Large areas of the world’s oceans remain unexplored and are likely to remain so. Conquering your fear of deep water involves coming to terms with how your body behaves in the water and then learning to take control of the thoughts and feelings associated with various states you body can find itself in when in the water. This then makes swimming very difficult. Call it a fear of the unknown when the unknown is a huge amount of dark water and knowing what lurks beneath is impossible to know. It takes most people two 24-hour Miracle Swimming classes to reach this point. Instead of confronting and mastering your fears, you may simply reinforce them. I highly suggest NOT watching NatGeo’s Shark Week or Sharkfest as they really tend to only sensationalize the fear based around sharks and shark attacks and not the reality of a shark’s normal response to snorkelers, which is to either ignore us or swim away. There are some really amazing underwater documentary movies and series which do an amazing job of capturing the beauty and reality of the underwater world. While the name suggests a fear of water in general, Aquaphobia typically occurs when dealing with deep water. Though very closely related, thalassophobia should not be mistaken with aquaphobiawhich is classified as the fear of water itself. First one out of the box, was over by the Aurora, Reaper Sumuvabitch grabbed me from behind, dropped me in deep water off the ass end (it was a stock PRAWN, only, what, 700 meters?) Aquaphobia, or fear of water, is a fairly common specific phobia. I have a fear of deep water, and things that arent supposed to be there, and big things like sharks and ships. What is thalassophobia? Because if they do, you may have thalassophobia. thalassophobia Of course, that may lead to a fear of Dementors…. Learning about the ocean is a great first step in helping control your deep water phobia. Because if they do, you may have thalassophobia… What’s Down There? Tried to control depth, and lost it, bailed out at 690 meters, and hit the escape bladder. I know, easier said than done since phobias such as this are irrational and your typical pragmatism on land goes right out the window the moment you lose sight of the bottom. For many, the fear is so extreme that they even refuse to near deep water bodies. Here the sufferer is highly concerned about the creatures that lurk beneath the water body. People with thalassophobia experience … Swimming in deep water such as the sea can be more difficult but there are some simple ways of dealing with swimming in a deep pool. So do any of these pictures of swimmers who are in danger (or even perfectly safe) make you feel dread? Have you heard of the Loch Ness Monster? As you progress to deeper waters you may want to use an inflatable snorkel vest, a life jacket, or even additional flotation ring to give yourself an added layer of comfort. He never went back to the pool. As I do this, I slowly swim back to a more comfortable depth until I feel like I’m back in control again. You may not have realized it but you probably suffer from thalassophobia, a fear of deep water. This fear doesn’t always have to control us though, and if we take the proper approach that involves both mentally and physically preparing ourselves, we can hopefully find ourselves confident and comfortable snorkeling in deep water. You are more likely to be injured by your toilet than by a shark by huge margin. The question is whether you want to tackle the fear and dive under the waves, or are you happy to stay on dry land forever? The simple fact is that almost everyone has this fear, although there’s a … The causes of thalassophobia are not clea… Oddly enough, some sufferers are happy on a boat in the middle of the ocean, as long as they’re not asked to put their feet in the water. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Fear of water can be a hereditary condition, suffered by a surprising number of people. [1] X Research source Thalassophobia can include fear of being in deep bodies of water, fear of the vast emptiness of the sea, of sea waves, sea creatures, and fear of distance from land. Almost half of Americans are afraid of the deep end of a pool. It is different from aquaphobia, which is a fear of flooding and all bodies of … Not being able to see the bottom can throw even the most experienced snorkelers. Belize Snorkel Week - Turneffe Island Resort. They’ll then help you to imagine increasingly difficult and potentially scary deep-water scenarios. The word Bathophobia originates from Greek word bathios which means “deep or depth” and phobos meaning “aversion, dread or fear”. There is something to be said for facing your fears. Also, don’t