What should I do if I'm afraid of spiders? How to get rid of arachnophobia: psychotherapeutic methods and methods of drug treatment
Arachnophobia, or in front of spiders, is one of the most common mental problems. More often, representatives of the fair sex are susceptible to this, but often eight-legged arachnids also cause nervous tremors in men. Many people would like to know how to stop being afraid of spiders, but first you should try to identify the source of this phobia.
Why are girls afraid of spiders?
For the stronger half of humanity, arachnophobia rarely takes pathological forms; rather, it looks like disgust at something extremely unpleasant. But among women, panic occurs in every second woman just by looking at a tiny creature. The problem can go quite far, and then the girl begins to be afraid to go to places where, theoretically, she might encounter spiders, they begin to appear in every corner, etc. The cause of the phobia is the unattractive appearance of the arachnid and the fear that it might bite. But you shouldn’t always be afraid of spiders precisely because of this, poisonous individuals found mostly only in exotic countries. Scientists believe that fear of spiders is based in humans at the genetic level.
How to cure fear of spiders?
To understand how to stop being afraid of spiders, you need to accept that you have this phobia and set a goal to get rid of it. You can do this in the form of a letter to yourself: write down on paper in detail why spiders scare you so much and how it bothers you. In this way, you will make your fear “visible,” which means it will become easier to fight it. You can try to learn more about spiders: read, watch movies, rummage through. But you shouldn’t pay attention to folk “horror stories” that attribute almost demonic power to spiders. If you cannot get rid of your fear of spiders on your own, then you should contact a professional psychologist.
Method 1: Additional method 1
Arachnophobia or fear of spiders is one of the most common human fears. Some people panic when they see a spider and find it very difficult to get rid of this subconscious fear. Of course, you don't have to like spiders, but you can learn to manage your anxiety about these creatures. If you want to get rid of your fear, start with the first step.
- When you're trying to overcome your fear, don't be discouraged if you can't do it right away. It is not so easy to get rid of a phobia, be patient.
- If you are helping someone else overcome arachnophobia, make sure they feel safe and don't try to scare them. Remember that the person trusts that you will help him. If you do or say something that causes fear, it will only make your friend's phobia worse.
- Remember that although spiders live all over the world, not every one of them is going to come and meet you.
- If you learn more about the necessary and useful qualities spiders and won't think about how scary they are, you'll feel much calmer when you see a spider.
- If you are afraid of a spider, just think: "This spider will not harm me, I am just afraid of the sight of it."
- Recognize that it is normal and natural for you to be a little afraid of spiders. Even scientists who study spiders can suffer from mild arachnophobia.
- Try to understand why you are afraid of spiders and what exactly makes these creatures so scary to you. Talk to a close friend or relative and ask them to help you overcome this particular fear that is causing you.
- Spiders help us by ridding our home of various bugs and pests. If there were no spiders on Earth, we would drown in an endless sea of insects.
- Try watching cartoons about spiders or reading children's books about these amazing animals.
- Give yourself time and you will begin to admire the beauty of these amazing creatures, look documentaries and read books about their lives.
Warnings
- In our country, most spiders are completely harmless. Many people suffering from arachnophobia flee the room in horror, leaving the spider in the house. Try to go back, and if the spider is still there, try to remove it from the room. You may find this difficult if you have a fear of spiders. Try putting a spider in a cup without touching it with your hands, and don’t watch how its eight move. long legs. Take it out into the garden and watch the spider run away. Watch him run away - I hope you're not so afraid of spiders now that you see that you have MUCH MORE control over the spider's life than he has over yours.
- Don't think that spiders are in real life behave just like in horror films. Spiders do not perceive people as prey, and never try to attack them.
- Some spiders REALLY dangerous. Be careful even if you are not afraid of them. Even a small bite can have big consequences if you pick the wrong spider. It is very important to learn how to identify all the poisonous spiders on your property. In addition, it will be useful to learn more about their habitats. For example, Black Widow, one of the poisonous spiders that lives in many countries around the world, likes to settle in old garbage heaps and dark places.
More than 80% of our planet's population is afraid of spiders. The fear of spiders is called arachnophobia and is one of the most common. Let's figure out the reason for this phenomenon and at the same time try to eliminate it.
