Deb's Random Writings

My blog about life, family, people, places and anything else that tickles my fancy....

You are here: Home / That's Life / Facing My Fear

Facing My Fear

By: Debbie52 Comments

Facing My Fear

I’m can’t begin to tell you how excited and nervous I was taking these photos. When I spotted this spider stalking it’s prey, I knew I had to grab my camera. My  hands were clammy and my stomach was doing flips, but that was to be expected as I was facing my fear.

Logic tells me that the odds are in my favour if it came to one on one combat with this (and most other) spiders, but there is nothing logical about fear. Snakes, lizards, rats and mice don’t bother me one bit, but put me in a room with a spider and I freeze with terror.

I can feel my body go into survival mode, my breathing slows, my senses heighten and I can’t avert my eyes from the threatening creature (it’s the same with moths, expect when one attacks bops me, I will run for the hills).

Since spending a couple of years in South Africa I have become slightly better, as the spiders out there are the size of small (and some of them not so small) mammals and where we were there were plenty of them. The hours I’ve wasted in a ‘stand off’ with a spider is nobody’s business, but as I see it if I don’t avert my eyes I know exactly where the spider is… And just for the record, I never kill or have anyone else kill spiders (I couldn’t live with myself), I just won’t share my living space with them.

Facing My Fear

I faced my fear to get these #photos!
Powered By the Tweet This Plugin
Tweet This

Facing My Fear

When I saw this spider moving in on it’s prey, I knew I had to grab my camera.

Facing My Fear

The spider was making moves around the fly, almost as if it wasn’t sure what to do next.

A spider moving in on its prey

I’m not sure what the spider was doing here, but I think it was trussing up it’s dinner with a bit of silk.

Spider on the kill

Facing my fear, I managed to move in a little closer.

Spider dragging it's prey

Once the spider had secured it’s prey, it dragged it back to its hole.

Spider dragging it's prey

Quite fascinating don’t you think?

My camera created a barrier as I faced my fear.
Powered By the Tweet This Plugin
Tweet This

I must admit that just editing these photos made my toes curl. Isn’t fear irrational?

Do you have an irrational fear? What is it?

https://debsrandomwritings.com/

 

© 2016, Debbie. All rights reserved.

Tagged In...

Greek Island • my photographs • That's life • wildlife and nature

Find Me Here

I Am Lovin’ Bloglovin’

Follow

About Debbie

Hello, I’m Debbie (also known as ChirpyDebs) and thank you for stopping by my little corner of the internet. Now the children are all grown up I’m happiest when I’m out with the dogs or hiking a trail with my camera in hand. My blog is where I like to share photographs showing the wild beauty of Zakynthos that most people don’t get to see, recipes and other seemingly random things that come to mind.

Comments

    • 54

      Debbie says

      Hi Heledd, I felt so brave hiding behind my camera! It is funny how people have different phobias; rodents really don't worry me, but my husband turns in to a quivering wreck around a rodent... He wasn't very happy when we took on a hamster in need of a home. Thank you for stopping by. xx
      Reply
  3. 55

    Stefani @ Crafty Christian says

    Goodness, I have too many fears to count. But you're right, it does seem silly sometimes to be afraid of something so small and (generally) harmless. As I was reminded by my 3 year old the other day about the time I screamed and ran around the house when a wasp-containment situation got out of hand. He remembers it was funny. I remember it was terrifying. Haha!
    Reply
    • 56

      Debbie says

      Hi Stefani, I've seen my husband have a macho meltdown when a bat got into the house, it was so funny as he used me as a barrier between me and the bat as we tried to coax it out (almost an impossible thing to do, when the bat was flitting and the husband was squealing!). At least your son saw the funny side of it and wasn't affected by your fear. Thank you for stopping by and commenting. xx
      Reply
  4. 57

    Nikki Frank-Hamilton says

    Good for you! I'm not overly fond of spiders, but mice are the thing that scares me. I know, they are little, what are they going to do? Knock me down and hold me with one paw while it gnaws on me? LOL And I'm just going to lay there and take it? I think not! I think more than scare me they gross me out. When I was young I had on a long nightgown and a mouse ran up under the nightgown and up my bare leg! EEK! I think that's what started my fear. But it was GROSS!!! I also noticed a month or so ago, that you took your camera into a tight space and got photos, didn't you say that you don't like small enclosed areas? Your camera is helping you get past a few things to get a great shot! Good for you! Nikki Frank-Hamilton recently posted...Is your Facebook Page a Desert Wasteland?My Profile
    Reply
    • 58

