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Animal Phobias

Fear of Spiders or Arachnophobia

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What Is Arachnophobia and Why Do We Fear Spiders?

 

What is fear of spiders called? The fear of spiders is called arachnophobia.

Is the fear of spiders common? Yes, it is a very common fear or phobia. See Statistics

This fear goes along with things that creep and crawl in hidden and not-so-hidden places. Arachnophobia comes from an ancient Greek word arachne which of course means spiders.

The fear of spiders is less prevalent in parts of the world where spiders are dealt with more frequently, but it is reported that three to six percent of the world’s population are considerably afraid of spiders. A fear of spiders may range from only slight all the way up to debilitating. So you are not alone if you have an excessive fear of the eight legged wonders.

Why is the fear of spiders so common? Studies in modern times tend to show the fear of spiders or arachnophobia may have occurred in the human psyche through evolution. Which means our fear of spiders, whether rational or not could be part of the fight or flight response.

This may be because some spiders pose serious health risks from venom, infections, necrosis of the surrounding skin or even death. PLEASE, it is very important to remember that less than one-tenth of one percent, or 30 out of 43,000 types of spiders, are said to be dangerous to humans, and spiders overall are very beneficial to man. Spiders reduce nuisance pests and even dangerous insects that can carry disease and sickness, such as flies and mosquitoes.

The “Itsy Bitsy Spider” is a cute children’s rhyme but proper early exposure to spiders can make the difference between being afraid as an adult or not.

Most who encounter a deep fear of spiders have an array of responses from being creeped out, disgusted, jumpy, or even experiencing a frozen debilitating fear.

Studies conducted show that when an individual was shown a spider, either actual or an image, they were instantly frightened or anxious. Women more than men suffer from serious arachnophobia, by a three to one margin.

But unless you live in Australia or one of the deep jungles of the world these are unfounded fears. Any spider you encounter is very likely not dangerous at all.

Symptoms of a Fear of Spiders or Arachnophobia

Symptoms for this condition include but are not limited to:

  • Becoming dizzy
  • Increased heart rate
  • Hot flashes
  • Pain in the chest or head
  • Tightening of the throat
  • Increased sweating
  • Nausea or gassy feeling
  • Thoughts or feelings of doom
  • Nightmares or dreams of spiders

And probably other symptoms not yet reported as people deal with fear differently.

Arachnophobia

What Can Trigger Symptoms?

 

Simply thinking of spiders for some can trigger symptoms of the phobia. Visiting areas where spiders are likely to be such as basements, outdoor sheds, abandoned buildings, or seeing something that reminds you of a spider like dust bunnies, cobwebs or debris moving with the wind may also trigger the symptoms.

The main trigger of course is when you come into contact with spiders. You may jump, scream, run for the other room, but why? Studies have discovered that the greater your fear of spiders the larger the spider will seem to you when encountered, this is a telltale sign that arachnophobia is a fear coming from the mind which gives us hope for remedying the issue.

What Causes Fear of Spiders?

 

Some may develop a fear of spiders from a traumatic event involving the creatures. Signals in the brain or an imbalance of fight-or-flight chemicals such as noradrenaline may also trigger these fear episodes. Take for instance doing a common chore like picking something up off the porch or moving a box from a corner of the closet. If a large house spider scurries up your arm, you may be scarred for life with a mild fear of spiders.

One study showed that in an experiment done with young children, spiders and snakes provoked the most pupil dilation as compared to flowers or fish. This even in children that are so young they couldn’t possibly have learned that spiders are something dangerous. Which may point to the theory that fear of spiders is evolutionary or with us from birth.

Self Help for Your Fear of Spiders

 

Of course the instant relief from these symptoms would be to remove yourself from the area where the spider has been seen.

Practice simple common sense steps such as keeping your home or living area free of spiders by using sprays, traps, or DIY treatments such as Essential Oils & Dish Soap. If you do not come into contact with spiders then it will limit your fear-induced episodes.

Learn about the spiders in your area. Research the types and you will more than likely see they are HARMLESS. This can help ease your mind some.

beauty of spiders

Try to see the beauty and amazement of spiders. They are fascinating creatures and very useful to man and agriculture. Develop an interest from a curiosity point of view.

Meditation and focus may work for those who have experience and success with deep thought, self-help techniques.

How Get Over Fear of Spiders?

 

Therapists and doctors may offer a range of therapy and counseling and for serious cases, medications. Fear A to Z does not recommend medications, but antidepressants or an anti-anxiety medication may be prescribed by your health professional in certain instances.

