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Wikipedia has more on Arachnophobia
Arachnophobia (from Greek aráchni, "spider") is the fear of spiders and other arachnids, such as scorpions. People with arachnophobia tend to feel uneasy in any area they believe could harbor spiders or that has visible signs of their presence, such as webs. If arachnophobes see a spider, they may not enter the general vicinity until they have overcome the panic attack that is often associated with their phobia. Some people scream, cry, jump from moving cars, experience trouble breathing, sweating or even heart palpitations when they come in contact with an area near spiders or their webs. In some extreme cases, even a picture or a realistic drawing of a spider can also trigger fear.
Arachnophobia is most effectively treated using systematic desensitization (also known as exposure therapy), which can be done in vivo (with live spiders) or by getting the individual to imagine situations involving spiders, then modelling interaction with spiders for the person affected and eventually interacting with real spiders. Virtual therapy, a recently developed method, is also effective. Another options are relaxation techniques and taking anti-anxiety pills.