      Debbie says

      Hi Nikki, the camera and the thought of missing out on what may be a decent-ish photo because of a little thing called fear has definitely got me taking photos I would never have taken a few months ago. I think the photos you are referring to are the ones I took inside the Dragon cave as previously I wrote about not being keen an entering some other caves that we came across during the winter. I'm sure that I wouldn't be so keen on little furry rodents if one had climbed up my nightdress. You saying that though got me thinking about the time (as a child), that my sister was drying herself on a towel after our bath and a huge (gigantic) spider fell out of her towel and it bothered me for days that it could well have been my towel that the spider had crawled into. Maybe that's where my fear came from? Thank you for stopping by. xx
      Reply
    • 60

      Debbie says

      Hi Becky, you are right. Fear is instinctive and has probably saved our lives on countless occasions, but it does make me laugh (and tremble) when I'm trembling inside when faced with the tiniest of spiders that I am pretty sure is harmless. And it's the dangers we can't see that are the most dangerous... That spider hiding under the bed clothes!... I wouldn't get into bed without thoroughly checking the bed clothes when we were in South Africa. And then I'd only have to 'feel' a movement and I'd be out like a shot! Thank you for stopping by. xx
      Reply
  6. 61

    Wendy says

    Those pictures are really great, especially considering how your hands must have been shaking holding the camera! I really, REALLY hate spiders, but will deal with them when I have to. My husband always wonders how I can kill huge ones when he's not around but run and scream over a little house spider when he is nearby. ;-) Wendy recently posted...11 Podcasts To Inspire, Entertain, & Encourage YouMy Profile
    Reply
    • 62

      Debbie says

      Hi Wendy, luckily the camera has an anti-shake setting. It's funny what we can do when the other half isn't around! Thank you for stopping by. xx
      Reply
    • 67

      Debbie says

      Hi Vicki, glad I'm not the only one. My husband is a born and bred South African too and we lived out there for a couple of years before moving here. Thank you for stopping by and commenting. xx
      Reply
    • 69

      Debbie says

      Hi Stella, I won't take offense! It's nice to meet someone worse than myself. I can imagine that you get some large spiders in Australia, before living in South Africa a tiny Money spider would have me running for the hills, so I really have come along way. Thank you for facing your fear an leaving a comment. xx
      Reply
    • 71

      Debbie says

      Hi Jenny, I was probably lucky that I noticed it and the camera is rather large with a zoom lens, so I'm probably not as brave as it may seem. Thank you for stopping by. xx
      Reply
    • 73

      Debbie says

      Hi Natalie, the word spider doesn't conjure up images of loveliness (fascinating, I can understand), but each to their own! My advice is to approach (or not) each and every spider as if it's deadly, that way no mistakes are made. Thank you for stopping by. xx
      Reply
    • 75

      Debbie says

      Hi Leanne, thank you. Luckily because of the zoom it probably looks like I am closer than I actually was, I was taking no risks! The editing did make my toes curl too, isn't fear strange? Thank you for stopping by. xx
      Reply
  14. 76

    Jen says

    Oh no, no, no, I hate spiders. I would burn the whole house down and start again if I didn't have an official spider killer in my husband. My son recently told me though that we are only like 3 feet away from a spider at any given time. I hope that is not true, because my life expectancy will go down! Jen recently posted...The Happy Now Blog Link- Up # 12My Profile
    Reply
    • 77

      Debbie says

      Hi Jen, by the sounds of it you have the fear worse than I do! Although I'm not sure how large your spiders are over there in Arizona. I've just checked the three feet of space all around me and I can't see one spider... But my toes are curling just at the thought of it! Thank you for stopping by. xx
      Reply
  15. 78

    Tamara says

    I really don't like snakes or spiders, but I can tolerate them - especially because of all the nice ones that eat other pests. I did see a spider on my front door last week and shared a photo and it was scary! My irrational fear, or phobia, is vomit. heh. Aren't you glad you asked?? Tamara recently posted...We Pop For The Land Before Time.My Profile
    Reply
    • 79

      Debbie says

      Hi Tamara, I remember reading one of your posts where you said you haven't vomited in like forever. It must be really horrible for you because it is a natural bodily function. If I had a choice I'd stick with my irrational fear of spiders! Thank you for stopping by. xx
      Reply
    • 81

      Debbie says

      Hi Merlinda, I love snakes! We recently came across a nice sized snake (we call them olive snakes as they are found around the olive groves), it was beautiful (and harmless), but it slithered away faster than I could photograph it (I was gutted). I must say though, that for photographing things we are fearful of the zoom lens is a blessing! Thank you for stopping by. xx
      Reply
    • 83

