what is thalassophobia

Thalassophobia is a specific phobia characterized by a persistent and intense fear of deep bodies of water such as the sea, oceans, or lakes. It is often explained as a primal fear, as humans are land mammals and rely on their eyesight to collect food, making the deep sea environment evolutionarily coded into our lives. Thalassophobia can include fear of being in deep bodies of water, fear of the vast emptiness of the sea, fear of sea waves, aquatic creatures, and fear of distance from land. Symptoms of thalassophobia include anxiety, panic attacks, and avoidance behavior. Coping strategies for thalassophobia include exposure therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and relaxation techniques.