arachnophobia

     

Arachnophobia (from Greek arachne (αράχνη), "spier" and phobia (φοβία), "fear" ) is a specific phobia, an abnormal fear of spiders. It is among the most common of all phobias. The reactions of arachnophobics often seem irrational to others (and sometimes to the sufferers themselves). 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. In some cases, even a picture or a realistic drawing of a spider can also evoke fear. They may feel humiliated if such episodes happen in the presence of peers or family members.

Trivia about arachnophobia

  • In this 1990 film, a couple dies of spider bites while watching "Wheel of Fortune"
  • (Hi, I'm Kathy Kinney of "The Drew Carey Show") I was featured in this 1990 film about which Leonard Maltin said, "Fear of spiders is taken to extremes"
  • Little Miss Muffet was a well-known sufferer of this phobia, the technical term for a fear of spiders

Found pages about arachnophobia