      Debbie says

      Hi Carlee, I don't think I've met a man who is creeped out by spiders before, or they hide it well. My husband dislike (immensely) frogs, snakes, rodents and bats, so I can have my fun too.... Thank you for stopping by and commenting. xx
      Reply
  18. 84

    tracey at Mummyshire says

    Well done on confronting your fears and that's a major milestone, you did really well. Fear and emotional is irrational and it can't be explained and whilst I'm not a great lover of spiders - even looking at your photos made me shiver a wee bit! - it's nothing compared to my dislike of frogs. Why? I don't know but I know it feels real at the time So I think you've been really brave and I'm proud of you xx #SundayPhoto
    Reply
    • 85

      Debbie says

      Hi Tracey, thank you. When I first met my husband I remember picking up this cute little tree frog to show him just how cute it was and he nearly died! Like you he really doesn't like them. We do work well together as I don't 'do'spiders, moths, those big locust like things, big things in water or children and he doesn't 'do' bees (mainly because one sting will kill him without medication), mice, frogs, bats or snakes. I think anyone with an irrational fear knows it's irrational and can relate to anyone that feels the same way. It must be an old survival instinct that's gone out of sync. Thank you for stopping by. xx
      Reply
  19. 86

    BloggerMummyLauren says

    Well done on facing your fear! Braver lady than me that's for sure, I bloody hate spiders! You got some great shots too, caught right in the action! BloggerMummyLauren recently posted...My Sunday Photo 12/06/16My Profile
    Reply
    • 87

      Debbie says

      Hi Lauren, spiders honestly petrify me, but like sharks they still fascinate me, it is odd. I'm overcoming all sorts since getting my camera. Thank you for popping by. xx
      Reply
  20. 88

    Neesie says

    Congratulations on facing your fear Debbie, you've really done a magnificent job capturing all of the details. I'm now feeling slightly guilty as I have guests coming to stay soon and I'm whipping through the house with my weapon... the feather duster and demolishing any webs that I come across! I'm not usually so bothered as we share this planet and live in the countryside, but my guest has a spider phobia!
    Reply
    • 89

      Debbie says

      Hi Neesie, I like the pattern on the spiders back that wasn't really visible to the naked eye (to be honest I wasn't about to get that close!). Spiders webs are works of art, but you don't want the house full of them, I'm sure the spiders scurried outside to rebuild their webs in peace. Thank you for stopping by and commenting. xx
      Reply
    • 91

      Debbie says

      Hi Claire, it is totally irrational, is't it? One side of my brain is telling me not to be daft, whilst the other side freezes. Thank you for popping over. xx
      Reply
    • 93

      Debbie says

      Hi Kim, my first reaction was to cringe, but as I watched the spider I knew I wanted to photograph what I was watching. My photos probably don't give the event justice, but I'm pleased to have capture them anyway. Thank you for stopping by. xx
      Reply
  23. 94

    Verily Victoria Vocalises says

    Well done Debbie! It is amazing what photography makes you do - I did the same over on my travel blog this week after crossing the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge - I couldn't pass up a photo opportunity! These are great captures :) x Verily Victoria Vocalises recently posted...Spot the SealMy Profile
    Reply
    • 95

      Debbie says

      Hi Victoria, thank you. Since I've had my big girl's camera I've done things I probably wouldn't have done and spoken to people I would never have spoken too. I will pop over and checkout your photos... I'm intrigued! Thank you for stopping by. xx
      Reply
    • 99

      Debbie says

      Hi Cathy, it's the camera that has helped me do things I never thought I would or could do. Without it I would have ran for the hills! Thank you for stopping by. xx
      Reply
    • 101

      Debbie says

      Hi Christine, wasps and bees really don't worry me, although I'm not too keen on being stung! I've just checked out the redback spider (my toes curled whilst looking at the photos), poisonous or not I would never have made it out of the tent before my heart failed! And I think you were lucky to have noticed it. Thank you for stopping by and commenting. xx
      Reply
  27. 102

    Tara says

    Fabulous photos, you did so well to take them. My mum is terrified of spiders, she would never be able to hold a camera still enough. It's wasps for me. I know that even if they do sting it doesn't hurt that much but I try never to let them get close enough to try! Tara recently posted...My Sunday Photo – Week 23.My Profile
    Reply
    • 103

      Debbie says

      Hi Tara, it i funny how different things strike fear into different people, wasps and bees don't bother me, which is just as well because one bee sting could kill husband, so I am chief bee remover when they come into the house. If he were allergic to spiders his long term future wouldn't look so good! Thank you for stopping by an commenting. xx
      Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badge

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Copyrighted Image

By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. more information

The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this.

Close