Scared of spiders

[ecoprincess]

This is going to seem like a really ridiculous post BUT here goes!

I am absolutely terrified of spiders. And my garden is overrun with them. I know spiders live in gardens but when we moved in, we had three old coal bunkers, three old sheds, and a couple of big compost bins in the garden. Upon opening the doors/lids, there are massive spider infestations in all of them. Thick white cobwebs, spider egg sack things, etc. We've got rid of the sheds but I'm still trying to get OH to get his finger out and get rid of the coal bunkers and bins!

Since it's such a nice day today, I've just been out into the garden to try and get it into some kind of order (has been neglected apart from my two veggie beds for two years now) and the grass on part of the garden nearest to two coal bunkers is teeming with them.

I need to get OH to shift the bins and bunkers, and we also plan on getting hens and building a pond and introducing frogs. Will these help control the problem? Anyone notice a reduction in spiders since they got hens or frogs or is it just wishful thinking on my part? Any other advice about how (or even if) it's possible to get rid of the things?

I know I'll never get rid of them fully, and we need some spiders for a successful ecosystem, etc, but I just wish there weren't so bloody many!!

[Alison]

Why are you scared of them? I mean what do you think will happen to you? My brain is very logical and therefore telling myself that something can't harm you (and that's not difficult with UK spiders as they're only teeny and of no danger to us) means that any fear disappears. I know it's not that easy when you're terrified but facts often help me and you'll always find spiders around and about (and to be honest it'd be a bad thing to try and get rid of them) so you can either find a way of dealing with your fear (different things work for different people) or hide away and I'm guessing you'd be better doing the former. Sorry for sounding harsh but the only way you'll find there are less is by learning to live with them and suddnely you'll not notice them at all. Hope this makes sense

[Nicos]

Can you encourage birds ( nesting boxes) ?

[miker2d2]

my ducks spend most of their day eating anything that moves in my garden although this also includes digging up worms, they even chase flies! so i reckon the hens will help

[ecoprincess]

Alison I totally agree, I know it's irrational and I would LOVE to be able to get over my fear but I wouldn't know where to even begin! I know they can't hurt me, but telling myself that doesn't help. I'm not scared of them biting me or hurting me, just of them being on me. I never used to be as bad until I went to Australia where I had a VERY close encounter with a VERY big huntsman spider!

[HotStuff]

A friend of mine was petrified of spiders, she couldn't bear to be in the same room as even the smallest of them. And then she did an afternoon course at London Zoo. What a difference, if I hadn't seen it myself I wouldn't have believed the change in her.

Do you have a spider phobia? - News - ZSL London Zoo - ZSL

Not cheap, but if it's really bothering you it may be an option.

[elsie-scot]

Instead of trying to get rid of them all, why not as Alison says, have a look at addressing your fear. There are many great techniques that do work. Seemingly if you see a spider in your house they are just looking for a mate to love - how sweet! Mind you, you probably think, argh that'll mean babies and more spiders.

[elsie-scot]

Alison I totally agree, I know it's irrational and I would LOVE to be able to get over my fear but I wouldn't know where to even begin! I know they can't hurt me, but telling myself that doesn't help. I'm not scared of them biting me or hurting me, just of them being on me. I never used to be as bad until I went to Australia where I had a VERY close encounter with a VERY big huntsman spider!

I was on a CBT course and there was a girl scared of snakes, they talked through graded exposure, found this on net, it tells you a little about it http://www.suite101.com/content/what...posure-a195071

[Aberdeenplotter]

buy a toy spider which you know can't do you any harm, carry it about with you, talk to it even. Before you know where you are, it will be your best friend and so will it's real life relations.

[ecoprincess]

HotStuff, that course actually looks really good. Pleasantly suprised at the price too - especially as I get half off seeing as I'm a student! I'm really thinking it might be worth investing in something like that to try and cure me, and an 80% success rate is very impressive! Strange to think though that a lifelong fear of spiders can be overcome in just one afternoon. Thank you for the link!

[zebedee]

I won't go into details, but I have been in some SCARY situations and dealt with them! If spiders are shown on the television, my wife has to turn the porogramme over! I can't even bear to go near the screen! How illogical is that???

[Chef_uk]

I used to have a big phobia but seemed to have somewhat cured myself by reading up online about them. now I just ignore them and they soon disappear.

[HotStuff]

HotStuff, that course actually looks really good. Pleasantly suprised at the price too - especially as I get half off seeing as I'm a student! I'm really thinking it might be worth investing in something like that to try and cure me, and an 80% success rate is very impressive! Strange to think though that a lifelong fear of spiders can be overcome in just one afternoon. Thank you for the link!

Glad you think it might be of some help. I have to say the change in my friend was remarkable. Like you I was skeptical about how effective one afternoon course could be but she was a changed person after it, she even did the catching house spiders bit at the end.

[dirtgirl]

Hi Ecoprincess, I'm also scared of spiders, though happily not as bad as I used to be when I was younger, or I wouldn't be able to garden at all. Can't be without my gloves though
Anyway, my chickens love spiders, and follow me around the garden when I'm moving pots, etc to be the first to grab their treat, and save me from making a fool of myself! I love my chickens
Oh, and the garden we had before we moved here had lots of frogs passing through (we didn't have a pond) and I found that we rarely came across a spider amongst the pots or other places that the frogs would hide, so thumbs up to both of these spider catchers.
Finally, if you do a course and it does work for you, please let us know, as in certain situations I can find my fear crippling, irrational as I know it is.

[Rabidbun]

My OH is very scared of spiders (since he was covered in baby ones after touching one of those just hatched egg sacks when he was a wee toddler). Only thing I have found so far that works is checking where I want him to garden (he helps carry the larger pots on occasion) so that I can assure him there are no spiders.

I second the frog thing though as being very useful spider control - we rarely have spiders outside, and there are always a good two or three frogs living under the decking.