By THEOCEANROAMER on Sunday, 22 May 2022
Category: OCEAN STORIES

These Posts Are All About The Fear Of Deep Water, And Here Are 142 Of The Scariest Ones That Might Make You Want To Swim Away

Thalassophobia is a persistent and intense fear of deep bodies of water such as the ocean or sea. What makes this phobia different than aquaphobia — the fear of water in general — is the fact that it centers on vastness, darkness, and depth. People who have this condition are not terrified of getting wet, but rather the might and mystique behind the waves.

While thalassophobia is not recognized as a distinct disorder by the DSM-5, the diagnostic manual of mental disorders used by psychiatrists and other mental health professionals, it's still relatively common. And the subreddit of the same name is a vivid example of that. Created in June 2013, it unites 969,000 thalassophobes, sharing triggers and discussing symptoms.

So, in an attempt to shed some light on this community, we at Bored Panda decided to put together a list of their most popular posts.

#1

Is To Me Or Are Black Tiled Pools Terrifying

#2

Words Fail Me

Online groups that get this big often suffer from huge streams of content that flood them with questionable pictures and videos, diminishing the overall experience of browsing them, but this subreddit manages to stay clean.

Part of it can be attributed to the clear rules that promote being nice and courteous, and allow no jokes, memes, or cartoons, no reposts, and no gore.

Of course, having an active moderator team that make sure members adhere to these rules helps tremendously as well.

#3

This Seaweed Through Clear Water

#4

Kayaking With The Giants!

#5

Grand Turks 700 Ft Drop

Specific phobias tend to fall into these five categories:

Animal type; Blood-injection type; Natural-environment type; Situational type; Other.

Thalassophobia is usually considered to belong to the natural-environment type. These fears are experienced more frequently, with some studies also suggesting that water-related phobias are more common among women.

#6

The Deadliest Stream In The World - It Looks Normal, But Underneath It Is Full Of Caves Of Powerful Fast Moving Water That Will Drag You Down. 100% Fatality Rate

#7

Orcas In The Waves

#8

When You Fear Of Flying And Your Fear Of Water Meet Each Other

#9

“The Big One”

Thalassophobia shares symptoms with other specific phobias, such as claustrophobia, and includes:

Sudden onset of anxiety or fear; Shaking and trembling; Sweating; Dry mouth; Increased heart rate or heart palpitations; Difficulty breathing, including hyperventilating; Chest pain; Fear of losing control.

#10

An Entire Street Submerged In The Deep

#11

British Underwater Photographer Of The Year Winner 2022

#12

Underwater Waterfall

#13

Beach Weather Is Upon Us!

The causes of specific phobias, including thalassophobia, are not entirely understood, and often differ from case to case. But according to a common explanation, it's usually a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

Research shows that certain genes are associated with certain specific phobias, but as of yet no studies have looked at the genetics behind thalassophobia in particular. However, following the Darwinian theory of evolution, there should still be at least some.

#14

The Image That Started It All

#15

Because All My Friends Say This Photo Of Me Freediving Gives Them The Willies

#16

"Uhhhh, There's More Than Just Kelp And Angelfish Down Here, Over"

#17

Taken Off The Coast Of Southern California 2 Weeks Ago

Think of it like this: our ancestors also came across deep bodies of water, and those who were cautious of the dangers they possessed may have avoided them, living longer to pass down their genes. This theory is supported by research that indicates that specific phobias are moderately heritable.

Although the exact percentage can vary, it has been found, for example, that for animal phobias, heritability is around 45%.

#18

A Howling Abyss

#19

Storm Coming Soon

#20

Deep Water Swell

#21

Swimming Next To A Ship In The Open Ocean, Miles From Land

Thalassophobia could also be caused by traumatic events, such as a childhood near-drowning experience, witnessing a shark attack, never learning to swim, or even being told scary stories of the ocean.

By associating a specific situation, such as being in deep water, with a panic response, over time a phobia of that situation can develop.

#22

The Pacific Ocean

#23

Guadalupe Island, The Most Terrifying Place On This Planet

#24

Depth: Infinite Ft

#25

Walked About 30 Minutes Out During Low Tide To Read This!

Phobias are chronic conditions that can worsen over the course of life and limit one's relationships and activities. The good thing is that they are also highly treatable, although the process isn't always pleasant.

But only about 10-25% of people with a specific phobia ultimately seek help. This is likely due to avoidance behaviors, since treating a specific phobia does often involve confronting the feared stimuli.

