Arachnophobia

Arachnophobia is in basic terms the fear of spiders and other arachnids such as scorpions. This is among the most common of all phobias.The reactions of arachnophobics are often irrational (though not all arachnophobics acknowledge this irrationality).

People with arachnophobia tend to feel uneasy in any area they believe could harbor spiders or that has visible signs of their presence, such as webs. If arachnophobics see a spider, they may not enter the general vicinity until they have overcome the panic attack that is often associated with their phobia. Some people scream, cry, have trouble breathing, excess sweating or even heart trouble when they come in contact with an area near spiders or their webs. In some extreme cases, even a picture or a realistic drawing of a spider can also trigger fear. Arachnophobics may also be afraid if they are touched by or touch an object that feels like a spider.