It is normal for everyone to have fears, but having a phobia is a more serious problem. A phobia is an illogical fear that is seemingly beyond one’s control. Phobias are categorized as a kind of anxiety disorder, and often trigger nervousness and panic attacks in a sufferer. When a person has an intense phobia, they grow so desperate to get away from their fear that it interferes with their daily activities and their ability to function in life.
Among the most common phobias are arachnophobia, the fear of spiders, acrophobia, the fear of heights, and claustrophobia, a fear of enclosed spaces. Arachnophobia is the number one most common phobia. While lots of people have a fear of spiders, those with arachnophobia have an unusual amount of fear. Even a photo or realistic rendering of a spider can make some people uneasy. Some people have panic attacks or get hysterical at the sight of a spider. They might do anything in order to avoid a spider; for example, people with extreme arachnophobia might attempt to climb out of a moving car if they see a spider next to them.
Sufferers often feel ashamed of their unrestrained responses.