#26

An Abandoned, Flooded Mineshaft

#27

A Diver Riding A Giant Underwater Worm (Pyrosoma Atlanticum)

#28

Flip (Floating Instrument Platform), A Ship Flipping Vertically To Study The Behavior Of Sound Waves Underwater

#29

There’s Something Particularly Terrifying About The Idea Of Water You Can’t Even Float In

Exposure therapy is a popular and effective choice for treating specific phobias, including fear of the sea. During it, a person faces their feared stimuli in increasing levels of intensity.

For someone with thalassophobia, this might start with looking at photos of the sea on this subreddit, escalate to watching videos of the ocean or deep water, then visiting a big pool and taking a trip to the ocean. Through controlled exposure, the person learns that the feared stimulus itself is not dangerous, and they can begin to associate it with more positive outcomes.

#30

The Eye Of S(E)auron.

#31

That’s Creepy

#32

Taken From A Fishing Boat In Antartica

#33

Could That Be The Megalodon's Den?

#34

This Is An Under-Ice Observation Tube In Mcmurdo Station, Antarctica

#35

Jacob's Well In Texas

#36

Apparently This Is The Sunken Goddess Sculpture- That’s All I Know But Look At How Big It Is!

#37

This Grounded Ship Looking Like A Giant Meg

#38

Whirlpools Are Actually Terrifying, You Guys

#39

Going Through Old Pics, Thought I Would Drop This Here

#40

Anybody Who Wants To Take A Dip?

#41

Black Lined Pools Are A Thing… And They’re Terrifying

#42

It's A Nice Peaceful Day Until You Get A Glimpse Of What Lies Beneath

#43

The Bottom Of An Iceberg

#44

Underwater Path. Magical Zakynthos Caves, Greece

#45

Fresh Water Always Creeped Me Out More Than The Ocean. The General Low Visibility And Feeling "Enclosed" With Whatever Was In The Water Was Always Gnawing At The Back Of My Mind.

#46

Holy Sh I Didn't Know That'd Trigger Me

#47

Row Row Row Your Boat

#48

Found This Gem On Tumblr

#49

Within The Waves

#50

Brine Pools Are Just The Scariest Shit

#51

This Would Scare Me Tf Out

#52

A Warning Sign For Scuba Divers Deep Underwater

#53

That Last Point Made Me Double Take

#54

Would You Retrieve The Broom?

#55

Could You Live Like This?

#56

That Is A Boat

#57

Who Knows What's Down There...

#58

When You Can’t Find It But It’s Right Under The Boat

#59

Thought You Guys Might Like/Hate This Picture I Captured On My Drone

#60

Digital Painting By My Son Illustrating Thalassophobia

#61

Suddenly, Out Of The Shadows

#62

The Depths Of A Yellowstone Hot Spring

#63

Two Tiny Boats Floating Over An Underwater Cliff

#64

Naval Mine Found In Diving Trip

#65

You’re Off The Edge Of The Map Mate… Here There Be Monsters

#66

This Window In A Local Library That Goes Into A Creek

#67

Literally A River, Under The Sea. Feeling Like Doubling Down On Your Thalassophobia?

#68

Beneath The Lily Pads

#69

In The Dark Of The Ocean

#70

Not Sure How Deep This Goes, But This Is Terrifying

#71

Who Knows Why People Do These Things

#72

Lighthouse In Portugal. This Is The Time Of The Year That The Waves Are Massive. Not On My Bucket List!!!

#73

Gliese 1214 B Is A Planet Located 48 Light Years Away From The Sun. It Is Believed To Be 100% Ocean, Giving It The Nickname “The Waterworld”

#74

This 200ft Deep Cenote I Swam In In Mexico

#75

Cleveland Ledge Lighthouse, Falmouth, Massachusetts

#76

I Don’t Want To Know Where Those Holes Lead To

#77

Buoy Blues, By Me

#78

I Can't Stop Thinking About Whether It's Deeper Than The Height Of The Cave Walls

#79

Well From 7000 Bc Preserved By Rising Sea Levels, At Atlit-Yam, Cyprus

#80

Thalassophobia Can Be Lifesaving!

#81

My Brother Sent Me This Picture Of Him At Work

#82

What Do You Think About Eating At This Restaurant In Norway?

#83

Nice And Calm Until You See The Murky Depths

#84

Surfing In Thick Fog

#85

This Photo From Time's Top 100 Photos Of 2021

#86

A Quick Guide On What Thalassophobia Actually Is, By Me

#87

Seeing The Glacier Underwater Scares The S**t Out Of Me

#88

I Absolutely Hate This

#89

Here's A Picture Of Me Sitting On A Tree Branch 120ft Deep In A Sinkhole

#90

A Photo Of A Diver Exploring The Underside Of An Iceberg In Antarctica By Jill Heinerth. Apparently, They Went Inside A Cave In This Giant Iceberg. I Couldn't Imagine "Cave" Diving Inside An Iceberg That Floats In Nearly Black Water

#91

Asked An A. I. To Interpret Thalassophobia

#92

I Don't Know If Ocean Whirlpools Are Fictional, But Damn

#93

An Average 1,700 Containers Are Lost Overboard Every Year. Most Of Them Don't Sink, But Instead Hide Just Below The Surface, Held Up By Trapped Pockets Of Air. Without Radar, There's Nothing You Can Do If You're Going To Hit One At Night Except Pray It Doesn't Sink You.

