Last Updated on February 22, 2023 by Mike Robinson
What is Thalassophobia?
The phobia known as thalassophobia is characterized by an excessive fear of large bodies of water, particularly the ocean. It falls under the category of disorders referred to as “specific phobias.” Specific phobias are severe phobias of a particular thing that causes worry and irrational thoughts.
The fear of what might be beneath the water’s surface is what worries thalassophobiacs the most. As a result, those who suffer from this disorder experience an irrational fear that a marine or aquatic creature may surface and attack them.
Another version makes people extremely afraid of getting stuck in the water. Because they fear they will drown or lose the ability to reach the shore, those who have it detest being in the middle of an ocean or lake. This phobia is not among the most prevalent and is typically not very concerning. However, it is advised to seek psychological treatment if the person’s symptoms are extremely severe or prevent them from leading an everyday life.
Symptoms of Thalassophobia
Next, we will see some of the most common symptoms of large bodies of water phobia.
Anxiety
Thalassophobic individuals experience anxiety when they are near deep water. This causes several unpleasant feelings. For instance, you might experience dizziness, shortness of breath, or chest pressure. An anxiety attack may occur if the anxiety becomes extremely severe. The affected person thinks he is going to die or that he will lose control irreversibly during this time. Although an anxiety attack’s symptoms are very unpleasant, they are typically not dangerous. Thalassophobics can experience anxiety even when they are not in front of the water in extreme cases. Thus, some of the symptoms above can manifest simply from thinking about or seeing the sea.
Obsessive Thoughts
The individual will start to experience persistent and irrational obsessive thoughts whenever they see water. As a result, you might start to imagine, for instance, that something will emerge from the depths to attack. According to another interpretation, they will sink if nothing is done.
The person is fully aware of the irrationality of these thoughts. They give them a lot of anxiety, but they can’t get rid of them. The longer a person is in contact with water, the more intense these mental images become.
Avoidance
The affected one tries to avoid contact with large bodies of water while measuring the potential thing because of the unpleasant sensations it feels when near them. Therefore, avoid approaching the sea or other similar elements, such as lakes or reservoirs, whenever possible. This is not an issue for someone who lives in an inland city and doesn’t need to travel to the coast. However, thalassophobia can make it difficult for the person to carry out daily tasks if their life involves contact with the sea.
Causes of Thalassophobia
There are numerous urban legends and myths about the perils of the sea on a social level. Oceans are portrayed in films like “Titanic,” “Shark,” and “Poseidon” as terrifying forces beyond our control. Some experts claim that we might be unaware of these attitudes as they infiltrate our subconscious. Because of this media exposure, some people may suddenly develop an irrational fear of water.
However, a lot of psychologists think there are frequently more causes. As a result, having experienced a traumatic event as a child is one of the most common causes of the emergence of phobias. Thalassophobia may stem from a previous experience of drowning. Sometimes, if a child experienced significant difficulty at sea, he would grow to have a profound fear of it. However, the above-mentioned irrational thoughts are both a symptom and one of the causes. The person who dismisses the purported risks of drinking water develops an anxiety disorder. As a result, many therapy modalities concentrate on altering these thoughts.
Also read: Hydrophobia: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment
Treatments Opions
Thalassophobia frequently doesn’t need any treatment. Psychological interventions aren’t required unless the person’s severe anxiety interferes with daily life. In these situations, either a psychiatric approach or cognitive-behavioral therapy is the best option.
Psychiatric approach
This therapy considers the theory that phobias result from a chemical imbalance in the brain. As a result, medication can treat these issues. It aims to bring the mind back to equilibrium. Pharmacological treatments are generally very good at getting rid of symptoms. The symptoms do, however, reappear if you stop taking the medication. As a result, this strategy works well in conjunction with a form of psychological therapy.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy
The type of therapy that is backed up by science today is behavioral therapy. It is a very powerful method for treating issues like phobias or depression. Therefore, it can be beneficial in cases of acute thalassophobia.
This therapy has two main goals:
One aspect of it focuses on transforming irrational thoughts into obsessive ones. By convincing himself that there is no danger, the person can overcome some of their fear of the water.
The other method is the progressive exposure approach. The therapist will gradually expose the patient to situations in which they are in contact with water to help them overcome their fear of deep waters. As a result, the person will gradually gain the ability to manage their anxiety and confront whatever has terrified him in the past.
Conclusion
Thalassophobia does not always have to be a serious issue. However, do not hesitate to speak with a mental health professional if you believe you have it and it is affecting your life. The good news is that phobias can almost completely vanish with a little effort.
In these cases, one of two approaches is usually used: the psychiatric one, and the cognitive – behavioral therapy.
