I get severe anxiety attacks from being in close proximity with a spider. Is that normal?
Monday, August 23rd, 2010 at
3:44 am
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Filed under: Anxiety Attacks
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What you describe is a little intense. Instead of freaking out, grab something and kill it! You have break free from your minds grasp on reality. Mind over matter. Besides, if you kill it it’s gone for ever and then you won’t have to worry about it dropping from the ceiling on you! Next time you see a spider, and it’s not in a full on charge at you, stop and breathe, make friends and kill it. I hate spiders too but I feel so much better if I smear’em!
This is a type of phobia. Get professional help. See a therapist and you will be able to overcome it soon.
Goodness me Adam "make friends and kill it"? I think you might have to re-assess your use of the word ‘friend!
And I’d like to suggest killing’s simply not necessary.
I guess I used to be ‘normal’ too, but somehow I got over my irrational fear of spiders. That doesn’t mean I want them in my house – I don’t like their webs – and having harmless spiders around attracts the poisonous ones, so I move them outside. I can now pick them up in my hands (if they’re not too big) and put them outside. If they’re ‘too big’ for me to feel comfortable handling them I herd them into a glass – gently so I don’t break their delicate legs – and pop them outside that way. The occasional poisonous spider does end up dead though – I used to hit them; then more recently I would spray them; but just last week I read that the most humane way is to freeze them – I suggest inside a sealed container so they’re not running around inside your freezer until they die!
Anyway, it sounds like you could do with some help. There are a couple of good self-help programs available on the web, but I recommend you consider The Linden Method. Charles Linden promises to cure anxiety disorders – and has a 96.7% success rate, and a 365 day money back guarantee. I’ve seen some people comment that it’s quite expensive, but it’s around $100 – $180 (depending on which option you order), and to be cured of your anxiety problems might be worth it – obviously you’re the only one who can judge that.
BTW – they discovered that anxiety disorders are caused by a little area of the brain that gets wired incorrectly – and it’s quite simple to re-wire it, but until you do that no amount of counselling, or medication, will cure it.
I hope that helps!
My OCD experience:
i went to a camp for the summer last year and it helped me get over my anxiety by doing things that make you uncomfortable and then you realize it isn’t so bad. you could have OCD, just like me only i got over it with the support of my family and my friends. it was hard it will take a while if you choose to do what you fear. it doesnt seem to work at first but once you keep doing it you feel a drop at your anxiety level. first scale how worried you are(1-10) then try the exposure and rate how bad it was(1-10). you do this everyday once you will be cured soon just give urself a chance and keep working at it. its kinda like giving yourself homework but its so worth it at least you dont have to have school if you are younger but trust me it is worth it in the end after a while of this it will get better. try to keep at it the first week but you wont feel much of a difference but when you start progressing it will be better just keep it up and promise yourself you will keep it up.
My thoughts:
it is hard but trust me keep it up and you will get there. I couldnt eat or anything I couldnt sleep I worried wayyyyy too much about germs lying and lots of other things. I lost tons of weight while having OCD but you have to eat. I was so worried about eating germs I fainted many times a day most people thought I was a freak but I didnt care I helped myself and got help with a counselor and now I’m doing way better I did the same thing that I’m telling you now. No matter how much people say you can’t do it you have to.