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Causes and Treatments For Thalassophobia
Causes and Treatments For Thalassophobia
thalassophobia
Definition
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Coping strategies
Summary
Thalassophobia is a fear of the ocean or other large
bodies of water. A person may develop this phobia
after a traumatic event. Healthcare professionals
typically treat phobias with different types of therapy.
Thalassophobia can cause symptoms ranging from mild to severe — some people
may feel slightly afraid of deep water or the ocean, while others may find that
looking at the sea or images of it triggers feelings of panic.
This phobia may stop people from visiting the beach, swimming in the sea, or
traveling by boat.
This article explores what thalassophobia is, signs and symptoms, potential causes,
and treatments.
What is thalassophobia?
Phobias are a type of anxiety disorder. The word “thalassophobia” refers to a fear
of the ocean or other large, deep bodies of water.
However, there are no estimates of how many people live with thalassophobia
specifically.
Signs of thalassophobia
A person with thalassophobia experiences feelings of fear and anxiety about the sea
or another large body of water that do not match the level of danger that the water
poses to them at that moment.
The anxiety that thalassophobia causes activates the “fight, flight, or freeze”
response, which is the body’s way of preparing for danger. This produces physical
symptoms, such as sweating, faster breathing, and an elevated heart rate.
In more severe cases, this response escalates into a panic attack, which may cause:
lightheadedness
rapid breathing, or hyperventilation
heart palpitations
trembling or shaking
sweating
the feeling of choking
nausea, with or without vomiting
During a panic attack, a person may feel as if they may faint, that they are losing
control, or that they might die. However, although they can feel very serious, panic
attacks are not dangerous in themselves.
People with thalassophobia may also feel dissociated while they are experiencing
symptoms. Dissociation is a feeling of being disconnected from the body or the
current situation.
The stress resulting from thalassophobia may cause a person to avoid any situation
that might trigger the symptoms.
Causes
Sometimes, a person develops a phobia after a traumatic event. Trauma is a
response to extreme stress, which may stem from:
People with thalassophobia may have had negative early experiences with the
ocean or felt unsafe while learning to swim. Or, they may have become afraid of
the sea after seeing news coverage of an event such as a shark attack or tsunami.
It is common for people to not remember any specific event that triggered their
phobia. Specific phobias, such as thalassophobia, often develop in early childhood,
which can make it difficult to remember the initial cause.
Diagnosis
Psychiatrists and psychologists use criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition — commonly called the DSM-5 — to
diagnose phobias such as thalassophobia. A person may have a phobia if they:
Treatment
Phobia treatment typically involves therapy. Someone with thalassophobia may
benefit from several types, including:
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of talk therapy. The aim is to help a
person challenge unhelpful thoughts and beliefs in order to reduce the anxiety that
they cause.
For example, in a CBT session for thalassophobia, a therapist may help someone
learn to identify anxious thoughts about the ocean and understand how those
thoughts affect their emotions, physical symptoms, and behavior.
Over time, CBT can help people question whether their thinking or behavior
patterns are helpful, realistic, or appropriate for the current situation. This can help
the person change their responses to a phobia trigger, reducing their anxiety.
A person may also benefit from cognitive processing therapy, which is similar and
designed specifically for people who have experienced trauma.
Exposure therapy
Exposure therapy involves a person coming into close contact with the things or
situations that scare them. Sometimes, this contact is simulated or imagined.
The aim may be to prove that something is not dangerous much less dangerous than
the person believes. Exposure therapy can also help someone feel more confident in
their ability to cope, should they face the situation that they are afraid of.
During exposure therapy, a therapist helps a person confront their fear in a safe,
controlled environment. This can occur in several ways:
In vivo exposure: This involves direct contact with the phobia trigger.
Imaginal exposure: This involves a person imagining the object or situation
that they fear in detail. A person with thalassophobia may think about or
describe the ocean during these sessions.
Virtual reality exposure: This involves using technology to simulate the
experience of engaging with a particular object or situation. Therapists may
use this technique when it is not possible to try in vivoexposure.
Graded exposure involves very gradual exposure to the phobia trigger, while
“flooding” involves beginning with the most difficult tasks.
Medication
Medications can help reduce symptoms of anxiety and fear, but they do not cure
phobias. For example, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, commonly called
SSRIs, are a type of antidepressant that doctors use to manage anxiety.
Coping strategies
Phobias can be disruptive and difficult to manage. But if someone unexpectedly
comes across a phobia trigger, the following coping techniques may help:
Summary
Thalassophobia is a fear of the ocean or other large bodies of water. It may stem
from a traumatic childhood event, which a person may have experienced directly,
seen, possibly onscreen, or heard about.
Several types of therapy, including CBT and exposure therapy, can help reduce the
impact of phobias. In the shorter term, coping strategies such as breathing
exercises, self-compassion, and mindfulness can help people manage anxiety as it
arises.
Mental Health
Anxiety / Stress
Psychology / Psychiatry
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