Aquaphobia is an extreme fear of water. It causes a person to feel intense fear and anxiety, making them unable to go near water. This fear can be triggered by any water source, including swimming pools, lakes, the ocean, bathtubs, bathtubs, waves, beaches, and even the deep sea. Each person will have a different intensity of fear, so the symptoms will differ.

Some are afraid of going into the water, but others are afraid just by looking at a large pool of water. Sometimes, the condition goes further than that, for example, fear of being splashed or sprayed with water. Aquaphobia is different from hydrophobia and thalassophobia. Hydrophobia is a fear of water that occurs in the later stages of rabies, while thalassophobia is a fear of the ocean. 

Symptoms

Aquaphobia is closely associated with water from any source and does not recognize its volume. This is because it is not the source or amount that is the trigger, but the water itself that creates fear and anxiety in the sufferer. Common symptoms of aquaphobia are as follows:

• Anxiety, panic, and fear at the mere thought of or once in water

• Avoiding water as much as possible, even to the point of experiencing anticipatory anxiety days or weeks before encountering water

• Relentless to overwhelming fear of being exposed to water

• Realizing that the fear of water is disproportionate to the actual threat

• Physical symptoms such as increased heart rate, difficulty breathing, trembling, sweating, nausea, dizziness, and even fainting

Fear and anxiety can arise not only when near water, but also when thinking about it

Causes

Aquaphobia is often linked to previous traumatic experiences. For example, a near drowning experience, a shipwreck, or poor swimming lessons. This fear generally begins to develop in childhood. On the other hand, specific phobias can also be genetically inherited, especially when a family member has a mental health condition.

Diagnosis

There is no specific diagnosis for aquaphobia, but doctors will confirm this fear of water as a specific phobia. To get it, one must at least experience the previously mentioned symptoms for 6 consecutive months. In addition, other conditions related to mental health must also be ruled out, such as OCD, panic disorder, or PTSD.

Treatment

Specific phobias, including aquaphobia, are treated through psychotherapy, most commonly cognitive behavioral therapy (changing negative thought patterns to positive ones) and exposure therapy (repeated exposure to water). Both of these methods will help a person to develop coping strategies. Treatment can also be combined with self-care at home, such as:

• Increasing physical activity

• Yoga

• Meditation

• Deep breathing exercises

• Taking prescribed medications (but not recommended for the long term)

Aquaphobia is treated with the help of cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy

Aquaphobia is an overwhelming fear of water, where each person may experience different levels of anxiety, ranging from mild to severe. Fear can arise not only when faced with water, but also when thinking about it. Fear of looking at deep water may be normal, but if it includes fear of looking at water in the bathtub, see a healthcare professional immediately!

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