Thalassophobia is an unreasonable, unnatural, and persistent dread of the sea or vast, deep, and dark bodies of water. Certain individuals with this sort of phobia may be scared of enormous bodies of water, while others may have panic attacks simply by glancing at a picture of the sea or the sea itself.
This phobia is typically classified as a natural-environment-specific phobia due to the frequency with which worries linked with the natural environment are encountered.
A person suffering from Thalassophobia may also have a fear of marine animals and/or the sea, or both. Thalassophobia is distinct from aquaphobia.
The ocean may be a frightening environment for some individuals; it makes them feel restless, tense, disturbed, and anxious. They may have been born with an aversion to being near or in the ocean, or it may be something you were unaware of and found later in life.
Take this Thalassophobia Test to know how much you are affected by this phobia.
What is the Source of Thalassophobia?
Though research on Thalassophobia is limited, a number of genetic, physiological, environmental, and family variables.
Brain Circuitry
Fear is an emotion that is elicited when we feel a threat to our or another’s safety. When certain brain circuits are dysfunctional, anxiety disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and Thalassophobia can occur.
Treatment for Thalassophobia
Typically, phobia treatment includes counseling. A person suffering from Thalassophobia may benefit from a variety of treatments, including the following:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
CBT is a sort of conversation therapy. The goal is to assist a person in confronting problematic ideas and beliefs in order to alleviate the discomfort they generate.
For instance, during a CBT session for Thalassophobia, a therapist may assist a client in identifying anxious thoughts about the ocean and gaining a better understanding of how those ideas impact their emotions, physical symptoms, and behavior.
CBT can gradually assist individuals in evaluating whether their present thought or behavior patterns are beneficial, realistic, or suitable for the current scenario. This can assist the individual in altering their responses to a phobia trigger, so alleviating their worry.
Additionally, a person may benefit from cognitive processing treatment, which is comparable to cognitive-behavioral therapy but is tailored particularly for persons who have suffered trauma.
Therapy Involving Exposure
Exposure treatment entails a patient coming into close proximity to the objects or circumstances that frighten them. The objective may be to demonstrate that something is not as hazardous as the individual believes. Additionally, exposure treatment might help someone gain confidence in their capacity to deal if they are confronted with the event they are scared of.
A therapist assists an individual in confronting their fear in a safe, controlled environment during exposure therapy. This can happen in a variety of ways:
Imaginal exposure: This technique entails a person vividly envisioning the thing or circumstance they dread. During these sessions, a person with Thalassophobia may think about or describe the ocean.
Virtual reality exposure: This refers to the process of simulating the experience of interacting with a particular object or circumstance via the use of technology. When in vivo exposure is not possible, therapists may utilize this approach.
Can Phobias Fear of the Ocean Phobia, be Avoided?
While anxiety disorders such as Thalassophobia can make life difficult, there are steps you can do to assist prevent anxiety attacks if you suffer from this illness.
Recognize and Control your Triggers
It’s a good idea to be aware of your stresses in order to prevent anxiety-provoking situations.
If you have to drive past a lake on your way to work, try taking a different route until you have overcome your phobia. Similarly, if your pals like to holiday at the beach, you might recommend an alternate destination.
Place a Premium on Your Health and Well-Being
Regular exercise and a balanced diet may help alleviate anxiety symptoms. Additionally, a health regimen may help to alleviate stress and irritation.
Avoid Drugs and Alcoholic Beverages
At times, it may appear as though some substances, such as drugs and alcohol, momentarily alleviate your anxiety symptoms. However, they can exacerbate the situation while also interfering with your sleep. This might result in increased tension.
Fear of the Ocean Test
If you wonder whether you have fear of the ocean then take this ‘do I have Thalassophobia test?’. This phobia of the ocean test contains 20 questions that you have to answer honestly. Then only you will get the right result. Try to answer each question of Thalassophobia test without fear of the ocean test quickly and spontaneously. Choose choices that sound more natural or that look more accurate than others, and avoid choices because they seem to be the right. Let’s begin.
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Question of
How anxious are you when you think of the sea?
