Warning Signs That You Have Arachnophobia

Just looking at a spider makes you want to run

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The first and biggest sign that you might have extreme arachnophobia is that as soon as you see the little eight-legged critter you just want to run as far as you can. There's a difference between just being scared of spiders compared to actually having arachnophobia.

You feel physically nauseous just by looking at them

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As mentioned above, arachnophobia is an intense fear of spiders, which is usually (more often than not) an irrational fear. This phobia can be so fierce that it physically makes you sick to the bottom of your stomach and you actually vomit at the sight of a spider.

You have trouble breathing when you see spiders

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Seeing a spider encourages your fight or flight response to kick in - a natural survival instinct that we only adopt in the instance of extreme and imminent danger. Because of this, your body is beginning to become anxious and pumped with adrenaline, causing the shortness of breath.

You start to excessively sweat when around them

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The phobia can be so extreme that your body starts to sweat excessively at the sight of a spider. It's an odd way for our body to react when exposed to something that doesn't actually pose an imminent threat, but that's what differentiates between fear and a phobia.

You've had this fear for longer than six months

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If, after this article, you feel that you'll want your arachnophobia checked out by a healthcare provider, you might find that they ask you a series of questions to specify what the phobia is. One of these will be whether you've had this overwhelming fear for over six months.

Even drawings of spiders sends shivers down your spine

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It's not just actual spiders that make you feel uneasy and sick, it's drawings of spiders too. Obviously, our brain understands what the drawing is of, triggering that same phobia response in our mind and body as it would if it were an actual spider we encountered.

You can feel a tightness in your chest when exposed to them

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Along with making you feel breathless, the sight of a spider might actually cause you physical pain. Those who have expressed extreme arachnophobia have said that when they are exposed to arachnids they feel a tight sensation in their chest - like someone is pressing on it.

An overwhelming hot flush overcomes you

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It's not just seeing a spider that might encourage a hot flush; talking about spiders, or even spider webs, can send an overwhelming hot flush over your entire body, making your bright red and stuffy. Believe it or not, 3-15% of the population suffers from arachnophobia.

The danger spiders pose is actually irrelevant

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One of the biggest stipulations that makes a phobia what it is is an irrational fear. The level of fear you feel when it comes to spiders doesn't actually correlate or match the real danger that spiders pose. While some can be deadly, in most circumstances they're harmless.

Your mouth suddenly goes excessively dry

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You might have found that when even talking about spiders themselves (or any insect), your mouth goes dry and you're gasping for a drink. It's the fear coursing round your body that makes you feel this way, triggering a phobia-response system in your body.

Looking at their tiny little legs makes you shake

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One of the biggest symptoms of having an extreme fear of something is the uncontrollable shaking that comes along with it. Shaking isn't just something that happens in movies, it's a real fear-response that people with arachnophobia report having and can be detrimental to their daily lives.

There's a feeling of anxiousness when you see them

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There's a direct relationship between fear and anxiety; that much is known. The feelings we experience when overcome with either of these sensations are very similar and it can be a sign that you're feeling both of these at once. Don't dismiss your anxiety!

You'd rather die than hold one

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Is it just me, or do you find it repulsive and disturbing when you see photos of people holding spiders in their bare hands? I just don't know how they manage to do it, and if it were me that had to hold a spider like that I'd simply rather not exist!

Arachnids bring you to tears

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People with extreme arachnophobia have actually reported crying after having to handle or coming across any spiders in their home. Obviously, it's a sign that's more obvious in children, but can definitely transfer over into adult life if the fear has gone on that long.

You find yourself screaming at the sight of spiders

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It's safe to say most of us have been in that situation where a spider has popped up out of nowhere and taken us by surprise - so we do the only thing we can do, scream. It's one of those impulsive reactions to seeing something that we "think" is an imminent threat.

You feel a choking feeling in the back of your throat

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Some with extreme arachnophobia have also reported that they feel like they have a big lump at the back of their throat that they're choking on, making it hard to swallow and also coming hand in hand with the dry mouth sensation. It's safe to say that this is a big indication of an intense fear of spiders.

They make you feel light-headed

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Sometimes, when those with arachnophobia are subjected to seeing or dealing with a spider, might not know how to react. Their body can go into shock mode and their heart might start beating slower rather than faster, which sends the blood rushing from their head and causing a light-headed feeling.

Your heart rate increases dramatically when around spiders

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Similarly to the above, instead of the heart beating slower and the blood pressure dropping, some people have reported experiencing a spike in their heart rate because their body has entered that fight or flight status. If this is you, maybe get yourself checked out!

You avoid places where there might be webs or spiders

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It's not just spiders that can send you, it's their horrible, spindly webs too. Your arachnophobia might have gotten so bad now that you actively avoid any spaces that you feel like spiders might be congregating inside of. This could be your loft, or the shed outside.

You've moved house because of a spider problem

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Some people live in areas were species of spiders are more common. One of the scariest places to live for spiders is Australia. If your extreme fear of the critters had led you to physically move house, whether that be down the street, out the country or to a new state, than it might be negatively impacting your life.

You'll cling to the nearest person when your eye catches one

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It's always to good to be around someone that doesn't mind catching spiders and getting them out of the house. If you have this lucky person by your side, then you might start clinging to them as soon as a spider makes an appearance in your home.

Sometimes, all you can do is freeze

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As well as the flight or fight response, some people can only freeze when exposed to their extreme fears. You might have found that when you've encountered a spider, or spiders, you freeze on the spot and suddenly you can't make any sensible or reasonable decisions anymore.

They give you goosebumps

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This is a classic symptom that you might be able to relate to. Sometimes, people think that getting goosebumps at the hand of a fear is a myth, but they are far from right. It can be a very real and spine-chilling sensation for some people to have when exposed to their fears.

You feel dizzy when you look at them

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As well as feeling light-headed when thinking about or interacting with a spider, you might also feel a sense of dizziness, like you are literally about to pass out. Well, some people actually do pass out from this specific phobia; it's not as uncommon as you might think.

Anything spider related will have the same effect

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It doesn't matter what it is, if it resembles a spider, you're out of there. It could be a ball of hair, the Spiderman films, or just another insect that has eight legs, each one of these things can literally trigger the same fear response you have when actually seeing a real spider.

Your fear directly affects a good chunk of your life

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One of the biggest signs that a phobia is actually a phobia rather than a fear is the fact that it can directly (and greatly) affect your everyday life. If you're avoiding places, passing out when seeing spiders, or worrying about coming across one, then this might be you.

You actively don't go out to the movie theater at the chance the film contains spiders

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Did you pass on the opportunity to watch Charlotte's Web because of the cartoon spider the film features? What about Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets? Well, this is another way in which your fear of spiders might be impacting the things you do in daily life.

Your parents also have extreme arachnophobia

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An extreme phobia of arachnids can sometimes come from our parents. While it's probably not inherited, if you were exposed to their fear and anxiety as a child when they came across spiders in the house, the likelihood is that they triggered the same response in you.

Anxiety disorders run in the family

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While this one is a little more general, if you have anxiety disorders that run in your family, then it could increase the chances of you developing a phobia. As mentioned before in the article, these two feelings are linked and shouldn't go unnoticed.

This article is making you squeamish

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Last, but certainly not lease, if you found it hard to make it through this article with the frequent mentions and photos of spiders, then your arachnophobia might be very real. If you feel that you need some form of treatment for it, talk to your doctor!