#94

Where I Live There Is A Lake Created By A Meteor Which Is 115 Meters Deep. This Is A Photo Our Free Press Released Of It. Not A Fan

#95

Imagine You’re All Alone In The Fog, Get Stuck Fast And Hear The Siren

#96

A Popular Tourist Destination: Long Island, Bahamas Sinkhole.

#97

I Still Don't Understand Why I Find This Image Terrifying

#98

It's So Weird Knowing The Hoover Dam Is This Deep. The White Line Is Where The Water Usually Is

#99

Ladder To Lower Cave System, Cascade Caverns

#100

Serbian Combat Diver

#101

My Wife Easing My Mil Closer To The Water After She Saw The Ocean For The First Time In 10 Years And It Made Her Feel “Dizzy”

#102

Figurehead Of 500-Year-Old Wreck Is A Sea Monster Swallowing A Screaming Man

#103

That Drop Off Though

#104

This Picture I Took From Below The Diving Pier In A Lake Looks Very Eerie

#105

I Finally Found This Particular Image. Something About Pools Gets Me Too

#106

Hey Frank..did You Hear A Cracking Sound?

#107

I'm Surprised This Wasn't Posted Here Yet, Have Fun S**tting Yourself

#108

Hit An Eerie Patch Of Calm About 20 Miles From The Mainland. Just Flat And Deep In All Directions

#109

This Photo I Took After The Recent Floods In Australia

#110

A Scuba Diver Proceeding Into An Underwater Cave

#111

An Abandoned Observation Tower At Coral Island, Nassau, Bahamas

#112

Bahahha *loses Consciousness*

#113

I Was Having So Much Fun I Forgot How Far From Our Airbnb Island I Wandered

#114

This Is Me In Gavdos, Greece On The Southernmost Point Of Europe. Across The See Is Libya And Nothing Else Between

#115

"That Is Not Dead Which Can Eternal Lie" - Ussr, Circa 1970s. A Large Monument Of Lenin, Sunk In The Black Sea After The Dissolution Of The Soviet Union

#116

Waves Of Nazare, Portugal

#117

Into The Mist

#118

Cruise Ship Mts Oceanos Sinks Off The Coast Of South Africa, 4 August 1991

#119

Dean’s Blue Hole

#120

Have A Seat, Stay Awhile

#121

Uss Olympia... This Photo Makes Me Really Uncomfortable

#122

These Steps From A Boardwalk Into The Atlantic Ocean

#123

This Buoy Bobs On 20 Feet/6m Swells In The Bering Sea Waters Of Alaska - Photo By Corey Arnold

#124

Cave Divers In An Underwater Cave Near The Yucatan Peninsula By Daniel Riordan-Araujo

#125

An A. I. Generated Image Using The Keyword Thalassophobia

#126

Cool Image Of Just How Big Boats Are!

#127

This Would Be Seen From The Diver's Pov

#128

Who Wants To Drive It Like This

#129

Automatically Made Me Think Of The Ningen

#130

Just Trying To Trigger Myself In Photoshop

#131

This Massive Capsizing Ship (Mv Princess) Is Easily Obscured Under What Is Barely The Very Surface Of The Ocean Depths

#132

Creaks Are The Cries Of A Vessel Claimed By The Sea

#133

Last Freedive Trip - Does This Give Anyone The Chills?

#134

I Took A Photo Of The Caribbean Sea

#135

This Image Posted By Reef On Instagram

#136

The Stairs To My Nightmares

#137

The Arch Of The Blue Hole In Egypt Which Has Claimed The Lives Of An Estimated 130 People From 1997-2012

#138

Me Drifting In The Sea While A Storm Is Approaching Quickly

#139

Taiwanese Athletes In Aida Diving Competition

#140

80.5000 S, 94.0000 W By Alex Konstad

#141

“Oil Rocks” (“The Soviet Atlantis”) Is An Industrial Settlement Consisting Of Platforms Built On The Caspian Sea, 40 Km From The Nearest Coast Of Azerbaijan. The City Is Home To 2000 People Today

#142

Lights 'Cross Open Sea

Original link
Original author: Laurinavičius,

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