Thalassophobia: Fear of the Ocean

Everyone has fears, but some affect their mental health more than others. Are you afraid of being in or around large bodies of dark water? Does this fear of the deep ocean and other vast, deep bodies of water prevent you from swimming or enjoying being even near the water? Phobia about deep water, known as thalassophobia, can have a negative impact on your quality of life.

The thalassophobia definition is pretty straightforward — it’s defined as the persistent fear of vast, deep, and often dark bodies of water that feel dangerous. Specifically, thalassophobia describes a person’s fear of the great unknown in the water right below their feet. 

To better understand this phobia and to learn how to manage its symptoms, it’s helpful to gain a solid understanding of this type of anxiety disorder’s causes and treatment.

Unlike aquaphobia — which is the fear of any type or amount of water — thalassophobia is the persistent, intense fear of bodies of deep, dark water and what exists below the surface. Whether in the deep sea, a deep river, a large lake, or any other deep body of water, fear can result from the thought of an unknown sea creature swimming below you, or even just from knowing how deep, expansive, and dark the water you’re in is.

For many people who have thalassophobia, the most frightening part is the idea that the water gets darker as it gets deeper. They also may fear the idea that they really don’t know much about the life forms that exist in the deepest depths. There are both physical and emotional symptoms someone with thalassophobia may experience. 

Physical

Physical symptoms of thalassophobia can include:

• Rapid heart rate
• Trembling
• Sweating
• Shortness of breath or breathlessness
• Abnormal breathing 
• Rapid breath
• Dry mouth
• Lightheadedness
• Shaking
• Butterflies in the stomach
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Anxiety chest pain or tightness in the chest
• Confusion
• Chills, hot flashes, or sweating

Emotional

Emotional symptoms of thalassophobia can be just as disruptive and can include:

• Dread
• Avoiding being around large bodies of water
• Panic
• Having anxiety
• Wanting to escape
• Feeling overwhelmed
• Extreme, intense, sudden fear or anxiety 
• Fearing a loss of control
• Racing thoughts
• Feeling detached
• Inability to sleep

Symptoms of anxiety can occur even when just looking at pictures or thinking of a watery expanse. The thought of being far away from land while in the water can be terrifying. In most cases, people who have this fear will be scared, nervous, and generally uneasy around any large body of water — it doesn’t have to just be the ocean.

Several things can trigger thalassophobia. Scenarios that might result in extreme irrational fear and panic can include:

• Lakes
• Swimming pools
• Boats
• Scuba diving
• Sea creatures — mythical or real
• Submarines
• Photos, movies, or TV shows about any of the above
• Thinking about or anticipating having to be around any of the above

Like many other phobias, thalassophobia hasn’t been extensively studied. As a result, researchers don’t know absolutely, but they believe there’s likely a combination of factors that can contribute to symptoms of thalassophobia. They may be related to genetics, past experiences, brain circuits, or upbringing that can result in an intense fear of the deep ocean or other deep water.

• Genetics: Genetics can play a part in a number of phobias. Phobias are considered a type of anxiety disorder, which is often hereditary. Research has shown us that phobias can be linked to genetics.
• Past experiences: Anytime you experience a traumatic event, for example something scary regarding or around water, the resulting fear may last well into adulthood and develop into a true phobia.
• Brain circuits: Our brain is designed to react when we feel fear. When we experience a threat, whether it’s real or just perceived, our brain kicks into fight or flight mode. Anxiety disorders have been linked in studies to dysfunction in our brain circuits, which can result in certain phobias like thalassophobia.
• Upbringing: People who grow up with anxiety-ridden family dynamics might be more prone to developing phobias. Fear can be something we learn. If a parent has an extreme fear of water or the ocean, it may be something a child picks up. That is, it wouldn’t be outlandish to think that a child might pick up on their parent’s anxiety and end up having a fear of deep ocean waters themself.  

If you’re convinced or suspect that you’re dealing with thalassophobia, you might want to seek out an online test to determine if you do in fact have a fear of deep water. These tests are designed to help you explore how severe your symptoms are. You can also get a formal clinical diagnosis, too. You can reach out to your doctor, a therapist, or another mental healthcare professional to get advice and guidance.

Though there isn’t technically a formal test to diagnose thalassophobia, your doctor or therapist can help you understand more about your fear. A doctor can also rule out any other medical complications that might be contributing to your phobia. Once you’re diagnosed with a specific phobia like thalassophobia, you can begin treatment.