What Is Bathophobia? Understanding the Fear of Deep Water

Bathophobia: Every person has fear or apprehension about something or the other. In such a situation, fear of a particular kind of thing is considered a kind of mental disorder. It is known as phobia in medical science. There are many types of phobias, such as fear of heights, fear of drowning in water, fear of the depths of water, etc.

Similarly, people who are afraid of deep things are known as Bathophobia. However, other research work is being done on this condition. In Bathophobia, a person is afraid of depth or deep places.

What is Bathophobia?

Bathophobia is an abnormal and extreme fear of depth. This phobia can make a person extremely afraid of looking into a deep trench, deep water, or looking down from a height. This fear can arise not only from real depth but also from the mere imagination of an imaginary depth or a deep place.

Symptoms of Bathophobia:

The symptoms of bathophobia can affect both the mental and physical condition of a person. These symptoms can range from mild to severe and depend on the individual.

Mental symptoms:

Extreme fear and anxiety on thinking about places related to depth.
Fear on seeing the picture of a deep trench, deep water, or deep valleys.
Try to avoid the possibility of going to a deep place.
Panic attacks start just by imagining standing in a deep place.

Physical symptoms:

Rapid heartbeat.
Sweating.
Difficulty in breathing.
Tirm or weakness in the body.
Dizziness.
Nausea or stomach cramps.
Hands and feet become cold.

Behavioral symptoms:

Extreme caution to avoid deep places.
Before going to a place, find out its depth.
Also, avoid discussing topics related to depth.

Causes of Bathophobia -

There can be many reasons behind bathophobia. It is usually caused by childhood experiences, mental health conditions, and genetic reasons.

Childhood trauma:

If a person has fallen into deep water or experienced being trapped in a deep trench in childhood, then that experience can cause bathophobia. Any scary experience related to depth, such as the danger of drowning, can also lead to this phobia.

Learning the habits of family members:

If a child has seen his parents or other family members being afraid of depth, then he can learn this fear. Apart from this, negative stories related to depth among society or friends can also affect the person.

Genetic causes:

Some people have more sensitivity to fear, which may be related to their brain functions. If a family member has a phobia, the next generation is more likely to have the phobia.

Mental health problems:

If a person already has anxiety or depression, the risk of developing bathophobia may be higher.