Arachnophobia is one of the most common phobias in the world, accounting for about 40% of all phobias. It is generally considered a subcategory of entomophobia – the fear of insects – and affects as much as 70 – 80% of the world’s population. And, like all phobias, it is possible that arachnophobia can be conquered and surmounted with the proper approach and outlook.

One reason why a lot of people remain arachnophobics all their lives is because they tend to shy away or steer clear of whatever it is that they fear. While that can be a reasonable response for very dangerous things, spiders don’t really count as among the most dangerous of creatures. While there are venomous spiders that exist in nature, and their venom is not something to take lightly, the chances of being randomly bitten by a venomous spider are extremely slim.

In fact, most spiders that people encounter on a day-to-day basis are non-venomous and would often avoid people. With this in mind, a sometimes debilitating phobia like arachnophobia can sometimes become a nuisance, especially if it impairs the individual’s ability to function normally. Thankfully, there are a lot of ways to overcome this phobia, but it all starts with the willingness to try and overcome that fear.

Ways to Conquer Arachnophobia

The majority of methods that are employed in overcoming arachnophobia do not differ from most other phobia-therapy treatments. It often involves a slow and controlled exposure to the object of one’s fear. Because a phobia is generally defined as an ‘irrational fear’, the exposure to the object of one’s fear, in a controlled environment, is meant to convince the mind that danger is no longer associated with it to effectively ‘conquer’ that irrationality.

This is often undertaken through the following steps:

• Visual exposure – where an inanimate image or picture of the cause of said phobia is shown to the individual.
• Live controlled exposure – where a living specimen of a spider is shown to the individual in a clear or transparent container, away from the possibility of touching the person.
• Controlled interaction – where a live specimen is allowed, by the individual’s own assent, to interact with them via touch or simply by placing it in close proximity.

If these steps are undertaken, chances of an individual conquering their fears are much greater than if they avoided it all altogether. If you, or someone you know, has a fear of spiders and want to conquer the fear, you can with help from Black Snake Productions, they have extensive experience working with spiders and reptiles and can help anyone overcome their fears through fun, interactive education.