Woman installs bed tent to overcome extreme fear of spiders
The united kingdom is home to approximately 660 species of spiders, and while none of them are venomous, that does not prevent many people from feeling uneasy around these eight-legged creatures. While most of us might simply retreat to another room upon spotting one, a woman in London has taken her fear to an entirely new level.
Estella Kyriacou, a 25-year-old law student, has been so terrified of spiders that she has gone to extraordinary lengths to ensure they do not disturb her sleep. She has installed a tent over her bed as a form of protection, a measure that she considers both practical and effective.
‘Some may call me insane,’ Estella admits. ‘But I think it’s genius.’
Her intense arachnophobia escalated last year when she encountered a spider in her Clapham flat. The experience left her so distraught that she temporarily moved into her flatmate Imogen’s bedroom. After some time, she summoned the courage to return to her own room but decided that more permanent precautions were necessary.
Her initial attempt at safeguarding herself involved purchasing a mosquito tent from Amazon. However, still unsatisfied, she took things further by affixing a more secure tent directly onto her bed frame. This unique sleeping arrangement has now been in place for four months, and Estella has no intention of changing it anytime soon.
‘I’ve not seen any spiders since using the tent,’ she revealed. ‘But my flatmate, Imogen, and I are too scared to catch them if they do get into the flat.’
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Despite acknowledging her extreme approach, Estella is aware that her strategy may not be the healthiest way to deal with her phobia. ‘I don’t really think a psychologist or psychiatrist would be too impressed by it – I know I’m avoiding my fears,’ she admitted. ‘But I’m a drama queen – and I’ve been sleeping in it for so long now that it feels normal to me!’
Arachnophobia is one of the most common phobias in the world, and there are various ways to treat it. Exposure therapy is a recognised method, with studies showing that individuals who spend just ten minutes looking at images of spiders experience a decrease in fear responses. Another alternative is hypnotherapy, with some practitioners claiming they can completely eradicate the fear of spiders through hypnosis.
While these options exist, Estella appears to have found her own unconventional solution – one that may not be therapist-approved but certainly allows her to sleep soundly at night.
