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Health Conditions : Neurological Disorders : Phobias and Fears
By Disabled World - Jan 18, 2009 12:04:53 PM
Arachnophobia can be triggered by the mere thought of a spider or even by a picture of a spider in some cases. Many people who fear spiders feel panic entering a situation where spiders may be present. This is quite a common phobia known as arachnophobia. Symptoms include excessive sweating, rapid breathing, a quickened heartbeat, nausea and dizziness. Some arachnopohbics will, on entering a room, search it for a spider. If they find one they will monitor its progress very thoroughly. Others will do all in their power to distract themselves to avoid seeing the spider. There are historical and cultural reasons for arachnophobia. In the Dark Ages spiders were commonly considered to be a source of contamination of food and water. They were believed to be the cause of the Bubonic Plague (though in reality rat-fleas were in fact the true culprits). This misplaced fear has been passed down since the 10th Century. Often the fear is caused by a frightening incident in earlier life. Sometimes people have the misconception that such a startling event has to be a memorable ordeal. Yet many don't even recall the events that led to their phobia. The mind can create a phobia based on a split second of panic. The treatment of arachnophobia is called "systematic desensitisation". With the help of a therapist, the sufferer will slowly learn to face their fears. First they will be exposed to pictures of spiders. Later they will come face to face with real spiders. When they are able to hold a live spider without feeling anxious, they will have conquered their phobia. Advancements in technology have added a new dimension to the treatment of arachnophobics: virtual reality. Now the patient can wear a VR helmet or glasses with a VR glove. With the help of a computer generated spider, they can steadily overcome their fear, moving the VR glove closer until they can "feel" the spider crawl across their hand. Also see our articles Conquer Your Fears and Phobia Treatments.
June 13, 2009 - 06:17
Subject: omfg!
This is the worst thing that has ever happened with me and a spider it almost sounds like a horror movie, so I was taking a shower and when I got out to dry my hair and brush my teeth, I looked in the mirror and saw a huge black thing on my hand so I whiped away the steam in the mirror to see what it was and to my surprise it was a huge spider just sitting on my hand! I had no idea how it got there. I screamed so loud and flicked my hand, the spider fell in the drain so that was a relief, that's when my phobia all started, now every time I see a spider no mater the size I scream and run away but I come back and kill it with an object but I won't pick it up ever I just make my grandpa do it lol, but I always get the feeling they're crawling all over me and I can't move or sleep, its driving me crazy ugh I hate spiders..well pretty much any insect, but spiders are the worst May 06, 2009 - 18:09
Subject: Fear of Spiders
I have a huge fear of spiders! This might sound stupid but I can't even touch a picture of a spider. It gets so bad that whenever I come to contact with spiders I can't breathe or even move, my mom or someone has to remove the spider and and I have to calm myself down until I can breathe again. I can't stop thinking about them. Sometimes I can't sleep at night. I always make someone check my shoes before I put them on to make sure there isn't any spiders in them. Over the years its just gotten worse and I clearly have a problem. If a spider crawls over a certian area I can't walk over it until the area is sprayed.Its the same thing with books, magazines or anything you can think of. My moms always telling me that somethings wrong with me and that I need help. April 16, 2009 - 17:48
Subject:
I actually love spiders. I get a thrill when looking at pictures of them because of the adrenaline rush I get. But 90% of my nightmares have to do with spiders, especially around spring when the cellar spider infestation in my house kicks into full boom again. The random fear that a spider might be present, I find, often hits me when I'm turning on water for a shower - when I straighten to pull back the curtain I often get a very strong pang of anxiety that I have only been able to associate with my fear of spiders. A while back I tried to conquer it by turning it into an obsession, which actually somewhat worked. I still panic if I see a spider in a web somewhere where I know I'll need to walk, or if I didn't know it was there and I spot it. The fact that my house is seriously infested doesn't help, though. if I lived somewhere else, I don't think it'd ever cause a problem for me.. : April 02, 2009 - 08:22
Subject: my fear of spiders
This is ruining my life! I eat, sleep, think spiders. I inspect every space I move in, I am scared when I wake up to put my feet down, if I do see a spider at home, I avoid that area for weeks, unless it is killed, I don't go to certain holiday venues due to previous sighting of spiders, I don't use ablution facilities, although we love camping, I don't reach for something on a shelf above my eyesight, I don't open cupboard above my head, I don't draw curtains that have been hanging quietly for long period of time, I shake my towel before I use it, I can't touch a magazine with pictures of spiders, I can't watch TV programs about spiders, discussions about spiders make me hiperventilate - in short, I have a 24hr fear of seeing, or touching a spider! Really need help. March 11, 2009 - 17:59
Subject: eww
once i steped on a spider and i passed out, than i woke up and there was one on my chest. i screamed so loud! February 02, 2009 - 13:10
Subject: ouch
I know what it feels like, I have it. Its terrible, my uncle had a tarantula, and I passed out when I saw it. Leave a Comment
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Well I was in a place where they were many bugs and insects. And I was walking and looking at my sister and not paying attention. Then my sister was like"oh No! Watch out!" And when I looked infront of me there was the biggest spider I've ever seen 2 inches from my face! I was terrified. And I have 2 little sisters and when I see a spider, no matter its size, I scream and think if I kill it they might jump on me first and bite me! So I get everyone else to kill it. I can never see a spider without going nuts!