Arachnophobia is the extreme, debilitating, and persistent fear of spiders. It is not merely a fear brought on by sensible caution. It is a very real fear with a panic attack and a heightened anxiety level that may require treatment. Arachnophobia is actually the most common of all specific phobias. Almost half of all women suffer from this form of phobia and about 10 percent of men share that fear.A serious case of arachnophobia can often be triggered by the thought of or sometimes even a picture of a spider. This fear of spiders can dictate where someone chooses to live, go on vacation, work or what sports or hobbies are enjoyed. Most phobias grow out of the fear of the unknown. Often this fear is caused by an incident earlier in life which was frightening. In any case, all fears can be overcome. You can work on your phobia by yourself and take the necessary action steps to ensure that your fear doesn't consume your entire being. But, most experts strongly recommend you get specialized treatment by a trained therapist.When you face your fear and decide to do something about it, then you can overcome your fear and not allow it to grasp your life and affect your everyday living.