Most people love to visit and have a swim in the deep, blue ocean. Hence it can happen, especially during the summer season when it is hot. However, if you are one of the small populations of people who fear the ocean, you might have thalassophobia. Also, it is the fear of large bodies of water. If you have this kind of fear, you must know some information about it.
Here are some interesting facts that you have to know if you have a fear of the ocean.
1. Number of People with Thalassophobia
There are different types of phobias. It can be:
- Animal type
- Blood-injection type
- Natural-environment type
If you fear large bodies of water, it falls to the natural-environment type of fear. However, the exact number of people who have this type of mental illness is not yet known. Also, aome studies claim that this kind of fear is most common to happen in women.
2. Causes and risk factors
The following are possible reasons for fear of the deep ocean.
Genes
This kind of fear may come from your ancestors by passing it down from generation to generation. Therefore, your relatives might have been very afraid of the deep bodies of water for them to survive. So, these genes that carry the fear of the deep ocean are being passed down.
Experience
Furthermore, something bad might happen to you involving deep waters. This bad experience resulted to fear. When something bad happens, and our brain remembers it. You would do anything to avoid that event from happening again if you experienced something bad involving the deep waters. Then, you would not want to be near any deep waters. It is because your brain remembered the bad memory.
Upbringing
The role of parents is very important. Hence, they are responsible for the upbringing of their children. When your parents also have unreasonable fears, you are also at risk to have it. Since your parent’s upbringing will affect you greatly, they contribute to your personality and background knowledge.
3. Symptoms
Like any other disease, phobias also have symptoms. You have to watch out for these signals. Here are the physical symptoms that you can observe if you have this type of fear:
- Light-headedness
- Vomiting
- Racing heartbeat
- Abnormal breathing patterns
- Shortness of breath
- Sweating
For the emotional symptoms, you may feel:
- Anxiety
- Feeling detached from the situation
- Having a sense of danger
- Feeling the need to escape
These symptoms show when you are in direct contact with deep bodies of water.
4. Diagnosis
this type of test at home, and you do not have to go to the hospital for this. But the results of the tests are still needed verification from a doctor. Your doctor will find the underlying causes of your fear so that you can undergo a treatment process. In diagnosing this type of phobia, you must have experienced these:
- Your fear of the deep water is getting worse and unreasonable.
- Every time you go to any deep bodies of water, you feel this fear.
- You noticed that your fear is bigger than the actual possible danger itself.
- It is avoiding the sea, ocean, or any deep bodies of water.
- Your fear of the deep ocean is compromising your quality of life.
5. Treatment
You can overcome your fear. Talk to your doctor about it. So that he/she can find the right treatment that will work for you. There are different ways to treat your condition.
Cognitive-behavioral Therapy
In this treatment, you will focus on changing your negative thoughts and behaviors. Then, it is good to change it to healthier ones. Changing your thoughts is a powerful tool to overcome your fear.
Exposure Therapy
When you fear something, you usually avoid it. But with this therapy, there is an exposure to the things you fear of. If you have thalassophobia, it can involve seeing images or watching videos of the ocean. This type of treatment is a process. It lessens your fear of the ocean over time.
Each of us has something to be afraid of. However, if your fear compromises your quality of life, seek help. Above all, it is good to face your fears.
