G , i am intrigued, how does one cure their phobia.

I have plans to visit zoos and stuff but have to admit it is one of my concerns.

crazyboutoz, that spider was firkin huge !!!!!

Kala, your comments about the eggs in ears etc was WAY too much to handle :scared: lol

Need some education.:lecture:

paul.

The mature male funnel-web spider will wander around during hot humid nights, looking for a mate. Invariably after mating when he is totally exhausted the female bites him and sucks all the nourishment from his body leaving him an empty shell.


??????????????????? Sounds like a good night out!!!!

Mr Iggy

I had this happen to me in the UK...driving to work and a spider landed in my lap:scared:

Paul
Quite easily really.

Cognitive- Behavioural Psychotherapy is the answer. Available on the NHS
Treatment is very rapid.

Involves 'real life' exposure.

It's what I used to do before I retired.

G

I think I've met a few of them:D

G

I would love to have my phobia treated, but I know how it's done and I'm to scared!;)

It's not as bad as it seems Salli

Lots of people manage it.

That's why you need to see someone who knows what they are doing.

G

For anyone interested:

www.babcp.org.uk

G

I don't think I have a phobia, I dont freak out or anything.
If you can treat my feear of flying however that would be great

Kala

And that:)

G

Whilst fresh in my mind, i have been searching again about spiders and found this gem about white tailed spiders.
Particularly liked the closing sentence:

As the scientific name suggests (Lampona cylindrata), White-tailed Spiders have a cylindrical body 1-2 cm long. Females are larger than males. The body color is a dull, dark gray to brown with a distinctive white spot on the end of the abdomen, (sometimes also with paired spots towards the front). The spiders legs are shiny and brownish.With the lethal power of Redback and Funnel Web attacks countered by antivenoms, the disabling, disfiguring effects of other spider bites are emerging as a greater worry. Evidence is mounting that more than 1 kind can cause massive tissue destruction, along with maddening pain. Scientists are far from certain which species are responsible. They have no idea what substances in venoms are doing the damage, or how they occur. Symptoms of White-tailed Spider bites are usually confined to local stinging or burning pain which is sometimes followed by development of an itchy lump. Less
commonly bites cause swelling, skin discoloration and local ulceration, sometimes with nausea and vomiting. A sensible precaution is to remove these spiders when you see them around
the home.

ROFL.

Paul.

I know that there is no substitute for going to a professional to get things like this sorted....but here's a good site with lots of info...

Fear Of Flying

Thanks G, only a few weeks till we go tho so i think i'll have to look into it when we get there.

Paul

Spotted my first red back today in a video store at Brookside in Brisbane.

Husband called me over to have a look so I'd know what i was looking for if i ever came across one! The sales assistant came over straight away and squirted it, it fell to the floor and hubbie quashed it with his size nines. It was larger that i thought it would be and quite nasty looking. The stripe wasn't that noticable until she sprayed it. She said that was the second one she had found in the shop. No video for us tonight!

Mandy:D

we saw one in Kings Park when we were holidaying in Perth. It was quite small though.

Grayling...I've been practicing getting used to spiders by looking at pics of them and when I see a spider here I've been watching it.....trying to get used to the little ones before I get confronted by a dinner plate sized one!