Why are people afraid of spiders?This insect has the ability to move quickly. People often find it on their body suddenly. From this we can conclude that fear arises due to the unpredictability of the insect’s further movement and its intentions in general. Most people are afraid of this suddenness.
Experts say that fear of spiders may be innate. If parents had a fear of spiders, it will automatically be passed on to the child. You can just be scared, but at the sight of spiders, many people’s pulse and heartbeat quicken, which can already be called initial stage arachnophobia.
There is a theory that the phobia may arise from watching a horror movie with killer spiders. In such cases, it all depends on the person: slight fear can develop into a real illness, so individuals with weak nerves are better off refraining from watching such films.
Insects have a peculiar appearance, and fantasy and rich imagination do their job. Arachnophobia is not an unreasonable fear, since some types of spiders are dangerous to humans, although they live in places remote from civilization. It is worth remembering that most species are absolutely harmless to your health.
One London psychiatrist put forward the concept that the fear of spiders appeared during the development of the plague, since arthropods were considered carriers of the disease. In addition, it is believed that most of arachnophobes live in Western Europe and North America.
How to stop being afraid of spiders?
When you think a spider might be harming you, try to calm down. In fact, the insect is much more afraid of you than you are of it. Do not forget that poisonous spiders are found only in remote tropical countries.
Next, take a sheet of paper and draw big spider. Then draw a slightly smaller spider next to it. Then another, but even smaller. Finally draw a large number of spiders, from the largest to the smallest. After this, burn the sheet and imagine how your fear disappears with it.
Another option for getting rid of fear is as follows. You can have a spider in your home. You will have to take care of it and periodically pick it up. You will soon realize that the insect does not pose any danger. It would not be superfluous to note that there is an opinion that the hairs of some types of spiders can cause allergies, so find out as much as possible about it before purchasing.
There is another way to combat the fear of spiders. You can buy a computer game in which you have to kill spiders. By destroying insects, you will subconsciously get rid of your fear. This will happen gradually. True, the previous method is much more effective - you overcome your fear through love, and not through murder.
Folk omens say that spiders bring happiness. If a spider lands on you, it means your financial situation will noticeably improve. Finding a spider in the house is fortunate, so every time you see a spider, remember these.
You can easily overcome your fear of spiders if you follow the tips above. Taking it in your arms, get rid of fear once and for all. When all else fails and a phobia is poisoning your life, consult a psychotherapist.
adminMany people have a fear of animals. Among other fears, arachnophobia is on the list of common diseases. Scientists are wondering why, since other insects are much more disgusting, such as cockroaches. Many hypotheses have been put forward, among them: innate hostility, instilled fears, psychological aspects. Let's try to figure out why arachnophobia is dangerous and why we are afraid of spiders?
How did arachnophobia appear?
Fear of large animals is genetic. For our ancestors, fanged and clawed representatives of the fauna were real enemies. The fight was not for life, but for death. Archaeological excavations show that the spider is a representative of the most ancient insects. It is found on fossilized rocks. But, in the process of evolution, the spider did not change in size, and the amount of poison as a result of the bite did not decrease. It is strange to assume that people who fought with primitive spears against predatory animals were afraid of spiders. Why at the sight of “centipedes”?
The statistics are surprising, but if you take a closer look, it turns out that some arachnophobes watch films with spiders. Then they calmly watch how the insect weaves a web in the corner. But, at the sight of a spider, they shudder, and the house inhabitant is slammed with a slipper. If you are disgusted by encountering spiders, then this is not arachnophobia.
Real fear leads to the fact that a person is afraid to sit on the summer terrace and stay in the room until he checks the room for spiders. The sight of the insect in the picture is terrifying. Phobias include a condition that interferes with normal life, rather than understandable disgust.
Causes of arachnophobia
If you look at the situation rationally, the question arises: how can you be afraid of small creatures? Domestic insects are small in diameter, while exotic ones are found in terrariums. Bite poisonous spider affects animals, rarely causes significant harm to people. The spider itself is terrified of humans and tries to hide. Why does panic arise?
Causes of arachnophobia include:
Congenital predisposition. Children under the age of 3, when looking at cards with insects, were afraid of spiders. During this period, children rarely experience fear, hence the conclusion that a cautious attitude towards spiders is passed on with genes. passed on to heirs.
