Many people here, KNOW of my fear of spiders...Many people find it necessary to tease me because of my intense fear of spiders. In an effort to help those understand phobia's more & to prevent myself from going completely insane. I thought it would be helpfull to post a blog centering around phobias in general & the reaction coming across one of those phobic situations can cause!

Known as an intense fear of spiders, arachnophobia affects millions of people around the world. Some people are so terrified by spiders that they'll look for them in the corners of any room they enter, & even thoughts or pictures can trigger anxiety. Most experts agree that it affects more women than men. According to most estimates, 50% of women and 10% of men experience varying levels of terror when confronted with spiders. Like most phobias, it can be treated.

Causes
Behavioral scientists claim that there are a number of possible reasons why people have an abnormal fear of spiders. Some may have had a particularly bad experience as a child with a spider. They might have either been bitten or trapped in a confined area with spiders. Another possible cause is watching someone else being bitten by a spider. Often, watching the event happen can cause just as powerful a reaction as experiencing the event personally. Experts also say that arachnophobes can learn a reaction as a result of their parents' (or other authority figures') insistence to "stay away from spiders."
Symptoms & Diagnosis

Those who are diagnosed with the intense fear of spiders can exhibit a host of symptoms. Typically, when an arachnophobe sees a spider, they'll begin sweating profusely. Their hands can become clammy and they'll start perspiring visibly on their face. People who have a severe affliction will often begin breathing rapidly as their heart rate races. As these symptoms happen simultaneously, the arachnophobe will sometimes have feelings of nausea and dizziness. Often, the fear of spiders can have a dramatic impact on how people live their daily lives