You realize phobias are things people get over and they are also devilitating during the process most people have no phobias they're just scared of
Spiders
Close...phobia means extreme or irrational fear, not just an everyday discomfort or aversion. Things are classified under "phobia" if they're taken to an extreme, like if it actually affects the way a person lives their life. If you're just scared of spiders to the point where you only jump when you see one then go back to what you were doing once it's gone/squished, you don't have a phobia of spiders.
No, it's not. Lots of people do. It comes from being startled by it. Lots of people are grossed out by them too, and their quick movements make a lot of people uncomfortable. But something making you uncomfortable doesn't count as a phobia. Phobia is an actual, clinical term used to describe fears that a person feels so deeply they rearrange their life around. People with phobias usually need therapy to get over them. A real arachnophobic won't just jump...they'll have a panic attack, possibly faint, maybe get so upset they'll throw up. They may avoid the room they saw the spider in for days, or if it was on a movable piece of furniture may, in extreme cases, throw the furniture away.
... Okay, all you did just now was to prove that I have an extreme case of arachnophobia. But the very description of the term arachnophobia is "Extreme or irrational fear of spiders." Please tell me, does the "or" mean "and"? It is an irrational fear, and therefore a phobia. It is the same with people who are afraid of darkness, or horses, or water. None of these things are actually dangerous unless you are in a really unfortunate situation. People afraid of bears, however? Or muggers, or big storms? That's called fucking survival instinct.
Okay, simple: if you've been to a mental health professional and have been diagnosed, you have an actual clinical phobia. If you've self-diagnosed, you MAY have a phobia, but it's not definite. Phobias are documented disorders/conditions in the psychological field, with a pretty clear definition and an outline in many cases for treatment. A phobia is curable. It's like saying you have a small tumor because you get horrible migraines...you definitely might, but until you've seen a doctor you aren't diagnosed and certainly can't treat for a tumor.
My ancestors survived millions of years thanks to an instinctive avoidance of potentially poisonous insects and arachnids. Body wax never threatened their survival to cause that reaction.
Spiders