Bathophobia - The Fear of Depth

What Is Bathophobia? Bathophobia is an overwhelming, irrational fear of depth. The bathophobic person may be intensely fearful of long hallways and more obviously, deep bodies of water such as oceans and lakes. Some individuals may be so severely compromised by this phobia, that they become anxious near swimming pools.

Bathophobia derives from the Greek word "bathos", meaning depth and "phobos" meaning fear.

What Causes Bathophobia?

As is the case with all phobias, the person coping with Bathophobia has experienced a trauma at some point in their life. That traumatic experience is then consistently and automatically associated with depth.

The bathophobic individual may have had some type of accident in or near deep water. Perhaps this person has personal knowledge of someone else who has drowned. Maybe the person suffering with Bathophobia never learned to swim. Perhaps, as a child, this individual watched others react in a fearful and negative way around any depth. In this example, the person would have eventually learned to imitate the response of others.

Whatever the cause, the bathophobic person can experience anxiety and emotional turmoil that is completely disruptive to their ability to function on a daily basis.

What Are the Symptoms Of Bathophobia?

The symptoms of Bathophobia are individual and will vary from person to person. Some people, when confronted with their fear of depth, may begin to perspire, feel slightly uncomfortable or become nauseated. At the opposite end of the spectrum, other people are so severely compromised by this phobia, that they may experience paralyzing anxiety and/or panic attacks.

Other symptoms of Bathophobia may include:

* A Dry Mouth

* Heightened Senses

* Breathlessness

* Feeling Dizzy

* Muscle Tension

* Hyperventilation

* Trembling

* Rapid Heartbeat

* Feeling Out of Control

* Feeling Trapped and Unable to Escape

* Intense Feeling of Impending Disaster

How Is Bathophobia Diagnosed?

The vast majority of cases of Bathophobia are self-diagnosed. The individual realizes that their fear of depth is irrational and is severely compromising their ability to function on a daily basis.

The bathophobic person may discuss their phobia with the primary physician. Rarely would the doctor diagnosis Bathophobia based on that initial discussion with the patient. More routinely, after ruling out any medical reason for this phobia, the doctor will refer the person to a mental health professional for comprehensive assessment and evaluation.

How Is Bathophobia Treated?

When the fear of depth becomes intense enough to disrupt an individual's ability to function, there are a number of ways to treat Bathophobia.

These can include:

* A referral from the primary physician to a therapist who specializes in the treatment of phobias.

* Traditional "talk" therapy that will teach the person to recognize and control their phobia.

* Hypnotherapy.

* Exposure Therapy.

* Self-help techniques such as progressive muscle relaxation.

* Support groups with other people who are coping with this specific phobia.

* Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or Desensitization Therapy.

* Relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and visualization.

* In severe cases of Bathophobia, anti-anxiety medication can be prescribed.

Bathophobia is an intense, irrational fear of depth. Sometimes that fear can become so overwhelming as to completely stop a person's ability to function on a daily basis. Unchecked, Bathophobia can become a debilitating condition that interferes with an individual's personal life, their social life and their job responsibilities. Untreated, Bathophobia can impact every aspect of a person's life.