There are several instances where a person sees a spider in their home and freaks out. But what happens if that fear becomes more intense? What happens if it becomes an actual phobia? One of the most common phobias is arachnophobia, which is the fear of spiders. It is a real issue with anxiety. Thankfully, for those with this phobia, there is the hope of overcoming it.
What is arachnophobia?
Arachnophobia comes from the Greek words “Arachne,” which means spider, and “Phobos,” which means fear. This fear is not silly; it is extreme and should not be taken lightly.
Many may have a more “disgusted” response when they see a spider, but those with arachnophobia may be so afraid that they may impulsively look up “best pest control near me” when they see a single spider.
They also have an intense fear that they will not go to certain rooms in their home. When this fear becomes so intense that it starts bleeding into their everyday lives, it is time to find help.
What causes arachnophobia?
As far as the cause for this intense fear, there have been studies that were done to show there may be an evolutionary reason behind it. For example, it is known that there are species of spiders that are poisonous and cause illness and infections.
Many people watch television shows and movies about these dangerous spiders. Therefore, when they see a spider, their natural response becomes one of fear and avoidance.
Another possible cause would be that they watched how others reacted to spiders at a young age. It then became a learned response to react in fear of spiders. There could also have been a traumatic experience that involved a spider that caused the development of arachnophobia.
What are common symptoms?
Mostly, symptoms of arachnophobia show up during childhood or teen years. But it can also show up during someone’s adult years.
Some of the most common signs and symptoms include the person feeling dizzy, sweating, or trembling. They may feel like they are losing control and have difficulty breathing.
Their heart could be beating rapidly, and they have hot or cold flashes. There could also be gastrointestinal distress, and in difficult situations, there could even be chest pain.
What is the treatment for arachnophobia?
For some people who suffer from arachnophobia, a combination of counseling and medication helps ease their fear. Meditation and relaxation techniques are also great tools.
There may be situations where exposure therapy is helpful too. However, that may be too extreme. In those instances, virtual reality therapy is available, so they can be exposed, but only in a virtual sense.
Another option is cognitive therapy. In this popular approach, a therapist attempts to replace their negative automatic response to spiders and replace it with more rational thoughts.
Finally, if the fear is too intense, a medical professional may suggest taking an antidepressant or an anti-anxiety medication. The purpose here is to alleviate their symptoms.
Concluding words
Arachnophobia is more than just being afraid of spiders. It is intense and can affect a person’s daily life. But hope is not lost; some treatments can help people overcome their fear.
Do you have a fear of spiders? Or, do you know of any treatments that are helpful for it?
ok so this totally is my a very real fear for me to the point where i cannot even look at the illustration on the post and zoomed passed it to read the possible treatments, none of which i have to say will work for me so i will likely carry on with my absolute horror of these things, see i do not even like typing/writing the word such is my fear, being a single mum it is my job to get rid of the things when my children shout and it is quite comical to watch me and my dread approaching with caution, i am constantly grateful that i live somewhere that is luckily quite rare to see such things and believe me i will never visit such places as australia or any other country which harbours these things, i did once, in a place i previously lived, literally seal off a room because there was a big one in there and it was too much for me too handle so i sealed the whole room and left it, i mean fully sealed even the gaps round the door, there was no way i was letting that thing out, thank you for posting and i hope you have an excellent day
Perhaps your kids will become the ones who deal with the creepy crawlies in the house. We all have our fears xx
I understand the fear, though spiders are not something that typically creeps me out. Snakes on the other hand… 😨
My dad’s the same way about snakes! ((By the way, I don’t know why you ended up in the Spam folder over here. Hope it wasn’t too uncomfortable for you))