Insectophobia in general and arachnophobia in particular can cause great inconvenience. There are cases when a person suffering from fear of insects literally could not enter the room for important documents just because a night butterfly flies there. According to reviews of such people, this is not just squeamishness, it is an irrational feeling of panic that deprives one of strength and ability to think soberly. Naturally, they are interested in how to stop being afraid of spiders and other small creatures in order to improve the quality of their life. Experts say that with a reasonable and balanced approach, you can even achieve excellent results on your own.
How to diagnose insectophobia?
You can conditionally separate phobia from anxiety disorder. In a mild form, fear and anxiety arise only when in direct contact with an insect, for example, if you accidentally find a bug in your hair or a caterpillar on your shoulder. If the bug is located somewhere separately, then there may be only a vague concern, as if by chance not to find a fly in a cup of freshly brewed tea.
Another thing, if panic occurs, there is tachycardia, increased sweating, chills and nausea, uncoordination of movements. How to stop being afraid of insects? To begin with, it is worthwhile to understand that this is a fairly common fear, known since ancient times, it can be easily explained. You need to study your reactions to insects, try to isolate what exactly scares, study this condition and use any of the methods of correction of perception.
Mythical background of arachnophobia
It is human nature to draw parallels and think out the existing reality, rich imagination easily models monsters. In fact, how to stop being afraid of spiders, if the very method of their hunting causes a feeling of respectful fear? If there are small spiders that catch midges on their nets, and larger specimens that can overcome a large fly or wasp, then surely somewhere in the dark or in mysterious caves there are monsters hiding in the same way!
From ancient times, myths and legends of different peoples have accumulated a mystical attitude towards these amazing creatures. The African god Anansi, the Japanese werewolf spiders Kumo, the bloodthirsty Egorger from the Peruvian Mochik culture - all of them demanded human blood, had many fans who were ready to sacrifice captives. But there was another side, portraying positive qualities. Arachne, cursed by the envious goddess Athena, was the best weaver of Greece. It was the weaving abilities of the spiders that were reflected in the biblical mythology - in one of the beliefs from the web was the first diaper of the baby Christ. Spiders hid from the persecution of the Prophet Muhammad, so that Islam, too, was noted in the legends around these amazing creatures.
Phobia or squeamishness?
It is not necessary to experience fear so as not to want to meet all kinds of jumping, crawling or flying insects. Sometimes this is a usual squeamishness - it is unpleasant to see, I do not want to touch it with my hands. Sometimes these are quite reasonable fears, perhaps the insect is poisonous or can bite painfully. How to stop being afraid of spiders if it’s not really a phobia? Perhaps there is a usual substitution of concepts, so easy spleen is commonly called depression, although these are completely different things.
The ability to correctly name your attitude to insects is already half the battle. If there are no typical signs of phobia, then this may be elementary common sense, seasoned with a bit of disgust, which fits perfectly with one of the options for the norm.
Psychologist's help
The specialist will determine what specifically causes the discomfort, diagnose if there is an anxiety disorder or phobia. In the presence of obvious mental disorders, the psychologist can refer you to a psychiatrist, this is done to concretize the diagnosis, and timely help can quickly get rid of the fear of spiders. How to get rid of fear if you have already recognized the existence of a problem?
Any psychological help begins with the patient ceasing to deny the need for support. Openness and willingness to work on a problem is already half the battle. Psychological practices can reduce anxiety and build a new model of interaction with the world, in which there is a frightening factor.
Arachnophobia as a symptom
Panic conditions can themselves become significant difficulties, but experts also note that they may simply be concomitant signs of an existing disease. For example, the lack of certain hormones blocks critical attitude to objects and phenomena, and circulatory disorders of the brain can give a clinical picture similar to psychiatric diseases. Common symptoms include arachnophobia. Fear of spiders can appear literally for no reason, that is, in the absence of negative experience in the past. In this case, it is necessary to undergo a medical examination, check the level of hormones, do all the tests prescribed by the doctor. It is possible that simple antidepressants can quickly and efficiently remove this obsessive condition.
How to cope on your own?
Perhaps the most annoying and unpleasant advice that is given in such cases is the recommendation to try not to think about insects. However, this is one of the most effective methods. If, looking at a bush of ripening raspberries, a person thinks not about fragrant berries, but about insects hiding in the leaves, then it is time to look for methods of treatment. How to stop being afraid of spiders? First of all, try to see the main function of any object, phenomenon or room. In the raspberry bush - ripe berries, on a trip to the forest - pleasure and fresh air, and in the bedroom - the opportunity to sleep and relax, rather than insidious multi-legged monsters.
Three basic points of getting rid of irrational fear will be required:
- the formation of a positive image;
- informing;
- control and calm.
It is important to remember that independent work with a phobia is a lengthy process that requires consistent effort.
The formation of a positive image
How to stop being afraid of spiders and bugs? It will be a surprise for many people to learn that in fact these creatures do not experience any negative feelings for people, do not hunt for them and do not specifically fall into the common space. Perhaps it is they who are in a vulnerable position - poisonous individuals are extremely rare in our latitudes, the chance of meeting them irresistibly tends to zero, but we can slap a defenseless creature with a slipper.
You can find a special sophisticated charm in the thinnest web, on which dew drops tremble. On sale there are funny toys in the form of spiders, interesting figures, elegant decorations. You can start with them, gradually getting rid of fears.
Information as a way to deal with anxiety
Studying provides an opportunity to build a logical and reasonable system of getting rid of phobias. For example, you can find out that there are types of spiders that spin the strings of amazing golden color, from which they even make an amazing and very expensive fabric. Some of the largest species start small frogs as pets, protect them in every possible way, protecting the laid eggs from predatory insects in this way. How to stop being afraid of spiders? Study them, and you will find out that they have much more reason to be afraid of people.
Not all species try to settle next to people, just humanity creates a fairly comfortable living space. Midges and mosquitoes fly into the light of our electric lamps, spiders reasonably try to master this buffet. Our food, rich in sugars and smelling delicious, attracts flies, but someone must hunt for them!
Control and calm
In the process of getting rid of fear, it is important to develop an algorithm of actions in case of a sudden encounter with insects. How to stop being afraid of spiders, all kinds of caterpillars and bugs? Do not bring yourself to a fit of panic, do not try to break your nature - violent methods can only aggravate the condition. If you are more comfortable retreating, step back and calm down. Remind yourself that you are much larger, stronger and more dangerous, it is they who are afraid of you. Finally, these creatures with great probability came into your personal space by accident. Perhaps switching from fear to pity will help - you can sympathize with a small creature who is probably afraid of unexpectedly loud noises, waved towels.
It is unlikely that you are afraid of mosquitoes and flies, but this nocturnal butterfly, so furry and ridiculous, differs from them only in size. If you can’t ignore her, you can kick her out or slam the newspaper. This will not work right away if a phobia does occur. You need to focus on your own feelings: you are in control of the situation, this is your living space, and the spider just came to save you from several flies. Observe the progress of control and calm, and soon you will notice a significant improvement.