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Extremely scared and tensed.
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A little nervous.
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Somewhat nervous but controllable.
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Certainly not.
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Question of
How severe are your Thalassophobia symptoms?
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The symptoms are severe, and I have taken medication.
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The symptoms are unpleasant, but I refrain from taking medication.
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I do not have many symptoms.
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I have not encountered any serious symptoms.
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Question of
Do you mentally dramatize incidents involving the sea? Do you see images or movies related to water in your head?
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Yes, constantly, and emotions are strong.
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Occasionally, and the resulting sensations are unpleasant.
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Yes, but the emotions aren’t all that horrible.
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No. Such things never happen.
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Question of
What level of anxiety do you get when you consider drowning?
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I feel like dying.
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Extremely nervous.
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Slightly afraid.
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I know swimming. So, no such fear.
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Question of
How has this situation influenced your relationships with family, friends, and co-workers? Do you struggle to explain or even maintain a secret about what you’re going through?
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Severe effect on relationships.
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Substantial influence.
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It has complicated matters at times.
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No struggle needed as I have no serious symptoms.
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Question of
In general, when you consider the effect, this is having on your life, how serious is the problem?
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It is wreaking havoc on my life.
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It has a significant impact and must be addressed.
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Life would be significantly better without it.
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There is little influence.
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Question of
Your mother bought tickets for your elder brother to Drowning Pool! Do you wish to attend?
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Oh! Never. Are you kidding?
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No, I would like to be at home.
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Yeah maybe if I don’t drown.
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Yes definitely I would love to go.
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Question of
Are you afraid of deep water?
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Yes without any doubt!
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I have no idea how to swim! Naturally, it terrifies me!
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Not really but the sight scares me.
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No, absolutely not.
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Question of
Ooh, the high dive! It’s a must-do for everyone!
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Come On! I do not want to die soon.
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It is better to avoid.
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It’s a little frightening.
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I’ve already tried it haha.
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Question of
Do you enjoy showering?
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To be honest, I’m not interested in taking shower.
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Not truly, but I do.
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Yes most of the time.
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Yeah obviously.
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Question of
Does underwater images make you feel scared?
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All underwater images haunt me.
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It is better I would not look at them.
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Not much but it can be challenging.
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No. What is there to be scared of?
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Question of
Do you experience shortness of breath in water?
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I cannot stay in water for a single second.
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Yeah, many a time.
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Yes but I can manage.
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No. I love to stay in the water.
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Question of
Do you sweat at the sight of the ocean?
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Yeah and I can’t stop it.
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Sight of water draws me crazy.
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No not much.
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Never. Why will I sweat?
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Question of
Can you control your fear of the ocean?
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I always fail in that.
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No I tried but all went in vain.
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A little bit. Sometimes I succeed in overcoming the fear.
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Yes certainly. I have full confidence.
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Question of
How serious is your ocean phobia?
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Frequently I need a medical assistant.
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It is serious but never thought of taking medical help.
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Not much. Probably I can overcome it
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Nothing serious.
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Question of
In our experience, people who overcome this experience benefit in many areas of their lives, not just in situations that make them thalassophobic. Even if you could end Thalassophobia, how could things be better
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Very good. This is going to be a big change for me.
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Great relief. These situations are not at all comfortable for me.
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Great progress
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It will not really make a big difference.
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Question of
What do you feel when you thought of scuba diving?
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Extreme fear and panic. What if I drown?
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I don’t want to experience that.
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It is adventurous but still I would avoid
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It’s thrilling!
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Question of
Do you had any past traumatic experience relating to water?
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Yes. Many horrifying experiences.
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Probably yes. I can’t recall.
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No as such worth remembering.
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Never faced any traumas.
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Question of
What is your greatest fear?
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Death by drowning.
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Lost in the ocean.
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Going swimming alone.
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I am not sure.
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Question of
If someone asks how about swimming in the ocean? What would be your answer?
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It is as scary like a horror movie.
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The sight of the ocean terrifies me.
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I don’t like swimming.
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When did I say no?
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