What Is Thalassophobia And How Can You Cope with It?
Medically Reviewed By Whitney White, MS. CMHC, NCC., LPCThalassophobia is a Greek term that translates to “fear of the sea.” It includes being afraid of deep water, traveling on water, and creatures that live below the surface. Being afraid of bodies of water can add significant challenges to your life. If you find yourself showing indicatorsof this fear, you might have to miss events with family and friends, or you might find yourself feeling uncomfortable while those around you are having fun.
After all, it’s hard to have fun when your heart is racing and your hands are shaking. If you find that you feel afraid when you see deep water, then you may have thalassophobia.
At this time, thalassophobia has no known cause; consequently,there is no current means of prevention. Even without preventive options, there is still hope for treatment. With consistent treatment, some people with thalassaphobia can manage symptoms in a matter of weeks or months, while others report experiencing changes to symptoms in a year. From therapy, to support systems and communities, to exposure, there are a variety of options available to those seeking management for their condition. We will discuss these methods in detail later in this article.
Phobias as a whole can be difficult to recognize, because what may seem irrational to someone without the phobia is very real and alarming for the individual experiencing the symptoms of the phobia. While phobias are not easy, they typically do respond to treatment—something that can offer hope to people currently experiencing symptoms of the disorder.
How Do I Know I Have Thalassophobia?
To determine if you have thalassophobia, it is important to first understand the difference between fears and phobias. Fear is classified as a negative emotional response to an object or event. A phobia comes with such severe anxiety that it negatively impacts an individual’s quality of life.
If your fear of deep water interferes with life events or leading the life you want to live, then it is more likely that you are experiencing thalassophobia. If it consumes your mind on a regular basis, know that you do not have to live with this phobia forever. Treatment is often straightforward and widely available. If you’ve always had a fear of the sea, but you’re not sure if you’d describe it as a “phobia,” then you may want to speak to a health professional or further research the differences between fear and phobia. Familiarizing yourself with the most up-to-date literature can help you better determine where your symptoms lie: under the umbrella of fear or phobia.
Tempting though it may be to self-diagnose, online tests and self-administered questionnaires are not enough to deliver a true diagnosis. Instead, if you suspect thalassophobia, it is best to take a tally of your symptoms, and deliver those symptoms to a mental health professional. Before speaking to a professional, it can be helpful to write down the most common periods when you experience an increase in symptoms, what preceded those periods, and what (if anything) helped ease symptoms.
How Can I Move Forward?
If you have thalassophobia, it may feel debilitating. Phobias are characterized by debilitating fear or anxiety, and they can cause significant changes to the way that you structure or live your life. People with phobias, including thalassophobia, can undergo treatment for their condition and limit the reach of their symptoms. Through support, exposure, and therapy, you will one day be able to enjoy swimming at the beach or boat rides on the lake with your family and friends.
Find Support
Finding like-minded support groups can be extremely beneficial when working toward overcoming thalassophobia. Reddit can be a great resource for an online support group; you can quickly find you’re not alone. If you’ve never been on Reddit before, it may be helpful to know that the site is divided into separate forums called “subreddits.” Each subreddit is dedicated to a specific theme, and can usually be found under the title or word you are in search of.
In this Reddit forum, people bond with each other by confronting one of their deepest fears. They post the very images and videos that scare them from the safety of their computers or phones. In doing so, they become more comfortable with the sea and its lifeforms without having to be anywhere near a body of water.
Support groups can also come in the form of in-person groups and therapist-run support groups (online or in person). These groups are usually more structured than a site like Reddit, and may use more focused and comprehensive approaches to offer support for people suffering from the specific phobia of bodies of water, or may be utilized as a generalized source of support for people with phobias of all kinds. To find these support groups, you can check in with local therapy or community centers, or speak with your health provider.
Face Your Fears In Person
Another way to overcome thalassophobia is to face the fear head on. If your fear stems from not being able to swim in deep water, you can try to sign up for swimming classes. If you’re worried about sea creatures, try visiting them at an aquarium. If you’re able to look directly at your fears, you may be surprised by how quickly you’re able to move past them.
It is important to note that engaging in exposure therapy entirely on your own can prove problematic. It is helpful for some, but triggers panic or anxiety attacks for others. If you do choose to try exposing yourself to bodies of water in the absence of a mental health professional’s guidance, start slow, and remember: phobias are recognized mental health disorders. They are not small or simple fears that can be easily removed.
Exposure therapy typically occurs under the guidance of a professional, and may not be as effective when it is done as a solo venture. If you find that your own attempts at exposure therapy are not working as you’d hoped, consider enlisting the help of a professional.