forget to do this with a snorkel buddy who’s already very comfortable in the water. In understanding what is actually going on below you as you snorkel should then help curb any unwarranted fears by cultivating a positive state of mind about the ocean and deep water. Aquaphobia (from Latin aqua 'water', and Ancient Greek φόβος (phóbos) 'fear') is an irrational fear of water. This is the pure nightmare of every thalassophobe. Some people are only afraid of deep water or strong waves, while others fear swimming pools and bathtubs. I fear deep clear water that I can see the bottom of because I can see what is below me. This is … A fear of deep water, however, is fuelled by your imagination. Thalassophobia (Greek: θάλασσα, thalassa, "sea" and φόβος, phobos, "fear") is the persistent and intense fear of deep bodies of water such as the sea, oceans, pools or lakes. He tried his best to overcome it but the haunting fear of the water followed him everywhere. In a way, fearing deep water makes sense. Thankfully, you don’t have to live with extreme thalassophobia. Pictures of sunken ships, sharks, octopi, eels, ugly or otherwise scary fish, make my stomach do flip flops. There are some great forums online that can help those brave enough, or foolhardy enough, to try the confrontation approach. Prepare yourself physically and mentally A hypnotist will use a similar approach as a psychiatrist. Reddit has an especially good group if you want to see sights that will leave you cold and shivering under your covers. However, accepting your phobia is the first step towards addressing it. Here are a few steps that we have found to be helpful. Thalassophobia (Fear of Deep Water): Do You Have It? This fear doesn’t always have to control us though, and if we take the proper approach that involves both mentally and physically preparing ourselves, we can hopefully find ourselves confident and comfortable snorkeling in deep water. Like all phobias, it may vary dramatically in severity from person to person. Rather than just plunge yourself into the open blue water, I highly recommend starting off by slowly introducing yourself to it by letting yourself get accustomed to the shallow reefs and sandy bays first. She hasn't entered a body of water since. The author started fearing water since the age of four. Add to this the large proportion of people that experience a jolt of fear or panic when a fish brushes past them in the water, there is the potential for millions of people to suffer from thalassophobia! Several factors trigger the phobia among people. r/thalassophobia: Less than 10% of the ocean has been explored. 2. This fear of deep waters stayed with him for years and firmly held him in its grip. Some are afraid of entering the water, while others cannot bear to even look at a large body of water. Our ancestors who were more cautious and fearful of deep bodies of water were probably more likely to survive and pass down these fearful genes to their offspring. Those who suffer from thalassophobia fear large bodies of water that are dark and deep, where what lays beneath is unknown. There are a number of factors that may cause this fear of the ocean and sea. There’s nothing to be ashamed if you realize you have thalassophobia. However, thalassophobia is not just a fear of the sea, it’s a fear of any deep body of water. Thalassophobia is an intense fear of deep bodies of water. Sep 28, 2019 - A image you have to check out! After his misadventure in the pool at the Y.M.C.A., Douglas was amidst the fear of water. The therapy uses a step-by-step approach, allowing you to identify the fear of deep water and replace it with a safe feeling. This fear of water stayed with him as the years rolled by. Acknowledge your fear . Deep Water is about the writer’s journey of overcoming the fear of water, which is deeply rooted in him since childhood. Many people with this phobia are further traumatized by feeling embarrassed or ashamed about it. The Complete Beginners Guide To Swimming contains all the support you need. A therapist will start by creating a safe image in your mind and encouraging you to procure it at will. But learning facts such as in the last 55 years there have been only 35 fatal shark attacks in US waters isn’t going to make you feel better… you’ll just be wondering if you’re going to be victim number 36. He visits a beach where a wave knocks him down and sweeps over him. Bathophobia means the fear of depths. Try this test. The fear can be of the depths of the ocean, how huge a certain landscape is, or even the depths of something like a hallway. It slows their responses and leaves them eager to leave the water. I know that every time I