Shannon, let's delve into the imagery of your dream. The appearance of spiders in your dream often signifies feeling trapped or overwhelmed by certain situations in your waking life. Given your history of stress, anxiety, and experiencing major life changes, these spiders could be mirroring the emotional and mental entanglements you're facing. The brown color of the spiders might symbolize a sense of grounding or earthiness, but in this context, it could also represent feelings of being stuck or weighed down by these issues.
The act of the spiders biting you is particularly telling. Bites can represent deep-seated feelings of being attacked or hurt by someone or something in your life. Considering your history with relationship difficulties and traumatic experiences, this bite could be a manifestation of the emotional wounds you've sustained over time. The bite might also indicate a fear of being harmed again, whether physically or emotionally, reflecting your ongoing struggles with PTSD and anxiety disorders.
Additionally, the reduction aspect in your dream could signify a yearning to minimize these overwhelming feelings or situations. It might be your subconscious mind's way of attempting to reduce the burden of stress and anxiety that frequently plagues you. This desire for reduction aligns with your reported feelings of sadness and the infrequent occurrence of joyful activities in your life.
Overall, Shannon, your dream appears to be a vivid expression of your current emotional landscape.