Whale Phobia?

Question

I have an extreme phobia of whales. I've seen other people post about them, but nobody has a definite term for the phobia. It also annoys me that people don't understand the fear; just because we haven't encountered one doesn't mean we can't fear them. Some people fear alien invasions, but have they actually seen one? No. What's not to be afraid of regarding whales?? Simply thinking about them makes my heart race. They are MASSIVE. The biggest mammal (animal for that matter) on Earth. How could you not be afraid when you think of something that size? That Helio commerical where the whale swallows the girl makes me panicky. I hate feeling this way! It makes me feel better to know that I'm not alone though. My fiance can't understand either...so is there a definitive term or what?

After reading your answers, I still feel the same. I know I will never encounter a whale in every day life, but that doesn't mean they don't scare me. I am 100 times more afraid of a whale than of any shark; regardless of their nature. The whale's size has a lot to do with my fear; it is hard for me to realize that there is something on the Earth that massive, just floating around. I used to love the ocean as a child, and I still love the beach, but I don't even like to stare out at the far ocean because I am terrified of seeing a whale somewhere out there. I'm not scared that they will eat me, I'm just scared of their existence, if that makes any sense! I guess it's hard to explain, but I'm just genuinely terrified of the fact that something so huge is alive on the planet.

Answer 1

I like whales--- but as I grew up I had a totally hysterical aversion to snakes. I lived in the suburbs of NJ and never came across a snake. Even pictures of snakes in books had to be avoided, or I'd freak out! and I NEVER could visit the reptile house at the zoo... I used to have nightmares about them and run screaming from my bedroom, convinced there really WERE snakes in my bed.
So I do understand where you are coming from...
I think it is due to past life experiences. We seem to be almost born with these particular fears-- and there really is no logical explanation of an event in this lifetime that would cause it.
I eventually had to deal with the snakes because we moved to the country in S CA and I had to save my little kids from a rattlesnake that was coiled and ready to strike. I'd been mopping the kitchen floor--- and the sponge mop was my only 'weapon'. I held the snake down behind the head with the mop and had my kids run away-- then I tried to crush it with the mop--- face averted because I couldn't look at it! I finally realized this was not having a very good effect--- so I flipped the mop, and, screaming all the time, severed its head with the metal part of the mop. (Fortunately it was not a plastic mop!)
I don't recommend you go out and kill a whale, but I surely felt empowered after I'd killed the rattlesnake.
As time went on, I learned to scoop them up with a shovel into a large trash bin with a lid, and then my husband would carry them off and release them in the wilderness. But I did learn to deal with them as simply one more of God's creatures--- But we don't have to cuddle with every single creature, do we???
My son was out paddling in his kayak off the CA coast recently--- suddenly he found himself in the midst of a pod of Grey whales that were surfacing. although he'd never been afraid before, he was more than a little aware of their size and how easy it would be for them to kill him. Fortunately, they were content to just look him over and then go on their way.
Good luck--- either get help for it, or stay out of the ocean. Whales are pretty avoidable, though--- lucky it isn't cats or dogs!

Answer 2

None that I'm aware of. That said you strike me as an extremely articulate intelligent person with a good ability to reason. My question to you is this. What is it about this paticular fear that makes you want to hold on too it so bad? Now wait before you start calling me mean or misguided I'm really not trying to be. I just would like you to step back for a moment and ask yourself are you really doing all you are capable of doing emotionally to rid yourself of this fear? Are you a better person with or without this mental demon? Would there be any circumstance you could think of that would make you take on a whale or be in proximity to one? Use your rational thought now to realize that you have a tremendous advantage over alot of people with different fears than yours because the variables of interaction for yours are very predictable. You will not meet a whale on the freeway or at the store etc. etc. I'm not trying to be flipant just stating an observaton. Why is it that your not afraid of bee's for example, there are plenty of people that are simply because if they are stung they could have an alergic reaction and die from it. Not an imaginary fear but a real life and death possibility. Now tell me how many people do "you" know wheather thru research or personally that have lost their lives to whales? Fear can be a very powerful motivator both good and bad and sometimes it keeps us from living life because we give it the power to limit our lives, because we want to stay alive worse. Truly perhaps the strongest drive in most people is that of self preservation. Please don't be a slave to this fear any longer, the first step in any successful treatment is to admit a problem, which you already have, the next is to want to change it/ do you? and if the answer is yes then you must change the behavior. I believe you can. And I'll bet there are a ton of other people that believe in you too. all the best .

Answer 3

Reading your question has already comforted me, i tried posting questions similar to yours about the actual term for a phobia of whales in a hope i might gain some understanding from my partner and friends, but all i got were silly replies or non at all. Although as someone previously stated there will never be a direct term given until someone financially able or enough of us stand together do so i already have great relief knowing I'm not the only one before i honestly thought i was and tried to beat this fear by exposing myself to it but now its got the the point where i have panic attacks at the strong bow adverts and fantasia cartoon not to mention pinachio etc. I have reasons for why my fear has come about involving childhood experiences of life size whales in museums etc but i still cant seem to fight it. If you find a term or a treatment please let me know i need people in my life to take it more seriously because right now as a teen my peers seem to think its hilarious to post photographs around my home and/or belongings and immediately disregard it Ive copied your question along with others Ive found and emailed them to people so that they can start to realize the seriousness of my extreme phobia....bring on a spider any day! Please keep in touch if you have any revelations

Answer 4

Well, whales phobia is not a problem unless you live in the ocean, you're not a fish, are you ?. But well now some people in the streets look like whales...

Answer 5

I have an unnatural aversion to ingesting anything that is blue, so I made up my own name for this aversion. I call it bluekia!! My nephew, Michael helped me with the name. So, why don't you just make up your own name for this phobia? Maybe it will free you up a little. What about Jonahobia? You will be fine.

Answer 6

there is no definite term no.. kindal iek there was none for spiders till some person with moeny came and patended that... yeah... life sucks like that.. you basicly answered your own question in your description, people dont understand hence why they make it seem stupid or trash it.. liek the kkk aginst jews and african americans... you dont udnerstand your natural human relfect is stand liek you think its demeaning to life in general... ignore others... they cant view things well i supose.

~Quin.