How to stop being afraid of spiders and beetles: ways to treat arachnophobia and recommendations
Insectophobia in general and arachnophobia in particularcan cause enormous inconvenience. There are cases when a person suffering from fear of insects literally could not enter the room for important documents only because the night butterfly is flying there. According to such people, this is not just disgust, it is an irrational sense of panic, depriving them of the 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 lives. Experts argue that with a reasonable and balanced approach, you can even achieve excellent results yourself.
How to diagnose insectophobia?
You can conditionally separate the phobia from the anxiousdisorder. In an easy form, fear and anxiety arise only when you are in direct contact with an insect, for example, if you accidentally find a beetle or caterpillar on your shoulder in your hair. If the insect is somewhere apart, there may be only a vague anxiety, as if accidentally not to detect a fly in a cup of freshly brewed tea.
Another thing, if there is panic, there istachycardia, increased sweating, chills and nausea, movement uncoordination. How to stop being afraid of insects? To begin with, it should be understood that this is a fairly common fear, known since ancient times, it can easily be explained. We need to study our reactions to insects, try to isolate what exactly frightens, to study this state and to use any of the methods of correction of perception.
Mythical preconditions of arachnophobia
It is peculiar for a person to draw parallels andto think out the existing reality, a rich fantasy with ease simulates monsters. In fact, how to stop being afraid of spiders, if the very method of hunting them causes a feeling of respectful fear? If there are small spiders that catch Simuliidae in their nets, and larger specimens capable of combating a large fly or wasp, then surely somewhere in the dark or in mysterious caves monsters are hiding, just eating people!
In the myths and legends of different peoples since antiquityThe mystical attitude to these amazing creatures was accumulated. The African god Anansi, the Japanese werewolf spiders Kumo, the bloodthirsty Egorzher from the Peruvian Mochica culture - they all demanded human blood, had many admirers ready to sacrifice prisoners. But there was another side, representing positive qualities. Arachne, cursed by the envious goddess Athena, was the best weaver in Greece. It is the weaving abilities of the spiders that found the reflection in the near-biblical mythology - in one of the beliefs from the web was the first diaper of the infant of Christ. Spiders have hidden from the persecution of the Prophet Muhammad, so Islam is also noted in the legends around these amazing creatures.
A phobia or fastidiousness?
Do not necessarily fear, not to wantmeetings with all kinds of jumping, crawling or flying insects. Sometimes it's an ordinary disgust - it's unpleasant to see, you do not want to touch with your hands. Sometimes it is quite reasonable fears, perhaps the insect is poisonous or can hurt painfully. How to stop being afraid of spiders, if this is not really a phobia? Perhaps there is a common substitution of concepts, so a mild depression in everyday life is called depression, although these are completely different things.
Ability to correctly name your attitude toinsects are already half the battle. If there are no typical signs of phobia, then this can be an elementary common sense, flavored with a bit of disgust, which fits perfectly into one of the norm options.
Psychologist's help
The specialist will determine what exactly causesdiscomfort, diagnose if there is an anxiety disorder or phobia. In the presence of obvious mental disorders, a psychologist can refer to a psychiatrist, this is done to specify the diagnosis, and timely help can quickly get rid of the fear of spiders. How to get rid of fear if you have already acknowledged the problem?
Any psychological help begins with that,that the patient ceases to deny the need for support. Openness and willingness to work on the problem are 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 states can by themselves becomesignificant difficulties, but experts also note that they may simply be concomitant signs of the existing disease. For example, a shortage of some hormones blocks a critical attitude toward objects and phenomena, and disorders of the blood circulation of the brain can produce 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, you need to undergo a medical examination, check the level of hormones, do all the tests prescribed by your doctor. It is not excluded that simple antidepressants can quickly and qualitatively remove this obsession.
How to cope on your own?
Perhaps the most annoying and unpleasant advice,which is given in such cases, it is a recommendation to try not to think about insects. However, this is one of the most effective methods. If, while looking at the raspberry bush, people think not about fragrant berries, but about hiding in the leaves of insects, it's time to look for ways 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 hike to the forest - pleasure and fresh air, and in the bedroom - the opportunity to sleep and relax, and not treacherous multi-legged monsters.
It will take three basic points to get rid of irrational fear:
- formation of a positive image;
- informing;
- control and tranquility.
It is important to remember that independent work with a phobia is a long process, requiring the application of consistent efforts.
Formation of a positive image
How to stop being afraid of spiders and beetles? For many people would be surprised to learn that in fact these creatures do not suffer people any negative feelings, do not hunt for them and do not specifically fall within the shared space. Perhaps it is they vulnerable - in our latitudes poisonous specimens are extremely rare, the chance to meet with them uncontrollably tends to zero, but the sneakers kill defenseless creature we can.
You can find a special subtle charm inThe thinest web, on which the drops of dew tremble. On sale there are funny toys in the form of spiders, interesting figures, elegant ornaments. You can start with them, gradually getting rid of fears.
Information as a way to cope with anxiety
The study provides an opportunity to build a logical anda reasonable system of getting rid of phobia. For example, you can find out that there are species of spiders that spin strands of amazing gold color, from which even they produce amazing and very expensive fabric. Some of the largest species plant themselves as pets of small frogs, protect them in every possible way, thus protecting the laid eggs from predatory insects. How to stop being afraid of spiders? Study them, and you will find out that they have many more reasons to fear people.
Not all species try to settle near people,just mankind creates a comfortable enough living space. To the light of our electric bulbs fly gnats and mosquitoes, spiders wisely try to learn this buffet. Our food, rich in sugars and smelling deliciously, attracts flies, on them someone must hunt!
Control and calmness
In the process of getting rid of fear it is important to work outalgorithm of actions in case of a sudden encounter with insects. How to stop being afraid of spiders, all kinds of caterpillars and beetles? Do not bring yourself to a panic attack, do not try to break your nature - by violent methods you can only aggravate the condition. If it's more comfortable for you to step back, step back and calm down. Remind yourself that you are much larger, stronger and more dangerous, they are afraid of you. Finally, these creatures with a huge degree of probability fell into your personal space quite by accident. Perhaps switching from fear to pity will help - you can sympathize with a small creature that is probably afraid of unexpectedly loud sounds, swings of a towel.
It's unlikely that you are afraid of mosquitoes and flies, but this onea night butterfly, so furry and ridiculous, differs from them only in size. If you can not not pay attention to it, you can kick it out or slam it with a newspaper. It does not work out right away if there really is a phobia. You need to focus on your own feelings: you control the situation, this is your living space, and the spider just came to relieve you of several flies. Mark the progress of work on control and tranquility, and you will soon notice a significant improvement.
