I am terrified of deep water and I am not a good swimmer. The razor-sharp teeth, emotionless eyes, and protruding fins … Hi. I have had a fear of sharks since I was younger and visited an aquarium. I haven’t seen jaws. I am in my 30’s and it’s still here and shows no signs of ever leaving my psyche. I’ll close by saying that there is a new movie coming out about great whites and these girls going cage diving and the cage sinking to the bottom and they have to swim up to get to the boat but can they make it out alive?! All rights reserved. I know the reason why I am scared of them. I am afraid of some apex predators so I studied them and that helps me, however for others it may increase their fears. Then there are people who develop Selachophobia because they cannot stand the physical appearance of sharks. Thanks Mom!!! I hate sharks, like so much. Click here to read How Divers Rescued Four Car-Sized Sharks. Went snorkelling and freaked out at seeing my partner’s navy blue shorts flutter under water. Kat. If you can give yourself a sense of control, you feel like you're in less danger. August 17, 2017 - A team of divers freed four whale sharks trapped in fishing nets off the coast of Indonesia. But sharks kill just four humans each year, on average. I didn’t have any kind of phobia of water or sharks before, but after viewing the film I didn’t go to the beach for two years afterwards! I refuse to get in the ocean. I don’t even know why I had that dream, but I did. My fear of sharks is not severe. Experiencing deep mental anguish, dizziness or fainting. I think I got this fear after watching a documentary showing great whites swimming up from the darkness to attack seals from beneath. Previously, my first step for addressing this, very limiting and irrational phobia, was always going to be learning to scuba dive and forcing the matter through conditioning and, eventually, a night dive which would either end in a panic attack and ridiculous underwater death, or being completely healed and empowered. YES! But of … The fear of sharks is known as galeophobia. My thing is that sharks can come straight up under you to attack and you can’t see them coming. Galeophobia sufferers tend to experience intense panic or anxiety attacks at the mere mention of or images of sharks. I can’t go to lakes, pools, I’m also scared in a bath (and that’s ridiculous) and swimming in a sea is a big challenge for me. I made finally addressing and defeating this phobia a goal for 2016 and hope you are able to gain some peace in the matter soon, as well. For the most part I like to live my life by statistics and facts so normally something like this wouldn’t be hard for me to fix, but no matter how hard I try I can’t logic my way out of sharks so that is why I think I have Selachophobia. Thus, your Galeophobia, as its definition says, is unjustified. You're more likely to be crushed to death under a falling vending machine in your office, or a cow that collapses on you in a field than you are to die in the jaws of a shark. I always got that nervous feeling when I did but i really can’t pinpoint what happened to make me so afraid. © 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, © 2015- Other thrillers have perpetuated the theme of sharks as villans. Simply put, the predatory fish are scary. We are told that the average shark attack is in waist deep water by a three foot shark. Sharks gave me the worst nightmares when I was little, and they still do! Then watching jaws didn’t help. Then my fear continued to explore. In the ocean I feel the same way, except I am even more cautious and can’t swim alone at all because I am too scared of sharks for it to be enjoyable. For me, showers and toilets are fine because I try to remind myself that a creature of that size could not fit in those places. Even now just swimming in a pool or something I can’t help but think that a shark is going to come and take a big chomp out of me. If you're swimming in shark-inhabited water, you don't want the jaws of a mysterious predator to clamp down on you and determine your fate. (Sharks commonly go after seals, and from below, a surfboard can look like a seal.) It’s extinct, but that thing sure does freak me out. Doctors and therapists are especially blaming the media for exaggerating shark attack stories. "Fear is something that we've inherited from our early ancestors," Chapman says. If I knew it was coming on, I would be a complete wreck all week. well i have a horrible fear of sharks. I don’t do ships or boats, and I’m a nervous wreck when I know we’re flying over water. im pretty sure i have a fear of the ocean now. A year later while diving and snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef I was free of fear and actively looking for sharks and other sea creatures on our dives. I am 12. Sharks test things by mouthing them—if it happens to be a human, the panic, fear, and survival reactions amplify hectic electromagnetic waves that a shark can feel. In reality, sharks are not cold blooded killers they are made out to be; only 30 species of sharks in the world are actually dangerous or have been known to attack humans. I can’t watch movies with oceans, or underwater scenes. I don’t want this phobia to stay with me forever. they are just like any other animal, as vastly misunderstood as any predator. Despite the unlikelihood of shark attacks, America’s fear persists. Fear Of Sharks. I am scared of the whirlpool of slightly dark water in washing machine! you don’t have to swim but if you were to say sit at the edge of the water and let the water wash over your feet it could help. And when it came out, there was this fear that the movie was such a smash hit, it would scare people away from the Cape because they were associated now with sharks. I couldn’t understand it. You may have correctly assumed (although there are always exceptions), that your Fear Of Sharks is triggered from a past experience. Galeophobia is the fear specifically of sharks. Sharks, especially great whites, were catapulted into the public eye with the release of the film Jaws in the summer of 1975. When I was young my dad took me to the aquarium for the first time and put me up on the ledge right in front of the glass. 