Aquaphobia, which can be defined as the fear of water in its simplest form, is an inconvenience that cannot be taken lightly.
How is aquaphobia diagnosed?
Currently, there is no specific diagnosis or category for aquaphobia. instead, fear of water is identified under specific phobias. Make an appointment with your doctor if you suspect you have aquaphobia. will refer you to the right specialist who can diagnose and treat your phobia.
Part of the diagnosis primarily involves the exclusion of other health problems such as:
*obsessive compulsive disorder
* traumatic stress disorder
*panic attack
How is aquaphobia treated?
Because aquaphobia is considered a specific phobia, it is most commonly treated with two types of psychotherapy: exposure therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy.
The most preferred treatment method is exposure therapy. During this type of therapy, you are exposed to the source of the phobia repeatedly (in a controlled manner, of course). as the therapist is exposed to water; It will track your reactions, thoughts, feelings, and feelings to help you manage your anxiety.
With cognitive behavioral therapy, you will learn to challenge your thoughts and beliefs about your fear of water. As you learn to challenge your fears, you will develop new strategies to deal with these thought patterns and beliefs.
In addition to professional treatment, there are several personal care techniques that you can practice at home. Activities such as attention-based activities, daily physical activity, yoga and deep breathing are useful strategies in the treatment of phobias.
In the later stages of treatment, you may decide to work with a specially trained instructor who can help you learn even swimming.
Your doctor may also prescribe medications to treat some of the symptoms of anxiety and panic. However, experts say they are not used in the long term. instead, medications are given for initial treatment and against specific symptoms.
what is the long-term outlook?
A treatment plan that includes psychotherapy can help you learn to manage your phobia successfully, with the support of loved ones. One of the most important things should be changing your lifestyle and embarking on new activities.