jump in the open blue water to try and swim with a pod of dolphins or whale sharks and there is nothing but blue water below me I have to make a slight adjustment to my mental state and just remind myself that floating in the blue is no different to floating just above a reef. I can't even look at a picture of deep water or a shark with its jaws extended without going into panic mode in my mind. In this essay, he talks about his fear of water and thereafter, how he finally overcame it. For me, I focus on listening to every inhale and exhale to keep them as steady and relaxed as possible. Occasionally, aquaphobia is so pervasive that even being splashed or sprayed with wate… We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Thalassophobia, a fear of deep water, may affect millions of Americans. Did you know the whole of the Empire State Building will fit into the Mariana Trench, the deepest oceanic trench on Earth? The movie The Shining actually used this fear, along with bathmophobia , to prey on people's discomfort by shooting from a long distance away as the main characters did something on a stairway. Aquaphobia has often been used to describe this condition. In other words, you’re not alone. But working on your mind-set can help you overcome your fear of depth. The excerpt ‘Deep Water’ is taken from Of Men and Mountains by William Douglas. In many ways, it’s similar to creating the Patronus Charm! Yeah, I lost a PRAWN in deep water. In short, there is no limit to what could be in the murky depths below. As long as I could remember I just get chills at the sight of a shark, whale, or just a body of water. Thalassophobia is different than aquaphobia, which is simply a fear of water. It reveals how as a young boy William Douglas nearly drowned in a swimming pool. It’s important to note that the fear doesn’t just apply to the sea: any lake or body of water that is too deep to see the bottom will induce the same response. Others, however, won’t even get on the boat. Past Experiences: This fear may also be partially learned due to experiences people may ha… Finally he decided to engage an instructor to learn to swim and to overcome his fear. This fear of water ruined his fishing trips. The most common way to overcome this fear of deep water is through hypnotherapy or psychiatry. Though very closely related, thalassophobia should not be mistaken with aquaphobia which is classified as the fear of water itself. Thalassophobia is quite different than Aquaphobia, the fear of water. Perhaps you’ve heard tales of Isabella, the crocodile-like Bear Lake Monster, who is also known as the water devil. In most cases, those who have a fear of deep water feel abject fear. Though there is no definitive statistics on the number of people who have a fear of deep water, phobias, in general, are experienced by roughly 19 million people in the US. Standing ovation, Mary Anne, Sandhya, and Yvonne! does anyone else have these fears? It’s not uncommon to have hesitations or even a phobia of deep water. These include shaking, sweating, and even vomiting. Because phobias are usually a result of repetitive experiences, it takes time to replace the fear you feel. They’ll go to great lengths to avoid facing their fear. Symptoms can vary depending on the level of fear, but can typically include extreme anxiety, dread and feelings of panic such as shortness of breath, rapid breathing, sweating and nausea. It is fear or anxiety associated with the sea or water bodies of various types, though; many Bathophobic individuals are also known to fear tunnels, mountain valleys or caves. Though it may be unrealistic to say you will be cured completely, with a little help, you can face the fear and even beat it—at least until you watch The Meg or Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest again. The term thalassophobia has Greek origins: “thalassa” means sea and “phobos” means fear. Before each snorkel session make a little plan to help calm yourself down and regain control of your emotions. Worse, once it hits the bottom of the trench you’ll have to go seven miles (11.27 km) down just to even reach the top of the tower! The key to overcoming this initially is to relax. For most people, the belief that something of this scale lies beneath the water is enough to keep them out of the water—this is thalassophobia in action. Seeing rotting logs, moss, seaweed, etc puts my anxiety into overload. The fear of deep water is known as Thalassophobia . My Fear Of Sharks And Deep Water. Humans simply aren’t equipped to get to the depths of the ocean. Here are a few steps that we have … (Photo: PickPik) You may not have realized it but you probably suffer from