Acquired fear. If you ask older children, aged 5–10 years, half of them admit to being afraid of spiders. Fear is formed as a result of an unpleasant story associated with an insect.
Behavioral factor. At the sight of a harmless spider, ladies jump on a chair or squeal in horror. If a child sees such actions on the part of his mother or loved one, then he adopts this habit. As a result, an anxious state is formed at the sight of insects, which often results in a phobia.
Suddenness. Spiders move quickly and appear unexpectedly. When a spider runs out from around the corner of the bathroom, you involuntarily jerk back. The insect moves quickly when it sees danger. You can't guess which way it will crawl. People don't like unexpected surprises. Not understanding what to expect from a spider forms hostility.
Regional factor. During the time of the plague, people living in Europe believed that the disease was carried by spiders. This is where the fear of insects developed. They are also feared by residents of the regions where they live. poisonous species spiders True, fear does not stop everyone. Spiders are caught and eaten because they are a complete protein.
People are afraid of everything unfamiliar and unknown. Spiders differ from other insects in their color, shaggy legs, and number of legs. In films and books they appear on the side of evil. Negative heroes put scary tattoos in the form of a spider on their bodies. and cause panic.
How to get rid of arachnophobia?
A person who does not feel fear at the sight of a spider will help cope with fear. Start looking at pictures with spiders in his presence. At first, drawn insects will do, then move on to realistic images. The next step is watching cartoons and films about the life of spiders. In this case, the patient is recommended to eat. It has been proven that when a person is afraid, a piece of food will not go down his throat. If you managed to combine watching and eating, then you can celebrate your victory.
To get rid of arachnophobia, you need to look your fears in the face. Find a spider in your apartment and watch it. Remember that it does not cause harm, but benefit. Frees the room from annoying flies and bugs. Try to get closer to the spider. Say your fears out loud about what will happen when you see an insect. You are afraid that he will bite, attack, and start running around your body. Acknowledging your fears helps combat panic.
Perform exercises to help get rid of arachnophobia:
Imagine that the spider is far away. Use your imagination and send the spider to the next room. See what it will look like. The spider will shrink in size and will no longer be so terrifying. Then imagine that you are looking at an insect that lives on the moon. To view the spider you will need special devices that magnify the image. The exercise helps to reduce the object that causes fear to the size of an unworthy attention.
Time substitution. Today the sight of a spider is scary. But these feelings will not carry over to tomorrow. What memories will remain in a week, month. A year from now, you won’t remember that you reacted in panic to a spider crawling out from under the sofa.
Kill the spider. It is clear that you are afraid to approach a living person. Make a model of an insect: sculpt it from clay, plasticine, cut it out of paper. The main thing is that the sample is similar to the spider from your fears in size and color. Then look at the spider and evoke the symptoms associated with arachnophobia. As soon as you feel panic rising, slam the insect model.
One way to stop being afraid is to imagine that the spider has learned about your fears. Imagine the insect's reaction. Imagine how he will roll on the floor and laugh, which will put an adult into a stupor.
April 1, 2014, 10:11The most important thing is to understand for yourself that spiders are common insects and there is nothing terrible about them. Try to spend some time near the spider. Consider it, watch it. In general, try to understand that you are a human and you are stronger, and it is you who can harm this spider, not him. But do not forget and do not kill the spider because of your own fear, after all, it is a living creature.
Step 2
Try changing the object of your fear. Find an animal or insect that disgusts you as much as a spider. For example, many people are afraid of snakes. So go to the zoo and look at the snakes, you can even hold them in your hands (sometimes they take photos with boas or pythons). Then you will understand how unpleasant this snake is for you, which you practically cannot see, and how not scary it is just to be in the same room next to a spider.
Step 3
If you still can’t overcome your fear, but there are still spiders in your house and you are afraid that they are poisonous and will harm you, just go online and look at the types and characteristics of spiders. Take a look at that spider sitting in the corner of the room and find the same one among the pictures on the Internet. Knowing the name, you can easily find out whether the spider is poisonous or not. But they can immediately say that spiders that live in ordinary apartments and houses do not pose any danger at all.