Oceans and seas, with their boundless vastness and unknown depth, have always been a source of wonder and sometimes fear for humans. But for some people, this fear goes beyond a natural precaution and becomes a severe, irrational and persistent fear, which is called thalassophobia. This situation is a type of specific phobia. Ocean phobia is not the only fear of drowning; Rather, it often involves fear of vastness, darkness, unknown creatures in the deep, and feeling helpless against the power of the sea. A proper understanding of ocean phobia is vital for people who struggle with it and the professionals who help them. Differentiate the fear of deep water with aquaphobia and bathophobia To better understand the fear of large waters, it is important to separate and somehow distinguish this type of fear from other fears. Aquaphobia is a general fear of water itself, even in small amounts such as showering or splashing water on the face. In contrast, thalassophobia is specifically the fear of vast, deep, and often mysterious bodies of water such as the ocean, sea, or great lakes. The focus of fear here is not the water itself, but its characteristics such as depth, vastness and unknownness. It should also be distinguished from bathophobia, which is the fear of depth itself (even without water, such as looking into a deep canyon). Misunderstanding the nature of ocean phobia can lead to choosing an inappropriate treatment approach. The place of fear of the ocean in DSM-5 classification In the psychiatric classification system, morbid fear of the ocean and deep water is not recognized as an independent diagnostic category in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). This state is considered as a specific type of fear (Specific Phobia) and is usually placed in the "Natural Environment Type" subgroup. Therefore, to diagnose ocean phobia, clinicians use general criteria for specific phobias. These criteria include the presence of severe and disproportionate fear or anxiety, immediate anxiety response when facing the stimulus, active avoidance, persistence of symptoms (at least 6 months) and significant suffering or impairment in the person's functioning. Common triggers and fundamental fears in ocean phobia People with this type of phobia may experience anxiety due to a wide range of triggers. It is important to recognize these triggers and the underlying fears behind them: Common triggers: - Being on the beach and looking at the vastness of the ocean. - Boarding a boat, ship or any other vessel on deep water. - Swimming in the sea or ocean, especially away from the shore. - Viewing pictures, videos or documentaries about the ocean, the deep sea or large sea creatures. - even thinking or talking about the ocean and its dangers. Fundamental fears - Fear of infinite vastness and getting lost in it. - Fear of unknown depth and darkness below the surface of the water. - Fear of large or dangerous sea creatures (real or imaginary). - Fear of not being able to control the situation or escape. - Fear of drowning or getting stuck. Symptoms of anxiety in facing large waters The reaction of people with ocean phobia when confronted with its stimuli can be very intense and debilitating. These reactions include a combination of emotional, physical and cognitive symptoms. A person may experience severe anxiety, panic or even a full-blown panic attack. Common physical symptoms of this type of fear include: - Very fast heartbeat - sweating - Feeling of trembling in the body - Feeling of shortness of breath or lack of air - Pain or pressure in the chest - Nausea - Confusion and dizziness or lightheadedness From a cognitive point of view, a person is involved with many negative and catastrophic thoughts, for example, thoughts like "a shark is attacking now", "the wave will take me away", "there is something under the water that will kill me", "if the boat sinks, I will die". These unpleasant experiences lead to strong avoidance behaviors against situations associated with ocean phobia. Effective treatment approaches for the phobia of the ocean Fortunately, ocean and deep water phobias, like other specific phobias, respond well to evidence-based psychological treatments. The main goal of this treatment is to reduce fear and anxiety reactions and eliminate avoidance behaviors. For example, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is an approach that helps a person to identify his negative, irrational and catastrophic thoughts about the ocean and its dangers, and using cognitive restructuring techniques, challenges them and replaces them with more realistic thoughts. Teaching anxiety coping skills as well as relaxation techniques is also a part of this treatment Exposure therapy is also known as one of the most effective treatments for ocean phobia. Exposure involves gradual, repeated, and controlled exposure to fearful stimuli until the person gets used to them and finds that the real danger is non-existent or manageable. Types of this therapy include: - Imaginal exposure: imagining yourself in situations related to the sea. - Exposure using images and videos: watching photos and videos of the ocean, beach, boats and even the deep sea. - Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET): Using VR technology to simulate sea and ocean environments in a very real and safe way. This method has great potential for treating phobia of the ocean. - Exposure in the real environment (In vivo exposure): in a very gradual and carefully planned manner, such as going to the beach, getting close to the water and in the next stages maybe a short boat ride in calm waters. Ocean phobia management and treatment with the help of neurologists A phobia of the ocean and deep water can deprive a person of many pleasures and opportunities in life, from cruises to relaxing walks on the beach. But it is important to know that this condition is a treatable disorder. If you are also struggling with a severe fear of the ocean or deep water, Nourali specialized clinic is ready to help you on this path with an expert team and using up-to-date treatment approaches. Contact us for a professional evaluation and to start the treatment process.