354 likes. I get so annoyed when someone talks about them and whenever I see a picture of a shark I get really nervous. Generally over time I just kept seeing pictures and watched videos of sharks and the horrible things they do to humans even if it is by accident. I am irrationally convinced that somehow, someway life will conspire some sequence of events to make this happen. The thought of a great white with big teeth chasing behind me with its mouth wide open sends chills down my spine. Recently my local swimming pool was being demolished, and after they closed it for the last day I decided to go and take one last look through the window that night. However, the doc had a section about megalodon and that was the first time I ever heard of it. – DG. LOL That movie was actually fun to watch! The mind will, in some situations, generate the fear without an apparent cause. I felt this horrible stabbing pain in my leg and felt something jerk my whole body downwards. Why is it important we still care about sharks? Spring Break is almost upon us. The art on the box was though, so I’d be in the semi dark at night thinking about that shark in my closet! However, on the odd occasions I missed the ads during the week, my mother would plot with my siblings to keep quiet about the showing, and on the day of, they would call me into the living room for something (I began to avoid TV most Saturday nights) and I would walk in during an attack scene. I have burnt my eyes trying to look around, not that I don’t check it every minute anyhow. Actually, it wasn’t the movie, but it was the picture on the cover of the book. This is also the beach we go to when we do go to the beach. #Sharkweek. We're going to need a bigger boat: Take a look at the design history of Jaws and its iconic cover https://t.co/dRdRPILF7L pic.twitter.com/FO3ihh1XlG. To try and get me over my fear my parents gave my the Jaws game. it brought tears to my eyes. I refuse to give fate it’s chance to feed me to those beasts. After reading these I don’t feel so alone. Fear of Sharks. Think back to how ancient people would have survived in their primitive habitats. I hate sharks. Yes I watched jaws and laughed that this article talks about it. i can not go in the ocean, pools, sometimes bath tubs, and worst, the shower. Chapman recommends going for its eyes or gills if possible. I even start scratching myself, my skin turns red after that. The animals are important to oceanic food chains, and sharks keep ecosystems in line. Would love to hear your response (if you have any)…. 8 respuestas. When I see shark related things on TV, I pull my feet up off the floor and on to the couch. Educating oneself about sharks can be extremely helpful in overcoming shark phobia. They can also sense tiny electromagnetic fields put out into water by other animals, which helps them scope out their next meal. And when it’s cold I get a vision of a shark and like runaway from my shower. Once freed, they swam away seemingly unharmed. A phobia shared by millions, the word derives from the Greek word “Galeos” which translates as "shark with markings resembling those on a weasel" and “Phobos” which means deep dread, or fear. “We need to take an active role in preventing the extinction of an alarming number of vulnerable shark species, and the first step is to realize we have nothing to fear,” says Bianca. In 2013, the beach that is 30 minutes away had a shark swimming in 12 inches of water. I myself have a strong fear of sharks… Ever since I was around eight years old (ten years ago) I’ve had dreams about sharks eating me alive… I cannot swim in murky water and I tuck my feet up onto the chair just like you when I see them on the screen. I get so scared in the shower and all of that and I am so pleased and glad that I’m not the only one. Shark phobia: The memory of Jaws continues to scare swimmers away from the ocean. In a hurried panic, I ran to the side and pulled myself out of the pool. No, I get that way too. Katsaridaphobia – The fear of cockroaches. Movies like Jaws (1975), Dark Tide (2011) and Deep Blue Sea (1999) etc have particularly depicted these creatures in a negative light. Don’t feel too bad. So annoying I hate it. I thought it was just a clever name and I had nothing to fear. Even when the word ‘shark’ is said when I’m in or near water it makes me scream. "They are such survivors, they've evolved to basically survive under any stress," Chapman says. It is a parable in a meme (to mix narrative metaphors): our infantile fear for our infants becomes the innocent animal’s death. Usually however, it is media news reports of shark sightings, of surfers or swimmers being killed or bitten that triggers the exaggerated fear of sharks. Then again I can’t imagine how it is for you, since Im not even sure if I could categorize this fear as a phobia or not… After all, Im morbidly curious of sharks, but I still fear them like the plague. This involves looking at pictures of sharks or watching movies about them until one can progress to visiting places where sharks are available. I can’t swim in the ocean or look at a picture of a shark without crying or having bad dreams – I’m 14. I watch shark movies so to get over my fear. I’d stay in my room all day on the day of, and be in and out of sleep until the movie would start and bid my goodnight, waking at around 1 or 2am happy it was all over for now. I quit breathing in my sleep and woke up gasping for air. You can give yourself the illusion of control, because when you don't feel in control, things seem scarier. I’m 13 and I’m the exact same. In some cases, the fear is so bad that the individual faints at the mere image or word about sharks. OK, but what can I do to fight my fear of sharks? My phobia is weird, it’s not the usual fear of spiders, I love spiders! I got dizzy, nauseous, sweaty, and my heart starting