| Arachnophobia can be triggered by the mere thought | | | | arachnophobia. In the Dark Ages spiders were |
| of a spider or even by a picture of one, in some | | | | commonly considered to be a source of |
| cases. Many people who fear spiders feel panic | | | | contamination of food and water. They were |
| entering a situation where spiders may be present. | | | | believed to be the cause of the Bubonic Plague |
| Symptoms include excessive sweating, rapid | | | | (though in reality rat-fleas were in fact the true |
| breathing, a quickened heartbeat, nausea and | | | | culprits). This misplaced fear has been passed down |
| dizziness.Some arachnophbics will, on entering a room, | | | | since the 10th Century.Often the fear is caused by a |
| search it for a spider. If they find one they will | | | | frightening incident in earlier life. Sometimes people |
| monitor its progress very thoroughly. Others will do all | | | | have the misconception that such a startling event |
| in their power to distract themselves to avoid seeing | | | | has to be a memorable ordeal. |
| the spider.There are historical and cultural reasons for | | | | |