For many people, the sea is a source of peace, calm, and inspiration. For others, the word “ocean” calls to mind images of rogue waves, shark attacks, drowning, deep-sea creatures, giant squid, shipwrecks, pitch-blackness—whoa, we’re freaking ourselves out here a little!
Did you know that there’s actually a word for the irrational fear of the sea, deep water, and the open ocean? It’s thalassophobia, and if the images we just conjured made your heart start to beat a little faster, it’s possible you’re a little thalassophobic yourself! Want to find out for sure? Take our quiz to see if you’ve got possible symptoms of thalassophobia.
Questions Overview
- My heart is pumping. The open ocean? Nothing but water? This is a nightmare! I need land! I need land!!!!
- I feel a little spooked—it’s a pretty intimidating image! But I know it’s just my imagination and I’m safe.
- I feel fine, nothing out of the ordinary.
- I feel so calm and relaxed! What’s more peaceful than the ocean?
- I wouldn’t know for sure because I would absolutely never ever do that! But imagining it, I feel my heart sinking. How terrifying!
- It definitely makes me a little scared. I have to remind myself it’s (probably) safe.
- I don’t really mind. I’m just having a nice time swimming!
- I love it! Not knowing what might be at the bottom even makes it more thrilling!
- You’re joking, right? I would never agree to a cruise! I’m staying right here on dry land.
- I’m a little nervous if I think about it too much, but generally excited to go on a cruise.
- I’m looking forward to it! I could use some relaxation.
- A cruise is my dream vacation! The open ocean and an all-you-can-eat buffet? Sign me up!
- 100% yes. I can’t even think about watching a whale documentary.
- Mostly yes. I know I’m safe, but ocean imagery still makes me a little too nervous.
- Not really. Maybe if it’s a violent movie? But typically no.
- Not at all! I go out of my way to see movies about the ocean. I think it’s beautiful!
- Please stop. Please just…stop. I can’t handle this.
- I feel freaked out, but I know I’m safe.
- I feel fine. I certainly wouldn’t want to be in the Mariana Trench myself, but who would?
- I could daydream about the Mariana Trench all day! What mysterious creatures lurk down there? It really gets my imagination going…
- I can’t even tell you the last time I was at the beach, that’s how much it terrifies me.
- I sometimes get a little panicky at the beach, but I try to overcome it.
- Not really. As long as I’m taking all the necessary safety precautions, why be anxious?
- Not at all! On the contrary, I feel inspired, exhilarated, and one with nature. I love it!
- Is this a trick question? No friends of mine would ever ask me to scuba dive!
- It’d be tough, but I might have to turn them down. Unless scuba diving in the pool is an option?
- Sure! Sounds like a fun trip, as long as we all get proper training.
- Helloooo, I’m the friend inviting everyone scuba diving! I love it!
- I can’t stop thinking about my feet, all the way down in the depths…what if something comes up and bites them?
- I’m having fun, but if I see a fish or mysterious shadow, I’m out of there.
- Nothing out of the ordinary.
- I’m having a blast! I love playing in the water no matter where I am.
- Megalodons (you know, the giant pre-historic sharks) or tsunamis.
- Getting lost at sea or hurricanes.
- Earthquakes or flashfloods.
- Tornadoes or volcanic eruptions.
- Yes, they terrify me. That’s what made me realize I might have thalassophobia.
- I’ve seen photos that give me the creeps, but they don’t make me feel unsafe.
- Possibly—but not often.
- Nope, never.
More Quizzes
More About Thalassophobia
Thalassophobia is an intense and irrational fear of large or deep bodies of water, such as oceans, lakes, and seas. The word comes from the Greek thalasso (“sea”) and phobia (“fear”). There are other types of fears of water, such as aquaphobia, which is a general fear of water, but thalassophobia refers specifically to the fear of deep or large bodies of water.
It’s not uncommon or unreasonable to fear the unknown, such as what lies miles beneath your boat, or to fear something that can cause you harm, such as water or certain aquatic animals. In fact, in manageable amounts, fear can keep us alive, because it spurs us to take precautions—like wearing a life vest in the water, or making sure there’s a lifeguard on duty when swimming. But folks with thalassophobia may have such overwhelming terror of open or deep water that they avoid even going to the beach—and they may even avoid movies or images of the ocean!
It’s unknown how many people suffer from thalassophobia, but to give you an idea, an estimated 2-3% of the general population suffers from aquaphobia, or the general fear of water—presumably, all of those people also suffer from thalassophobia. So if you’re among them, take heart: you’re not alone!
As for where thalassophobia comes from, it could stem from past negative experiences with water—for instance, if you nearly drowned as a child, or even if you only watched a movie where someone drowned, you may grow up to fear large bodies of water. Additionally, if you grew up with people with thalassophobia, you may learn to fear large bodies of water yourself.
If you’re struggling with thalassophobia, the good news is it may be manageable through cognitive behavioral therapy based on “gradual exposure” treatment: in other words, your therapist would gradually introduce you to water-related stimuli (like photos of the ocean or recordings of whale sounds) while teaching you relaxation techniques that can help you manage your anxiety. With time, patience, and grace towards yourself, you may learn to feel more relaxed around the ocean.
Want to learn more?
For more information about thalassophobia and phobias generally, visit these websites:
