ter, such as ones who have grown up in sandy desert areas are more likely to develop Aquaphobia.
In general, people who are very anxious or high-strung all the time are likelier to develop Aquaphobia.
Symptoms of fear of water phobia
People with Aquaphobia tend to display following symptoms:
- They try to avoid water at all costs.
- They might experience anxiety or panic attacks at the thought of facing water.
- Sufferers of Aquaphobia often have poor hygiene as they avoid taking baths for long periods.
- At the sight of water, they start to hyperventilate; have higher blood pressure and heart rate or shallow breathing.
- They might faint or pass out at the sight of water
- Sweating, shaking, crying, trembling and other signs of loss of control are common in Aquaphobic individuals.
The symptoms vary based on the degree and extent of the phobia. Some patients are not even aware of their phobia and their mind unconsciously comes up with creative ways of avoiding water rather than facing embarrassment or experiencing emotional distress.
In many cases of Aquaphobia, individuals do not seek treatment since their daily life is not affected due to it. However, if the fear of water is affecting one’s social and recreational activities then one must find ways to reduce distress and overcome the avoidance of water.
- Exposure therapy is the first line of treatment for treating this phobia. This is of two types: in-vivo or virtual exposure. In either case, the individual is exposed to the fearful environment and learns to ‘unlearn his fear’ of water.
- In combination with exposure therapy, doctors often prescribe certain medications that can help the phobic relearn how to react to fears. SSRIs or selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors can reduce panic attacks. Remember that: drugs do not have lasting effects and might have withdrawal symptoms. Hence, care must be taken to avoid long term use.
No two phobics are the same. Hence treatments for overcoming Aquaphobia are also bound to be different. Thankfully, one has many options and plenty of help is available today provided one seeks it.