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Most people dislike snakes and spiders, but what happens when a fear becomes overwhelming?
Professor of psychology at Curtin University, Ottmar Lipp, is studying what causes phobias and anxiety and more importantly, how people can overcome their fears.
"Being afraid and anxious is perfectly normal, and can actually be helpful, fear is an adaptive response that helps us survive and navigate the world." Professor Lipp said.
"The problem arises when these emotions get out of hand.
"To be afraid of a big, black spider suddenly appearing in front you is entirely appropriate."
It is when a fear goes far beyond not liking something, and begins to affect a person's quality of life and ability to function normally, that it becomes a phobia, Professor Lipp explained.
"For instance, with a fear of spiders, it's a phobia if a person can't relax, and would avoid places where they are likely to encounter spiders," he said.
"They may not go bushwalking or to parts of the house because they are likely to encounter a spider.
"They may monitor the environment they are in constantly for spiders and check under the bed before they go to sleep.
"Phobias are anxiety disorders where the anxiety is focussed on one particular stimulus or situation. Spiders and snakes are the most common animal phobias.
"The strangest fear that I have come across is someone reporting that he is afraid of big ships, and simply can't tolerate the sight of them," he said.
Conquering fear
Professor Lipp's current research is investigating how psychologists can help patients with overwhelming fear and anxiety in a way that is more lasting.
"We know that cognitive behavioural therapy is very effective, about 85 per cent, in reducing anxiety and phobias," he said, adding that between five and 10 per cent of the general population will experience a clinical level of anxiety at some time in their lives.
"One of the problems that arise, however, is that some of these treatment effects are not stable.
"People may be able, after treatment for a spider anxiety, to approach spiders or even handle them, but that effect may not be lasting.
"It's a common observation that six months after their therapy, their fear may return.
"What we are trying to do is find methods that are more lasting."
Part of the strategy the team in Professor Lipp's lab is testing involves making sure patients are prepared to face their fears in any setting, and in how to cope with stress that may bring their fears back.
"So they don't treat, for instance, seeing a spider as a catastrophe, which puts them back to square one, if they are taught to be able to cope at the time.
"If people have anxieties and fear that they find disrupt their normal quality of life, then the best advice to see a psychologist. Psychological interventions are actually very successful."
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