quite a few arachnophobes tell me the videos help. This video includes my first tarantula handling!
Not to bad mouth you and sorry if it comes off that way, I believe Number 4 to be wrong. They can differentiate a tree from a person and other insects. Also they use their sight to determine the size of something and whether it's food or not. It uses vibrations to tell when something is nearby.
And to the OP, tarantulas aren't poisonous. They're hunter spiders not trappers. Don't twitch or make sudden movements and you'll be fine. Don't do anything that makes it feel like it has to defend itself.
At least you don't live in Arizona like me. Out here we have these things called "Sun Spiders". They are super fast, super ugly and super territorial. They look like a cross between an Ant, Spider and Scorpion. If you're even in eyesight of them, they charge you. They're poisonous too.
Camel spider? Seems the venomous claim is a misconception. Afaik they're only capable of a large bite. US soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq upload YouTube videos of battles with scorpions. P sweet.
Not to bad mouth you and sorry if it comes off that way, I believe Number 4 to be wrong. They can differentiate a tree from a person and other insects. Also they use their sight to determine the size of something and whether it's food or not. It uses vibrations to tell when something is nearby.
It may be able to have some sense that a person and a tree are different, but that doesn't change the fact that tarantulas are freakin' stupid. They barely even have brains. Plus, the spider quote was just to put his mind at ease during handling. Sounds like you were trying to scare him even more with the sun spider story!
And to the OP, handling the tarantula won't completely make all of your fears go away, but you will probably lose about 1/3 of your trepidation during the process. I could actually feel some of my fear melt away near the end of my first handling! But to reiterate, learning about something is the best way to overcome fear. It will turn any scary, mysterious beast into just an animal.
My friend and I were busy with 2 midterms so I just got around to handling his tarantula yesterday, and I have to say it was probably the hardest thing I ever had to do.
My friend told me not to touch/pet Cougar (it was black with yellow highlights), but rather approach it from the front and letting it crawl onto my hand on its own. I don't know how I was able to somehow keep my composure and not scream/jump out of skin when its hairy legs first touched my hand, it truly, truly terrified me to the core.
After the first 15-20 seconds it wasn't as bad anymore, I just kept thinking to myself that it knows my hand is not food, and that as long as I don't make sudden movements and frighten it, it wouldn't bite me. The whole experience probably lasted 5 minutes but needless to say it felt like an hour, and I didn't realize I had bitten my lips until afterwards when I tasted blood. So I guess in a way, I did get bitten... just happy it wasn't the tarantula ^^
The whole experience was more or less positive, although I still can't say I'm 100% comfortable around spiders. I think I improved from being absolutely revolted by spiders to being able to tolerate them, so I guess it's a start.
On July 05 2011 17:06 AnxiousHippo wrote: I would not recommend getting over it by starting off with handling a tarantula... Start off slow, and use systematic desensitisation. You basically get in a calm mood and the idea of spiders is brought up. While you are calm, you may be shown some pictures of spiders. The idea is that you'll eventually associate the calm mood with spiders and when you actually find a spider you will be okay.
EPT
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