thalassophobia
Sign in to saveThalassophobia (from Ancient Greek θάλασσα (thálassa), meaning "sea", and φόβος (phóbos), meaning "fear") is the persistent and intense fear of deep bodies of water, such as the ocean, seas, or lakes. Though related, thalassophobia should not be confused with aquaphobia, which is classified as the fear of water itself. Thalassophobia can include fears of being in deep bodies of water, the vastness of the sea, sea waves, aquatic animals, and great distance from land.
Key facts
- Medical condition.specialty
- Psychiatry, clinical psychology
- Medical condition.name
- Thalassophobia
- Medical condition.image
- Clouds over the Atlantic Ocean.jpg
- Medical condition.caption
- The Atlantic Ocean, an example of a deep body of water
- Medical condition.treatment
- Systematic desensitisation, exposure therapy, counselling, cognitive behavioural therapy, medication
- Medical condition.duration
- More than six months
via Wikipedia infobox
Article
15 sectionsContents
- Causes
- Evolution
- Mythology and popular culture
- Past experiences and genetics
- Psychological theories
- Triggers
- Diagnosis and symptoms
- Difference between thalassophobia and aquaphobia
- Treatment
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Systematic desensitization
- Exposure therapy
- Medication
- See also
- References
Thalassophobia (from Ancient Greek θάλασσα (thálassa), meaning "sea", and φόβος (phóbos), meaning "fear") is the persistent and intense fear of deep bodies of water, such as the ocean, seas, or lakes. Though related, thalassophobia should not be confused with aquaphobia, which is classified as the fear of water itself. Thalassophobia can include fears of being in deep bodies of water, the vastness of the sea, sea waves, aquatic animals, and great distance from land.
The causes of thalassophobia are not clear and are a subject of research by medical professionals as they can vary greatly between individuals. Researchers have proposed that the fear of large bodies of water is partly a human evolutionary response, and may also be related to popular culture influences which induce fright and distress. It is also theorized that the underlying psychology of the phobia stems from the symbolic nature of water. Specifically, the vastness of the sea is often connected to one's deep unconscious.