Viral videos of spiders falling from the sky could trigger arachnophobia and panic attacks
Spiders are an unwelcome addition to most homes around the world. People in Australia need to watch out for the many poisonous spiders that may choose to build a web in their home. In the US, people often go on sites like https://www.pestcontrolexperts.com/local/texas/ to find a professional who can get rid of the spiders in their home. And the UK is no different. 42% of the UK are afraid of spiders to some degree, it ranges from a little scared of them to the 18% of Brits that full-on arachnophobes. Being an arachnophobe means when they see a spider, whether in real life or on a screen, they can react from mild anxiety to panic attacks. Having a Fear of Spiders or Arachnophobia is exhausting, especially if those with the fear have no control over when they’re exposed to a potentially phobic situation or stimulus.
Unfortunately, due to social media, thousands of people were recently shown terrifying images of spiders raining from the sky when an old video from Brazil resurfaced, possibly the worst situation imaginable for someone with arachnophobia.
As social media and viral videos dominate more and more of people’s attention, they have less control over what content we might see at any given moment, thus exposing someone to potentially troubling or frightening subjects that they would rather avoid. The very nature of feeds and timelines means someone has no idea what is coming next and can result in people living in fear as their levels of anxiety increase. Luckily there are many methods of treatment for those who feel anxious as a result of social media. Many will choose to speak to a psychiatrist or engage in CBT which is able to help change unhelpful thought patterns or behaviors. Others will look to alternative therapies such as the use of medical marijuana, but what’s important to remember is everyone is different. What works for one person may not work for another which is why speaking to a healthcare professional who can advise them on what do edibles do to you is the best course of action before attempting to choose a treatment plan.
Tackling a phobia in itself can be a time-consuming and anxiety-ridden experience, which is why hypnotherapy is another fantastic option for people determined to be cured and move past their phobia. It is very possible to be cured in one session or a group workshop.