Question from someone nervous about having spiders in the room when sleeping but doesn't want to be.
So I'm not afraid of spiders as much as I used to be. Looking at pictures and videos on this reddit has actually helped. I used to be terrified. Then I had kids, didn't want to show them how scared I was of them and became less afraid, most of the time anyway. I'm fine dealing with them, letting them outside, during the day time, as long as I can find where it ran off to in the house.
But the idea of them being in the bedroom when we're sleeping is still terrifying to me. The other day I tried to catch one that was on the wall above where me and the kids sleep, i didn't manage and it fell on the bed and crawled under it, in a place that was really hard to get to due to the type of bed. I can't deal with the idea of them crawling on us while we're asleep. Getting under the covers, biting for some reason because of getting trapped under covers or in clothes maybe, and what if they crawl into our mouths on accident or something.
That's the part I can't deal with. If I'm awake and have control over the situation, I'm fine. But when I saw that spider go under the bed close to bedtime, I stood there hyperventilating, watched for it leaving the area for about 20 minutes (it didn't leave) until reinforcements arrived in the form of my father who lives nearby, who helped move the bed so we could find it. I couldn't sleep knowing there's a spider there. There were no other spiders under there, dead or alive. But we did find this one and took it outside.
I want to know what realistically happens if spiders crawl on you at night, accidentally find their way under your covers, on your face, etc.
I want to not be afraid of sleeping knowing there's spiders around, if I don't have to be. I want facts, my brain usually needs good evidence. But when it comes to a fear, I can only hope enough evidence for something will help.
I am also scared of opening windows, in case of bugs getting in. Any bugs really. And wasps to me are way worse than spiders in terms of being afraid.
For reference, I live in western Norway. There are no poisonous spiders here that I know of, but I could be wrong. I have seen maybe 2-3 spiders per year in my house the last years. 2nd floor (top floor) apartment, very small.
I have never seen webs in the house, and I have never seen any spiders get any other bugs. The wasps are bigger then the spiders. Rarely seen any bugs at all really. Even outside, tried to go looking for bugs with the kids in summer sometimes and all we can find are occasionally some ants and bees. Rarely a spider.
I have not reacted like that to spiders or any bugs in front of my kids. The other day they weren't home yet when that happened. I don't want to cause fears in them. One kid likes spiders and enjoys watching the videos on this sub with me, as long as he's not touching the spiders he loves them.The other kid is more terrified than I ever was. I also want to help her not be so afraid if she doesn't have to be. So I'm asking for advice and information from all of you. What can realistically happen if spiders crawl on you or your bed, in your clothes, sheets, etc at night when sleeping? Is there anything to actually, realistically, be afraid of?
Thank you. Sorry for the long post. The situation a few days ago really got me thinking I want to not be that afraid.