I have a severe spider phobia, and when I moved to Germany I never imagined I would encounter spiders like this, just randomly walking around inside my home. It has made my day-to-day life really hard. I genuinely struggle to live peacefully knowing that one of these could walk right next to me without me noticing.

What makes it worse is how fast they move — every time I see one I feel like I’m about to have a heart attack.

I currently live in a smaller city with a small garden. We’re planning to move, and I’m desperately hoping to reduce the chances of dealing with this again. Do you think living in a bigger city or in a higher-floor apartment would help? Are there areas or housing types in Germany where spiders are less common indoors?

They first appeared in August, and the last one I saw was in November. I’ve heard there’s a mating season, but I’m terrified that I’ll move into a new place and then, once summer or fall comes, I’ll be dealing with the same thing all over again 😭😭😭

I know they’re harmless, and I really wish logic helped, but it doesn’t. I genuinely cannot live peacefully or happily knowing they might be in my home. Please be kind; this fear is very real for me and causes panic attacks.

Any advice, experiences, or reassurance would mean a lot.



—
GingerKimd

26 comments

  1. Second floor already negates spiders in livable spaces by probably 80%. Lived ground floor for 20 years, the recent 2 on a second level and I really haven’t seen any. Maybe a tiny tiny, half-a-pea sized spiderlings but nothing bigger than maybe a centimeter.

  2. Definitely more common in single family homes than in apartment buildings (particularly in basements). The higher the floor the less bugs, in my experience.

  3. This is quite huge for Germany’s native spiders, Soo I guess it got there by accident from some other country.

    Edit: appearantly there’s native spiders that get this big. I just never saw one :p

  4. Oh, please. Germany’s fauna is like the most harmless on the planet. You’re acting as if you’re in Australia or the Amazon…

    That tiny spider is cute. Just leave him be, he will take care of unwanted ‘guests’…

  5. The higher the floor and the less greenery there is around the house, the fewer spiders.

    I used to live in a house covered in ivy. That was interesting. You shouldn’t choose a house like that.

  6. Housing Marketing is tough- take what place you can get and then invest in screens on every window and door.

  7. Holy shit I’ve never such spiders and have lived in different houses throughout my 12yrs here

  8. Living on a higher floor could def help, especially with the big ass spiders. Generally you will encounter more spiders in more rural areas

  9. Set your biggest vacuum cleaner to maximum power and switch it on. Use the long tube (remove the brush). Slowly approach the spider – it is frightened and will not move until it is too late. Click-click, it is already dead before it reaches the bag. No, it won’t come out again either.

  10. It’s called arachnophobia and good luck spiders are a normal part of life

  12. Definitely move to a higher floor. Higher than nearby trees, if you can. Avoid having plants inside the house, too. That may be a little extreme, but it depends on how bad your phobia is. Mosquito nets won’t just keep out the mosquitoes.

  13. My InsectaX guy leaves these pads in the corners that traps any remaining spiders.

    He also sprays some out of a bottle and there are spider preventive shit on Amazon.

    I hate spiders too.

    These motherfuckers are everywhere, even in the snow in Alaska. When I was in Antarctica I came across something inside a pyramid and it was like a prehistoric snow spider and my heart stopped.

  16. Oh boy, I feel it.

    it’s the same for me, so, what helped me, is kinda weird, but it helped.

    I once read that trembling spiders are the natural enemies of these spiders in the picture (I think they are called große Hauswinkelspinne, they are extremely fast and the worst nightmare).

    So stopped removing / beeing afraid of trembling spiders and grew an army of them. Each room now has about 3-5 trembling spiders and since like a year or so, I have not seen on of the bad spiders anywhere in the house.

    Hope it helps lol.

  17. Higher floors help. I encountor small spiders in basement and sometimes in my room (first floor, and thin spiders that dont trigger my phobia).

    But ive had 2 encounters with larger spiders than your post, and they were both on ground floor/summer time. Nearly missed my ICE cause i had to battle one

  18. I ate a spider once lol, didnt even feel the taste but still was an awful experience

  19. If spiders cause you to have panic attacks i would seriously and unironically consider seeking professional help. Maybe some therapy can ease the fear.

  20. There are actually tons of spiders, experienced that myself after staying in an airbnb in schöneberg, berlin

  21. I’m in third floor and have flynets on all windows: haven’t seen a spider inside for years

  23. Higher flat, very few plants and being a clean freak (if you have dirty areas that attract insects, insects attract spiders because they can feed there), as well as mosquito nets in every window should help a lot to prevent them coming in. Check any doors and make sure they have some insulation. You can also have some spray with peppermint/cinnamon essential oil and spray the possible entrance areas (windows and doors frames).

  26. Higher floor will help. Used to live in ground floor, have them as well. Also some spiders  with long thin legs crawled from ventilation. 
    Moved to 5th floor, problem solved completely. 

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