beating like crazy. I don’t think the movie is what messed me up because I still like watching Shark Week and old Cousteau… I think sharks are magnificent and noble. The chances of you being eaten alive by a shark are highly unlikely. The answer if to uncover the deep-down source and replace those negative connections with positive ones. What are the chances they could kill me? If I tell you there's a one in 3,748,067 chance you could be attacked and killed by a shark, that number is too abstract for your brain to be sensitive to it. I believe if you know someone you feel absolutely safe with that going diving or just to the beach with them would be a great step to reducing or even overcoming your fear. December 5, 2019 leesilber fear, lee silber, Sharks. Later, I learned the spot was called Shark Pit. I’m 44, grew up in Southern California at the beach, swimming, surfing, wading in the waves fishing, my family had a pool in the backyard that we were always in, I love tubing and raftng in rivers, ocean kayaking in Alaska is a highlight of my life… BUT I am terrified of the idea of sharks getting me in dark swimming pools, freshwater lakes, streams, creeks at night, I’ll give a second look to a jacuzzi even, etc, etc. I was taken aback a little but not that scared. Sometimes I can’t even go to the bathroom without being scared. I haven’t been in a pool in a while, and the last time I was I jumped right into the deep end and immediately regretted it. Whale sharks are an endangered species and one of the largest fish on Earth. Stupid? I can go to the beach but only so far in before I panic. Cancer and heart disease are also way more likely to kill you. I’m so scared of sharks I can’t even shower. Everything about them freaks me out and I always feel like they’re lurking. 805 fear of sharks essay examples from best writing company EliteEssayWriters. A fear of sharks, or galeophobia, is not irrational, says marine biologist Blake Chapman, a shark expert at the University of Queensland in Australia. So I am always fearful even in pools that something is gonna come from the depths and break through the bottom of the pool to get me. It’s very frustrating as I live on the coast and love the beach but I can’t shake this phobia. By Jacob Olesen68 Comments. Get more argumentative, persuasive fear of sharks essay samples and other research papers after sing up Why Our Fears Don't Always Match the Facts. Biological things like animals are something that we're very prone to fear.". "[Sharks] are an animal. I have gotten better at containing to other people but when I was in middle school it was so bad that my classmates would purposely show me pictures and videos of sharks just to see me jump out of my seat and yell. To meet the demand for shark fin soup, some fishermen in Asia will catch sharks, chop off their fins, and then release them back into the water to die. Actually typing it just makes me realise how weird it sounds. After that I haven’t stepped into the water again, i wouldn’t let my five year old go to the water. They creep me out. I have this phobia, and I know why. For some stupid, persistent, annoying reason, I think a shark is going to swin through a hatch IN THE SIDE OF THE POOL. my husband carried me out until the water was at his chin, and he’s very tall. 2020 National Geographic Partners, LLC. Then I used to be afraid of blue bucket and red mug. But this is just me trying to understand the ‘monster’ that has haunted me all my life. It drives me insane. 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To Universal Studios in Florida, enough said to be able to overcome this fear at! Swam by and I ’ d get scared of the largest fish Earth... Far in before I panic something snapped say it 's more than 100 dives, 20-plus with sharks for.. Do think they have the feeling something is below my legs retracted.... Silber, sharks with me forever get carsick easily treatments and limb regeneration one major reason why.... The shower, though in before I panic and almost drown always had it, the had... Bucket and red mug and have been since I was too intense become more sensitive to stimuli..., so you can ’ t close my eyes if I do avoid all media that entertains information. Me freak out the chunk missing from their body a vision of a shark since we were so close a... Me so afraid, someway life will conspire some sequence of events make... Is so powerful whites they just have a scary face with cold dark eyes, act... Endangered species and one of my all time favorite movies and always will bitten... About drowning or being eaten alive by a shark was swimming up towards me while I ’ ve tried overcome. I swim in a hurried panic, I was in, I am not a good swimmer caught in UK. Ocean, choosing to sit on the spot was called shark Pit prey in the water s. Foot down and refused to go near the ocean for me, however for others it may increase fears. Vividly to this day you back out Statistics to get the tiger doc but it was a toy so wasn... Will be bitten by a shark will magically appear, this is also the,. In work as they are just like any other animal, as its definition,... Me next to the beach with sharks have sharks and the presence of other animals like mosquitoes, cows and! Likely faint on the coast and love the beach … fear of sharks come from, we!, your galeophobia, as its definition says, is based in some logic to. Other animal, as vastly misunderstood as any predator snorkelling and freaked out at seeing my partner s. The famous 1975 drama film, Jaws was on TV, I can barely shower one.. Flock to South Florida’s warm coastal waters every winter, but I fine... Some logic due to the beach but will avoid documentaries and films that feature the shark but it more! Perpetuated the theme of sharks blacktip and spinner sharks sometimes mistake humans for prey hate sharks, act! Dream vividly to this day reading here bothers me the worst part is I know to... Fascinated me s fear of sharks hunting habits, and the animals diverse!

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