Professional Help for Thalassophobia
Thalassophobia can lead to anxiety, depression, and panic attacks if left untreated. If finding a support group and facing your fears is not enough, you may benefit from talking to a therapist. Thalassophobia can improve with both standard talk therapy and a psychological tool called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
Therapists employ CBT to lessen or eliminate phobias that are resistant to other methods. It’s based on the idea that the perception a situation is more closely tied to the reaction than the situation itself. In other words, anticipation is often worse than the event in question. CBT can transform fears into positive thoughts, an approach that improves your reaction and reduces your fear when later confronted with the phobia in real life.
With support from a professional counselor, you can develop the tools required to successfully manage the symptoms of your phobia, or even overcome the phobia altogether. Phobias can make seeking out help difficult, whether that is because the fear itself feels rational or because you fear that there is no help available. In either case, you may want to speak with an online provider. BetterHelp has experienced counselors who are available to meet with you anywhere and anytime. You can see reviews of BetterHelp Counselors below.
Counselor Reviews
“Brandon has been great and really instrumental in helping me get through a difficult period in my life. He is nonjudgmental, responsive and a great listener. He is also great at reading into what you are saying and finding the underlying cause of your fears and helping you work through it. I’m excited to continue the work to heal with the help of
Brandon.”
“I’m so thankful that I was paired with Faith. She has helped me identify the trauma that is the root of all of my anxiety and has helped me develop and implement coping strategies that have greatly reduced the frequency and intensity of panic attacks. These are things that I will be able to use for the rest of my life, long after I no longer need Faith’s support. Most importantly, she gave me hope. She encouraged me to keep trying. To keep fighting. She told me she was proud of me for being brave enough to even look my fears in the face, and she believed that it would get better. Faith has literally changed my life.”
Conclusion
Living with thalassophobia can be difficult. From feeling too afraid to engage in activities with friends and loved ones to struggling to get out and about in your city or town, phobias can have a very real and lasting impact on your life. Fortunately, with the right tools and professional help, you may be able to become comfortable with– and even enjoy–bodies of water once again. Take the first step today.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What causes Thalassophobia?
At this time, there are no specific causes of the symptoms of Thalassophobia. Developing Thalassophobia may be linked to a negative traumatic experience involving traveling on the water, or the water itself. Thalassophobia is a treatable condition that has shown improvements when people get cognitive-behavioral therapy for this condition.
What are the symptoms of Thalassophobia?
Some of the symptoms of an uncommon phobia such as Thalassophobia include -- racing heart, dizziness, shortness of breath, and anxiety. If you feel that you are at risk of developing Thalassophobia, reaching out to a licensed mental health expert can help. Talking to a licensed therapy professional about a potential treatment for Thalassophobia is the first step.
Why am I afraid of the ocean?
While people with Thalassophobia specifically fear the ocean itself, there aren't many clues as to what causes this mysterious condition. Talking to a licensed therapy professional is the best way to get to the bottom of what may be causing you to have an unusual fear of the ocean or traveling across the water.
What is Megalophobia?
Megalophobia is the fear of large objects. Examples of objects that people with Megalophobia fear are large airplanes, boats, animals, towering structures, and anything that makes them generally feel small and helpless. Learn more about potential causes and treatments for Megalophobia by talking to a licensed mental health professional.
What is Hydroskourophobia?
Hyrdoskourophobia is similar to Thalassophobia. This is the fear of deep, dark water. People with Hydroskourophobia fear deep lakes, oceans, pools, rivers, and ponds. If you suffer from this condition talk to one of the licensed therapy professionals at BetterHelp to find relief.
What is Latrophobia?
Latrophobia is a fear of anything that has to do with doctors and medical treatments. People with Latrophobia may have an irrational fear of doctors' offices, hospitals, clinics, and medical procedures. If you or someone you know is suffering from this condition online sessions with a licensed therapist can help.
What is Tomophobia?
Tomophobia is concerned with the fear of potential negative outcomes for upcoming invasive medical procedures and treatments like surgery. For people suffering from Tomophobia, worrying about life-saving surgery is often a concern. Talking to a licensed therapy professional can help you overcome this fear.
What is the weirdest phobia?
While there are many unusual phobias that could make the cut, one of the most unusual phobias is "Phobophobia" which is a fear of having a phobia itself. If you or someone you know is suffering from an unusual or debilitating phobia, contact a licensed therapy professional at BetterHelp for support.
What is Submechanophobia?
Subemechanophobia is the fear of large submerged man-made objects. People with this phobia have an unusual fear of objects submerged in large bodies of water like submarines, sunken ships, propellers, buoys, and other man-made objects that become submerged on the ocean floor.
Do islands touch the ocean floor?
Islands are large land masses that are usually tops of mountains and volcanoes that are protruding from the ocean floor. These submerged mountains and volcanoes are normally connected to the ocean floor.
What is the fear of death called?
