SPIDERS…EEK!

Dear  Readers,

I am pretty sure I have aracnophobia.  Not to be cheesy, but wikipedia states, "People with arachnophobia tend to feel uneasy in any area they believe could harbor spiders or that has visible signs of their presence, such as webs. If arachnophobics see a spider, they may not enter the general vicinity until they have overcome the panic attack that is often associated with their phobia. Some people scream, cry, have trouble breathing, have excessive sweating or even heart trouble when they come in contact with an area near spiders or their webs. In some extreme cases, even a picture or a realistic drawing of a spider can also trigger fear."  

That definition is me when I see a spider.  We live in a little fourplex in the basement.  I love where we live.  I love our neighbors.  There are quite a few hispanics around us and I love listening to the little kids talk to their moms, "Linda!  Listen to me!"  I also love listening to our back yard neighbors get a little tipsy and sing a bunch of songs with their guitar late at night.  

The only thing I don't like, is that our cute, cozy apartment is right next to a big field.  This means that every once in awhile we get a few spiders.  These spiders are mostly small, but every once in awhile a big one comes along.  I'm pretty sure the big ones are an occasional hobo spider.  I've had the husband spray our apartment, I've used the peppermint essential oils mixed with water and spray around the complex, and our landlord even got the heavy duty spider spray to spray around our complex. But, every couple weeks without fail, there is a spider.

Of course, when I see the spider, I smash it with a shoe.  I HATE using tissue to get the spider because of the feeling when it squishes between my hands.  I also get these nightmares that I will wake up in the morning and spiders will be crawling everywhere on the floor.  FREAKY!!  I've tried to educate myself on spiders and why they are beneficial.  BUT, Nothing has worked and they still freak me out.  I am the definition of arachnophobia on the wikipedia web page.  I sweat when I see them.  I about pee my pants when I see them.  I scream!  

Usually the husband will be home so he can get the spiders and calm me down from my state of panic.  But, here is my newlywed dilemma.  I need some advice and need it fast!  What do I do when I see a spider and my husband is not home to step on it or squish it for me?  

Sincerely,

A freaked out-scared-pregnant wifey who hates spiders.