i've had an irrational fear of sharks ever since i can remember. i dont swim in the beach and i dont go in the pool by myself. i can't see pictures of sharks without having a panic attack or not being able to breathe. and much less see them on tv. ...i really do panic. is there such thing as a shark phobia?
or is it just a normal fear of something?
2006-09-24 16:20:49 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Social Science ➔ Psychology
If you are afraid of going into the ocean in an area there might be sharks, that isn't phobia. If you are afraid of going into a pool, then it is phobia. (in the emotional, unreasonbale sense of course).
You could get treatment.
You could try self-help. for instance I have sometimes found that forcing myself to face my fears helped. How about taking swimming lessons in a pool to start with? Share your phobia with someone and ask them to accompany you? But it must be someone you trust. Sharing a phobia with someone who is untrustworthy could do you a lot of harm.
2006-09-24 17:29:03 · answer #1 · answered by Mr Ed 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds to me like you have a phobia of sharks. A phobia can be of anything. There isn't a set list of things that one can be afraid of and have it be a phobia.
Phobias are usually a result of a traumatic experience with the feared item in childhood. Think hard and I bet you will remember watching Jaws as a kid or something else that scared the crap out of you involving sharks. The way phobias are treated are by exposing the person to the item they are afraid of slowly until they aren't afraid of it anymore. It's not fun but it works.
Hope this clears things up.
2006-09-24 16:31:10 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Galeophobia is the name for it. People have irrational fears of lots of things. You need to know that a shark can not 'get you' unless you are in the water. If it interferes with your life outside of swimming then perhaps you should talk to someone about it. There are many techniques for getting people over their fears.
2006-09-24 16:26:06 · answer #3 · answered by sticky 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course it is!! I feel for you too! Sharks amaze me, I love learning about them, but if I ever get in water that is dark below me and I can't touch my feet to the bottom, whether it be the ocean or a pond, I FREAK out! I once started having a panic attack in the middle of a pond and almost started drowning. Good luck with everything!
2006-09-24 16:30:33 · answer #4 · answered by Muggle 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, you do have a phobia of sharks. Those are signs of you over-reacting over anything shark-related so yes, you do have a phobia of sharks. i hope me saying sharks didnt scare of freak out of u.
2016-03-27 07:56:07 · answer #5 · answered by Sylvia 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes.
Selachophobia Fear of sharks.
2006-09-25 02:05:24 · answer #6 · answered by BookLovr5 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is a name for it but I dont know what it is.
Yes, it is a real kind of phobia.
2006-09-24 16:24:39 · answer #7 · answered by ~~ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. Very real. Go see a good therapist and get some behavior modification done. It really helps.
Good luck!!
2006-09-24 16:31:24 · answer #8 · answered by KR 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it is so severe and consistent that it leads to impairment (social/emotional/occupational,etc.), and constant distress, then it is classified as a phobia and a disorder. if it bothers you so much, you might want to get professional advice.
2006-09-24 21:10:37 · answer #9 · answered by ELI 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a real phobia. It is called Selachophobia.
2006-09-24 16:31:29 · answer #10 · answered by rj e in new york 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