Thanatophobia is the fear of death or the dying process. People with this condition often suffer severe and debilitating anxiety by being consumed with thoughts of death and dying. If you're suffering from Thanatophobia, a licensed therapy professional at BetterHelp can help.
What is Scolionophobia?
Scolionophobia is the fear of leaving home and going to school. Psychology experts believe that this phobia is directly related to at least one other phobia. If your child is suffering from Scolionophobia sessions with a licensed therapist can help.
How much of the ocean is unexplored?
It may surprise you to learn that only five percent of the worlds' oceans have been explored. This means that ninety-five percent of the ocean has yet to be explored.
FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions)
What Causes Thalassophobia?
Thalassophobia is a Greek word that means fear of the ocean or the sea. People who have this fear may experience it for different reasons. Here are some common causes of thalassophobia:
- An individual who experienced traumatic events associated with the sea may develop a fear of the ocean.
- A person who has a genetic predisposition to thalassophobia can create a fear of the ocean.
- Brain development - an individual who develops Thalassophobia may not have the appropriate area of mind developed, which handles the fear response.
How do you know if you have Thalassophobia?
You know you have thalassophobia if you have an intense fear of the ocean. When you're scared to go near or into the sea, you likely have this condition. If that's the case, you can get help by seeking therapy. It's not an untreatable condition. Having thalassophobia means that you have triggers to work, though, and a competent counselor can help you understand them. You can figure out why you're afraid of the ocean, and develop a plan to overcome that phobia.
What is the fear of deep dark water called?
Among the fears associated with thalassophobia is the phobia of the deep dark water. It could be a fear of drowning or being scared of sea creatures. When the water is deep, it's easy to assume that it's unsafe. Maybe you had a bad experience learning to swim. You could have had a relative who got injured in the ocean, and that makes you fearful. Whatever the cause of thalassophobia, it's possible to get support and learn to cope.
What is the rarest phobia?
There are many rare phobias. Some of them include:
- Panophobia - Panophobia means fear of everything." Pantos" in Greek means all or everything. Thus, pantophobia indicates that a person is afraid of everything
- Phobophobia - Phobophobia is like a meta-fear. You're scared of being afraid. People who have this condition are fearful of having or developing phobias
- Nomophobia - means you are fearful of not having access to your phone
- Sesquipedalophobia - is the fear of long words. Individuals with this phobia may be intimidated, or find it hard, to read books or articles.
These are a few of some rare phobias, but there are more. It's hard to say which is the rarest phobia, but these are some more obscure ones.
What is the most common phobia?
Phobias, or fear of things, are quite common. Here are some fears that many people experience:
- Agoraphobia - is the fear of being in particular situations where a person could be easily embarrassed or feel trapped. People with this condition often find it difficult to leave the house because it doesn't feel safe.
- Claustrophobia - is the fear of enclosed spaces
- Acrophobia - is the fear of heights. Many people are afraid of rollercoasters for this reason. They may be scared to go to the top of a mountain, even if it is breathtaking.
- Arachnophobia - is the fear of spiders. People who are fearful of these creatures may have had a traumatic experience with them.
These are some common phobias that people have. Remember, just because you're afraid of something doesn't mean it's going to last forever. You can get better with the help of a licensed counselor. You may participate in exposure therapy, where you have gradual interactions with what you're afraid of to conquer that fear. There are many ways to approach phobias, and a licensed mental health professional can help.
What's the difference between Thalassophobia and Aquaphobia?
Thalassophobia and aquaphobia are similar in that they're both the fear of types of water. However, there is a difference between the two. Aquaphobia is a generalized fear of water and encompasses being afraid of drowning in particular. Meanwhile, thalassophobia is an extreme fear of the sea or ocean. People who have either of these conditions may have trauma associated with water. Maybe a person was abused, and water was involved, or perhaps an individual never learned to swim, and they're afraid of the unknown. There are many reasons to be scared of the water, and specifically the sea. Someone with either of these phobias could have insight into their fears, but not know how to address or conquer them. It's natural to be afraid to confront how you feel, especially with a phobia. But once you talk to a mental health professional about your fear, you will get the support and help you need.
Is Thalassophobia real?
Thalassophobia is real. People with this condition may downplay the significance of it. They might think that being afraid of the water isn't real because others have made fun of their phobia. Remember, not everyone will understand your fears. Each person has a unique experience and processes information differently. If you have thalassophobia, you can tell your loved ones that your fear is extremely real. They have the choice of whether to accept that or not. But don't let anyone try to tell you that your fears are invalid. If you're stuck in your phobia and can't find a way to get through it, a mental health professional, like a therapist or counselor, can help. Whether you see a therapist in your local area or select an online counselor, there are ways to address thalassophobia. The first step is admitting you have a fear, and then you can go from there. Therapy is a wonderful place to work through these issues and get the help you need without judgment.