Psychotherapy is the most used and probably most effective treatment for serious phobia conditions. Discussing your fears with a trained specialist can help work through your issues and offer some needed relief. Cognitive reframing may be offered and is a technique used by psychologists to identify irrational thoughts and then disrupting those thoughts which may help change the way your brain views spiders.

Systematic desensitization is another option and is a behavioral technique that can be used to treat fear and phobias. The affected person is put through types of relaxation exercises and then gradually exposed to fear producing stimuli, such as places or objects. This therapy utilizes the item that causes the fear to treat the fear basically. It may sound troubling but has been proven to be effective.

If you are not a spider lover such as those who collect spiders from around the world and keep them as pets, then it is likely you may have a fear of the eight-legged wonders. And you’re not alone.

Most people deal with this fear as they do with all other creepy crawlies or scary things—they avoid them. But for others the fear is much more. To psychologists or zoologists the deep fear of spiders may be unfounded and may even be seen as irrational, but the fears are real to you. If you are willing and ready to work past this phobia there are options available through self help or professional guidance. Don’t let your fear of spiders control you.

 

SOURCES:

https://www.britannica.com/list/9-of-the-worlds-deadliest-spiders
https://www.livescience.com/18652-spider-size-phobia-misperception.html
https://www.sciencealert.com/deep-unshakeable-fear-spiders-no-random-quirk-fate-born-arachnophobia
https://commonsensehome.com/natural-spider-repellents/
https://www.psycom.net/arachnophobia-fear-of-spiders
https://study.com/academy/lesson/systematic-desensitization-definition-treatment-examples.html

 

Stories Submitted by Our Readers

Fear of Spiders

When I was very young my cousin and I were getting ready to go trick or treating, another cousin threw a large spider at us. Come to find out it was fake, but that did not stop us from running and screaming. From that day forward I was afraid of spiders. A few years later we moved, and spiders seemed to love my room. They would crawl across the ceiling, and I was always afraid they would fall on me.
Debbie

I have the same fear. My fear began when I was young as well. I was in the bathtub and an entire family of spiders crawled across the floor. They were only wolf spiders, but those things are scary looking. Today, as an adult, the fear has grown. I cannot see a photo of a spider, or I think I will die. Friends and family don’t understand and make fun of me.
Hanna

SUBMIT YOUR STORY

FearAZ.com is looking for personal stories of any 'fear of' or phobia. If you have an interesting story you'd like to share, we welcome your submission. If the story fits with our content and guidelines, we'll add it to our site.
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Your Fear Goes Up and Down

Are you someone who would rather climb the stairs than take the elevator? You call it squeezing in a workout after being sedentary the whole morning. Or perhaps you claim it's a faster route. These are both typical, normal, and acceptable reasons. But what if you need to be in the conference room on the eleventh floor in five minutes, and you're wearing your business suit and wingtips? Would you still prefer to take the stairs? If your answer is yes, then maybe it's time to take a closer look at your reasons for avoiding elevators. Elevators stir all sorts of emotions in passengers. From the discomfort of closeness to strangers to the sensations in our gut, elevators can be a source of the heebie-jeebies for many, but for some, they can also be a source of terror. Let's dig a little deeper into the latter, and see what this terror is all about and what can be done to manage it. To begin with, does being inside an elevator give you chills or the sweats? Or does it trigger an unpleasant memory? Perhaps you remember movies you've watched where something terrible happens inside an elevator. From Silence of the Lambs, The Shining, Final Destination 2, or the king of all elevator horror films, 2010’s Devil, the elevator becomes witness to something sinister and horrible. And you want nothing to do with any of it. You know that you're not claustrophobic. You can deal with heights just fine, too. And you know that you're not going to be trapped inside. All of these contribute to a fear of elevators—but they don't apply to you. Yet being inside one does something to you. It's hard to explain.

What is the Fear of Elevators Called?

What you have is a fear of elevators, which is called elevatophobia. It is most commonly triggered by an experience of getting stuck inside either due to a power outage or technical maintenance. Hearing about other people's experiences or watching a movie about similar circumstances can prompt a fear of elevators getting stuck with you inside. Usually, claustrophobics and agoraphobics may also develop elevatophobia because the triggers and objects of these fears are related. Claustrophobia is the fear of closed and cramped spaces, while agoraphobia is the fear of being trapped without any means of escape. Put the two together, and the elevator becomes the perfect combination of both phobias. The space is limited and closed, with only one means of entry and exit. You can add another point of access if you consider climbing the cables like they do in the movies, but that certainly isn't ideal.