thalassophobia, a fear of deep water. Wherever he went his joys of fishing, boating and swimming were ruined. The main difference is the hypnotist prefers to talk directly to your mind, while the psychiatrist tries to talk to your conscious self. Over a … He realised that his fishing trips, canoeing, swimming and boating were over. Combine this fact with a natural fear of darkness, a fear of deep water is not only unsurprising, but also understandable. In fact, there’s a theory that suggests many cases of thalassophobia originated from watching Jaws at a young age. Thalassophobia is the fear of the sea or deep water. Thalassophobia is the fear of the sea or deep water. Drowning prevention begins with learning to manage anxiety outside the pool. The phobia is connected to a fear that originated from somewhere, even if it’s just in your imagination. Some of the best ones are My Octopus Teacher, BBC Blue Planet I & II, BBC Planet Earth,  and Oceans. Fear of deep water It helps if you pick just one thing as too many different options can lead back to a non-focused state of mind and then the fear comes back. Therein lies the real issue: a fear of water (aquaphobia) is often triggered by a singular incident, such as nearly drowning or even being shipwrecked. It starts when he was visiting California with his father. “Thalassophobia” comes from the Greek words thalassa (sea) and phobos (fear), and it generally refers to a deep, irrational fear of the ocean’s vastness and what may lurk deep within it. The truth is, humans are not usually great swimmers. Daily new funny videos, wtf, pics. Read more: The Grisly Tale Behind Frozen Charlotte Dolls. If your phobia is quite strong, the shallow end of a pool is best and then work your way up to larger bodies of water. By deep water I will assume you mean the deep end of a swimming pool. Thalassophobia: Fear of Deep Water Verywell - Sarah Bence. So do any of these pictures of swimmers who are in danger (or even perfectly safe) make you feel dread? It's all lumped into the same fear: a fear of "depth." Read more: The Origins of the Phrase “Shiver Me Timbers!”. Fear of swimming in deep water and even just fear of water can cause the body to become nervous and our muscles to become tense. Even as your confidence with the water grows, it’s a great idea to have a mental game plan just incase that irrational fear does start to creep back in. Thalassophobia ( Fear of Deep Water) is a type of specific phobia that involves a persistent and intense fear of deep bodies of water such Whenever he tried to enter water, he was seized by fear. Creators of epic small group snorkeling tours to the world’s premier destinations. Like other types of phobia, it is likely a combination of nature and nurturethat contributes to thalassophobia: 1. The common fear of deep water is really a fear of not being able to touch the bottom and therefore of sinking. Genetics:From a nature perspective, evolution and genetics may play a role. Thank ye gods he didn't chase me. But extreme sufferers will display much more intense symptoms. A close encounter with a shark is likely to be terrifying, but with a little imagination, a shark will seem like nothing compared to what else could be beneath the waves. Each time you’ll need to focus on your safe, or happy, image to ease the fear out. The simple fact is that almost everyone has this fear, although there’s a great deal of variance in the extent of this fear. What I mean by this is, the moment you start to feel the panic coming back you need to give your brain something else to do, like count to one-hundred, identifying ten different species of fish, or just concentrating on a steady rhythm of breathing. The Grisly Tale Behind Frozen Charlotte Dolls, The Origins of the Phrase “Shiver Me Timbers!”. It’s generally agreed that a sudden development of the fear is easier to resolve, as it is likely to have been triggered by a specific incident. Slowly Introduce Yourself to the Environment. when i am in water, and cant feel the bottom anymore i panic like there is a huge black hole and start swimming really fast until i can touch again...only if i cant see through it. It’s not just the vast expanse […] Find out more here. Thalassophobia (Greek: θάλασσα, thalassa, "sea" and φόβος, phobos, "fear") is the persistent and intense fear of deep bodies of water such as the sea, oceans or lakes. T have to check out crocodile-like bear Lake Monster, who is also known as the fear of deep.! Great lengths to avoid facing their fear ovation, Mary Anne, Sandhya, and it... “ thalassa ” means sea and “ phobos ” fear of deep water sea and “ phobos ” sea! 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