Nightmares (page 2)

palmtree67

I have to do something about this.

I can't describe the heart-stopping fear I get. I literally feel like I'm going to self-destruct.

Yan Bibiyan

Well, people afraid of flying have taken up flying lessons in attempt to deconstruct the mechanics of flying and see why it's the safest means of transportation....

Maybe you can learn somenthing about the creatures and understand their complete apathy towards humans....just saying.

Hope you find a cure; phobias are no fun..

Nickolas

I can't describe the heart-stopping fear I get. I literally feel like I'm going to self-destruct.

What you are feeling is called a panic attack, but you probably already know that. It goes with the territory of phobias and anxiety disorders. Might I suggest you spend an hour or so researching? The more you understand what is happening to you, the more you will be able to control it. You could start here. http://www.npadnews.com/

Scooby-Doo

Plamtree, i used to be scared of spiders too. I wouldn't say that i had a phobia but they really freaked me out.

I can deal with them now, i even have one as a pet.

You need to realize that in most cases, when a spider sees a human, their first reaction is to run like hell. You're a big person and they're going to be scared of you. They'll usually only bite you if they can't get away from you. (Of course, some spiders are going to be more agressive than others, though.)

What you need to do is meet up with an arachnophile and hold some of their pet spiders. Maybe there is a bug house in your local area that you could visit? Trust me, exposure therapy can be a great way to get over a fear. If you aren't at the stage where you feel that you can hold one, then just try standing in the same room as them. Each time you visit the little guy (or girl) get a little bit closer.

Soon you'll see that some spiders can actually be quite cute. Like this guy: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/29/Wolf_eyes_for_guide.jpg/800px- (I didn't post the picture because i'm not sure if you get panic attacks at the sight of them.)

Good luck!

doofdaddy

Australia has the funnel web spider, which to me is the ultimate nightmare. It will not back off when confronted but will rear up ready to attack It can kill in 3 minutes. Also we have the taipan and the eastern brown snake both highly toxic and both living in my area. Actually one day walking along a bush track(and admittedly reading as well!!), I got that hair rising on the back of the neck feeling. I looked up and was confronted by a massive brown snake reared up to my own height! It had to be 10 to 12 feet long and thick as my upper arm. He/she was a confident old bugger and held its ground as I slowly backed away...I now carry a stick when walking in thick bush (and sometimes a Bowie knife).

Nickolas

It can kill in 3 minutes

Sounds better than, say, prostate cancer....

Scooby-Doo

"Sounds better than, say, prostate cancer...."

I wouldn't say that.

In those 3 minutes you'll experience:

Eyes, ears, nose, and throat
- Drooling
- Drooping eyelids
- Double vision
- Swallowing difficulty
Heart and blood
- Collapse
- High blood pressure
- Rapid heart rate
Lungs
- Difficulty breathing
Muscles and joints
- Joint pain
- Severe muscle spasms -- usually in the legs and belly area
Nervous system
- Agitation
- Confusion
- Coma
- Headache
- Numbness of mouth and lips
- Tremors
- Shivering (chills)
Skin
- Redness around the site of bite
- Sweating -- excessive
Stomach and intestines
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Vomiting

cognizant dissident

Something else we both have in common!

I feel for you. I cringed just listening to your story. I would have probably done the same thing.

One time I was painting the window trim outside my house and saw a huge (by my standards) reddish orange spider in the corner. I called my husband from inside to come and kill it for me. (I will kill them when I'm alone because the alternative is much worse, which is to allow them to go free where they may breed or come out in the night and crawl on you when you're sleeping!)

Anyway, hubby hits the spider web, but doesn't manage to knock the spider out, the web springs back into my face. You never seen anyone jump off a step ladder so fast (damn good thing I was only painting the ground floor trim!) I was literally standing in my yard, screaming and swearing like a raving lunatic. I'm surprised the neighbours didn't all come out and call the cops.

I don't really have any suggestions except maybe hypnotherapy. I've thought of it but on the other hand I don't really want to get comfortable with spiders. I avoid them for a reason. I was bitten by one and had very painful swelling in my arm for days. For the poster who suggested letting friends spiders crawl on her, if Palmtree is anything like me, that is never going to fricking happen! I would parachute out of a plane without fear before I would let a spider crawl on me.

In a way, i think arachnaphobia is rather normal. So many people have it (as well as fear of snakes), I think it is a primal survival instinct. Many spider and snake bites are poisonous and even fatal, so fear of them is just natural survival instincts. Ours are just a little more finely honed than the average persons.

doofdaddy

Sigfried asked Maxwell Smart (at gunpoint)..."How do you vant to die Schmart?" Max's reply.."From old age!"

Snoozy

I'm that way with Wasps and bees...really bad! I got stundg one time in my 60 odd years and I think it was a yellow jacket. It bit me on the inside of my leg andstayed there! I had to literally tug to get it out of my leg. I swear that thing had teeth! Hurt like the devil and my leg swelled up.

Ever since I have been terrified of them. I wonder if possibly I am allergic to them? Maybe that's why the fear.

And if you think a spider in the car is bad try a daddy long legs on you steering wheel staring at you between your hands gripping the wheel!

On a major highway!

I couldn't get off fast enough. Thank god it wasn't rush hour! I was sweating!!!!!

I flew all four doors open (after I pulled over)and ran around the car like a crazy person...

Feel better now?

Snoozy

Nightmares

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