Symptoms of Elevatophobia

If for some reason an elevator stops due to an outage or some technical difficulty, passengers with elevatophobia may go into full panic mode. Even if the maintenance team advises that it will just be a matter of minutes, by then, the person's mind has become irrational with the fear of the elevator falling, being stuck for hours, or other unpleasant thoughts. You would expect a person to exhibit the following physical symptoms: Additionally, you would be filled with that overwhelming anxiety where you feel that you have zero control over the situation. You start fearing the unknown and are filled with negative thoughts about death and imminent doom. You become irrational and unresponsive.

Possible Complications of Elevatophobia

When the panic sets in, the possibility of emergencies related to pre-existing conditions may make themselves known. This might include serious health crises like heart attacks or asthma attacks. When this happens, fear becomes a medical emergency. Elevator rides do not last long; it's just a matter of minutes or even less. But the fact that a person can escalate from panic to a near fatal medical situation classifies the fear of elevators as a 'hard phobia.'

Trying Some Self-Help Methods

Your fear of elevators can likely interfere with your social and work life and relationships. Not everyone understands that elevatophobia, like most phobias, can be crippling. But don't be disheartened. Depending on the level of your fear and level of control, you can gradually face and manage your phobia. Here are some recommendations you can try:
  1. Make a List of Everything that Entails Riding in an Elevator This is a systematic approach to getting over your anxiety. By following a step-by-step process, you can identify where the fear kicks in at its strongest. You can write a list of steps like pressing the topmost button and waiting to arrive on that floor, watching as the door closes and opens, being alone inside the elevator, or having delays with the doors opening. Now try doing the opposite. For example, face away from the door or occupy yourself with your phone so that you are distracted.
  2. Create Your Fear Ladder Although the name says fear of elevators, it is not the whole process that scares you. There are just phases and parts of the elevator riding experience that cause you to panic. So go back to the list you initially created and label the fear level you feel. You can do it numerically, too, like ten being 'really scary,' six, 'manageable scary,' and one, 'not scary at all.' You can put the corresponding fear levels so you can focus more time and effort into activities that are more scary to you.
  3. Face Your Fear By now, you have identified what scares you the most. You can try repetitive action to minimize your fear and increase your sense of ‘normalcy’. Remember that the longer you expose yourself to your fear, the better you get at handling your emotions. If you are feeling overwhelmed, stop. Pushing yourself too fast and too soon can backfire. Modify your pace and go slower instead.
  4. Talk About Your Fear People by nature, unfortunately, are not quick to offer understanding and support. You need to tell them what's wrong before they can empathize. Talk to someone who you trust and ask for their support, especially in the initial phase of overcoming your fear. If you are too afraid to ride the elevator alone, you can ask them to go with you, and before you realize it, you are on your floor, and there was no indication of panic.
  5. Learn To Be Patient Be patient with yourself and your predicament. This is, after all, your fight against fear. It might take hundreds of elevator ride practices before the fear gets under control. Even then, there might be some hesitations and episodes of nervousness. These are acceptable and expected, so cut yourself some slack and congratulate yourself for every progress.

Seeking Professional Help

Along with self-help, you can always enlist a medical professional's aid to support you with your elevatophobia. Talking to someone who has experience with similar cases can be comforting, because you know that you are not alone, and this situation can get better. Talk to your doctor about the severity of your fears and the symptoms that you experience. Explain how you deal with it in an attempt to control it. An exam and a health history are made to ensure that there are no unrelated or underlying problems that your symptoms might mask. Usually, phobias like this are approached with a combination of psychotherapy and medication. Your doctor will talk about these options with you, and it's entirely up to you, with your doctor's recommendation, what you want to pursue. For psychotherapy, the most common type is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which aims to help you find different ways of behaving, thinking, and reacting when about to step inside an elevator or when already inside it. With medications, there are beta blockers and benzodiazepines, but note that these can have side effects. Whatever these side effects are, you should promptly share it with your doctor.

Simple Tips to Overcome Elevatophobia

Elevators are not perfect, but their likelihood to malfunction, fall, or get stuck is very low. If you are not fully confident with this information, you can help overcome your elevatophobia by learning common elevator safety tips and basic elevator operations. These should help curb your mild fear until you become more self-assured. In addition to that, here are some of the things that you can do to gradually overcome your fear of elevators—both in getting on and riding one.

Conclusion

Yes, elevatophobia can be a challenge in today's world, but don't allow the elevator to win. Don't let it stop you from taking a job on the top floor or attending a social gathering on the rooftop. Sure, you can take the stairs if you insist and arrive winded and sweaty, with the party about to wrap up. But is this the quality of life you seek? Elevators are designed to make life easier. There are guaranteed ways to help you overcome elevatophobia. Take the first step and seek help. Soon, you’ll see yourself breezing through the floors with those arduous stair climbs little more than a memory.
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