Aquaphobia: A Highly Common Phobic Disorder Among Humans

Aquaphobia, which can be defined as the fear of water in its simplest form, is an inconvenience that cannot be taken lightly.

Aquaphobia is simply the fear of water. It is a phobic disorder that is quite common among humans. It should not be confused with hydrophobia that induces water avoidance responses after rabies.
What are the symptoms of aquaphobia?
Facing with water creates intense fear and anxiety in an aquaphobic person. this mood can be from a small amount of water like in a sink or from a large body of water such as the sea or the ocean. that is, it is not the amount of water that causes phobia. It is water itself that creates fear and anxiety. Aquaphobia, like other phobias, is an unreasonable, excessive and phobic disorder that affects the person for long periods of time. Aquaphobia can also affect general health as it can keep a person away from hygiene tasks such as bathing and cleaning.
Some of the more common symptoms of aquafobin include:
an instant feeling of intense fear, anxiety, and panic when thinking about water
a persistent, excessive or irrational fear of exposure to water
* acknowledging that the fear of water is not proportional to the real threat
* avoiding water
*sweating
increased heart rate
difficulty breathing
chest compression
*nausea
dizziness or fainting
What causes aquaphobia?
The causes of not only aquaphobia but also other specific phobias are unclear. However, there is some evidence and studies that phobias can be genetically inherited. If you have a family member suffering from anxiety or phobic disorders, you may also be at risk of developing a phobia.
Aquaphobia is usually caused by traumatic experiences related to drowning in childhood. it can also be the result of other negative experiences. these typically begin and progress during childhood. Sometimes the person may react phobic to even spraying water.
It is also agreed that some changes in brain function can also develop certain phobias in people.

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.

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