There are countless fears out there, and some make more sense than others.
However, there is one fear that is very common and makes a lot of sense. This is thalassophobia, and while it doesn’t cause symptoms severe enough for everyone to be of great concern, the subject of this phobia is certainly terrifying.
Pictures that can evoke thalassophobia are always creepy. Videos posted online now show montages of different videos and images, specially selected for their potential to provoke a thalamophobic reaction in viewers.
The name comes from the ancient Greek word thalassa, which means sea, and the suffix phobia, which means fear of something.
For those of you who haven’t guessed from the name yet, it means fear of the sea and bodies of water.
It is most commonly used to refer to fear of the sea, but in fact it can also refer to dark, deep, dark waters, although the ocean is very scary. If you’ve seen deep-sea photos online, you’re probably familiar with it.
It’s worth pointing out that Thalassaphobia is even more serious than being unnerved simply by imagery of the sea. The images here are eerie, especially when they include someone’s feet hanging in the cavernous abyss of water below.
However, if someone had a more pronounced reaction to it, it could indicate something more was going on.
There are five types of phobias: animal phobia, blood injection phobia, environmental phobia, and situational phobia. For example, zoophobia can be cynophobia, and situational phobia is flying planes or riding in cars.
Thalassaphobia falls into the category of environmental phobias. This differs from aquaphobia, which is the phobia of water, in that it is specifically about deep or dark water.
It’s as if the fear isn’t directed at the water itself, but rather the immense emptiness, exposure, and vulnerability that floating in it evokes. A vast void stretches out and there is nowhere to hide.
Such videos can help indicate whether you have thalassaphobia if you have a particularly strong reaction to the images presented.
However, if you’re concerned that you may be ill, it’s a good idea to see a psychiatrist if it’s getting worse enough to affect your daily life.
In extreme cases, the idea, image, or even the word “sea” may be enough to provoke a reaction.
Thalassaphobic or not, the ocean must always be treated with the utmost respect.
