THALASSAPHOBIA

[skypilot]

Thalassaphobia is an intense fear of the ocean. I just recently found out what the word is for this fear. Any other thalassaphobics out there? This is a fear that I really wish that I could overcome because I like the beach but the ocean REALLY unsettles me. Years ago I tried to confront my fear by attempting to walk out onto a jetty in Cape May, NJ.
Couldn't do it. I envy people who can go sailing and the fact that people actually SURF is something that I can't quite get my mind around. To be out in the ocean on nothing more than a board and with a huge wave chasing me is my perfect nightmare. I would probably die of fear and shock. If there are any surfers on this board I just want to say: How the hell...?

[Brucey]

1. I love the ocean and don't have any fear of it,

but I've noticed that my other fears seem to be getting worse as I get older. I thought they would lessen. Wrong. Is this common?

[skypilot]

2. Lessening

My fear of the ocean hasn't lessened at all. Even seeing the ocean on the large screen at a movie theatre sets me on edge.

[Nay]

15. Funny you should ask that, Brucey.

I could swim before I could walk and am completely comfy in the ocean, but both my brother and I have noticed that whatever fears we had have intensified with age, and for both of us, a new one has popped up -- we both are getting claustrophobic, whereas before that was not a big thing. I have a very hard time sitting in the back seat of a two-door car, and I noticed on the last two plane flights I took, I was also somewhat claustrophobic. This has never happened to us before.

[Brucey]

16. Thanks for the response.

I wonder if others have the same thing. I had a small fear of heights in the past, but just in the last two years (I'm in my 50s) have noticed it increase tremendously. I also have a bit of claustraphobia, like you, that has popped up out of nowhere. I definitely don't like it, particularly since I've rarely had fears in the past.

[qwertyMike]

3. I grew up in Ireland by the sea

and I live in Nova scotia now. For a few years I lived inland in Toronto and missed the ocean horribly.

However an astrologer once told me I would die by drowning.

Deathwish

On edit: I still can't swim. Fear of water.

[skypilot]

4. I actually can swim

...but if I ever end up swimming in the ocean I'm sure that's where I'll be buried.

[DemExpat]

5. I would guess that this type of fear could best be dealt

with by exposing yourself to the ocean in intervals.....first just looking at the sea, then walking onto the beach, then to the water's edge, sticking your toe in etc.

Learning to relax through the experience until it's not so threatening anymore.

No need to become a surfer, though, :-) but being able to enjoy being by the seaside, and watching a film scene about the ocean comfortably would be nice!

DemEx

[skypilot]

9. Cape May

This is what I was trying in Cape May. I guess I just didn't give it enough time. There were waves crashing up against the end of the jetty and I just freaked. That jetty thing probably wasn't enough of a "baby step".

[DemExpat]

11. I'd give it 5-7 days....and really take it in

those 'baby steps'!

And start out on a calm day with few waves....

Are you really a pilot? I can't imagine flying a machine (or hang-glider) in the big blue sky!

Thinking about being in space gets me edgy as well.

DemEx

[skypilot]

13. Not a pilot

But I think my fear of the ocean might be similar to your "big blue sky" aversion. Years ago I had an experience where I got out of the city and away from tall sky-blocking buildings. I looked up and the sky just sort of took me off guard for a minute. The big, blue expanse of it with these huge white clouds floating by gave me a jolt similar to what the ocean does. I got over it after a minute though. I guess because I see the sky alot more than I see the ocean.

[DemExpat]

14. Same feeling looking into deep space on a crystal clear night.....

it might have to do with feeling insignificant, vulnerable, somewhat helpless......
all feelings of a little child, and of thinking adults when one really sees the reality of our lives in our bodies!

Try meditation if it interests you - it enables you to find the time and attention to look at this type of 'issue' from many angles...

DemEx

[Nlighten1]

6. Its funny you mention this...

I was just thinking about this the other day. I grew up near the ocean and have an strong passion for it. Somehow I have become afraid of it though and I don't know when that happened.

[qwertyMike]

7. Freud

described that feeling that we call connectedness, feeling at one with the Universe, as the 'Oceanic feeling'. Could that be the attraction?

I get the same feeling in the desert as well.

Or when I'm safe outside a bottle of Glenfiddich.

:)

[skypilot]

8. I've had a fear of the ocean...

...for as long as I can remember, however a few years ago I did "acquire" an intense aversion to scorpions. Believe it or not it was triggered by a photo in my local newspaper. Some guy was trying to get into the Guinness book by living in some kind of enclosure for two weeks with hundreds of scorpions. There was a photo of the guys face--a close-up--with these huge scorpions crawling around on his face. The man was Indian and had dark hair and eyes. One scorpion was covering his mouth which just seemed to accentuate the man's eyes. Something about those dark eyes and those dark shiny scorpions just made something in me snap. I literally trembled and threw the paper across the room. Now I can't even look at a photo of a scorpion. Fortunately, where I live, I'll probably never come in actual contact with one.

[Loonman]

10. I like the sound of the ocean

Calming. Very womb-like.

[BurtWorm]

12. I thought it was a fear of TV gardening shows.

On account of Thalassa Cruso, the Julia Child of the garden, who used to have a show on PBS in the 1970s and 1980s, I think. I've always loved her name.

I can understand fear of the ocean. Its size alone is intimidating. But I love it's look, smell and sound.