Thalassophobiais the intense fear of oceans, seas, large lakes, or other large bodies of water.
In some instances, it can interfere with your quality of life.
It may also cause anxiety and other emotional symptoms.
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People experience thalassophobia in different ways.
Others experience fear just thinking about the ocean or when looking at pictures of deep water.
Symptoms of thalassophobia and other specific phobias can be both physical and emotional.
you could also experience these feelings when just thinking about large bodies of water.
The fight-or-flight response is your body’s way of preparing for danger.
It can cause physical responses like rapid breathing and accelerated heart rate.
It might help to remember that the panic response in water is more dangerous than the water itself.
Long-term, untreated thalassophobia can also cause other kinds of mental health problems.
Diagnoses
Specific phobias, such as thalassophobia, can be diagnosed by your primary care provider.
you’re free to also get a diagnosis from a mental health professional such as a psychiatrist.
Online tests are available to help you assess your symptoms.
As of 2013, this is no longer a diagnostic requirement.
What Causes Thalassophobia?
The causes of specific phobias are not well understood.
They may differ from case to case.
Some people may develop thalassophobia without a recognized trigger while others may develop the phobia following a traumatic event.
This means you may be genetically predisposed to a specific phobia.
However, being biologically at risk for a phobia may not be enough.
Past Traumatic Events In or Around Water
Thalassophobia can also be triggered by traumatic events.
Upbringing
Some researchers believe that parental behavior may contribute to the development of specific phobias in children.
Children who have overprotective parents may feel as if they have limited control over their environment.
This can contribute to anxiety and the development of specific phobias.
A parent can also model their own fears to their children.
For example, a person may develop thalassophobia because a parent openly expressed a fear of deep water.
What Triggers Thalassophobia?
Thalassophobia triggers can include:
Treatment
Left untreated, thalassophobia can greatly limit a person’s life.
For someone with thalassophobia, this might start with looking at photos of the sea.
Later, the person might watch videos of the ocean or deep water.
Eventually, the treatment will involve exposing the person to the ocean or a pool.
Through controlled exposure, the person learns that the feared stimulus is not dangerous.
Once this happens, they can begin to associate it with more positive outcomes.
It is effective at treating a variety of anxiety disorders, including specific phobias.
In CBT, a person learns insight into their own thought patterns and behavioral responses.
Through this insight, they are able to alter their thoughts and subsequently change behaviors and feelings.
Medication
In extreme cases, medication can be used to treat specific phobias.
This is often done alongside other types of treatment, or for specific situations.
It may prevent you from socializing or engaging in recreational activities.
These approaches offer natural ways to manage your phobia.
Mindfulness can help you overcome the fear you are experiencing in the moment and become more self-aware.
There are a number of simple mindfulness exercises you might do.
You do not have to complete this visualization in one day.
Instead, do the visualization until you start to feel anxious, then imagine yourself returning safely to shore.
See if you could go farther each time you do this.
Try not to self-isolate.
double-check you have someone to talk to and consider joining a support group.
Summary
Thalassophobia is a specific phobia of deep water.
Specific phobias are irrational fears of specific stimuli that are disproportionate to the actual danger.
People with thalassophobia may have a panic attack when near deep water.
In severe cases, a photo of the ocean or a swimming pool may be enough to trigger symptoms.
Thalassophobia can be treated with therapy.
Treatment usually involves gradual exposure to the triggering stimulus.
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