day 4 <3 Arachnophobia is defined as the intense fear of spiders and other arachnids. While most are not exactly comfortable with spiders, people with Arachnophobia will likely feel fear and experience symptoms of anxiety almost immediately when in contact with or even just thinking about spiders. Symptoms of Arachnophobia may include: - Immediate fear and anxiety when you see or think about a spider - Fear or anxiety that is out of proportion to the danger the spider poses to you - Avoidance of spiders - Panic and/or anxiety responses, such as difficulty breathing, rapid heart beat, nausea, sweating, trembling, and a need to escape Arachnophobia may be caused by experiencing one or multiple traumatic encounters with spiders. Other causes include: - An evolutionary response: Research suggests that arachnophobia or a general aversion to spiders is hard-wired as an ancestral survival technique, as they can pose as a threat to our wellbeing. - Cultural and/or religious beliefs: Some individuals within certain cultural or religious groups seem to have phobias that stem from these influences. Spiders have been the focus of fears, stories and mythologies of various cultures for centuries. In some, spiders are a symbol of mischief and malice for their toxic venom and the slow death it causes. In others, they are viewed as messengers of death and destruction. - Genetic or family influences: Researchers believe that there may be a genetic component linked to phobias. Family environmental factors may also influence the development of phobias. For example, if a parent has a specific phobia to something, a child may pick up on that fear and develop a phobic response to it. ** extra note: For those like me, who enjoy anthropology and want to learn more about the different depictions of spiders in folklore and culture, I found these really fascinating: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_depictions_of_spiders , https://www.learnreligions.com/spider-mythology-and-folklore-2562730 , https://glenlivet-wildlife.co.uk/insects/spiders-in-mythology-and-folklore/
So this is kinda a boredom thing, and very much inspired by Jessica Lauser on youtube and tiktok! Check her out (but keep in mind that she's infinitely better than I am when it comes to detail, so there are very realistic depictions of snakes and spiders, as well as body horror, gore, etc. )
