Bathophobia (Fear Of Depths): Causes, Symptoms, Complications, And Treatment

Bathophobia can be described as an irrational fear of depth. One may feel the fear of falling into anything which is long, or deep in its visual appearance. Some of the things like a long, dark hallway, a well, a deep pool, or a lake can be frightening for an individual. Bathophobia came from the Greek words bathos which means depth and Phobos which can be roughly translated into fear.

One might get confused between fear and phobia but they both are different in terms of their intensity and effects on an individual life. Fear is a part of a general human emotion that is a crucial part of our lives. Sense of fear actually keeps us away from harmful situations and triggers fight or flight response in emergency cases. Fear works on logical reasoning, we only fear those which can be life-threatening, which is why it is easy to take control over your fear.

On the other hand, a phobia is an elevated version of fear which makes its decisions on the basis of irrational situations. Your fight and flight response gets clouded by an intense sense of fear, which makes it harder to control or manage. While fear can only make you sweat a little, a phobia can make your heart beat faster, and cause serious medical conditions like heart attack, panic attack, etc.

While fear can be a symptom of some underlying medical condition, a phobia is a whole disorder of its own. The thin line which makes fear and phobia different is logical reasoning and thought. Our fear works on logic, however, a phobia is just irrational and doesn’t work in reality. Fear does not hamper your life, it just molds your decisions preventing oneself from harmful situations. However, a phobia will not only mold your decision but also hamper your life.

Summary: When a person shows an abnormal fear of depth then it is termed Bathophobia. People with such a fear often suffer anxiety attacks with the thought of falling or being trapped by the depths.

Bathophobia can be different in each individual case. Here are some of the symptoms that can be seen in an individual suffering from this phobia:

• Anxiety around things that are deep in their composition and nature
• Increased blood pressure
• Intensive fear of depth even if they think about it
• Trembling
• Sweating
• Nausea
• Difficulty in concentrating
• Feelings of being detached from yourself
• Feeling lost or far from reality

Summary: There are several symptoms associated with Bathophobia. These symptoms may include physical changes like increased heart rate and sweating to mental changes like anxiety and panic attacks.

Specific phobias like Bathophobia (Fear Of Depths) develop towards a certain thing or a situation because of several reasons. These can affect your personal and social life in a drastic manner. Often these phobias are developed in an unconscious mind long ago which shows its impact later in life as we grow old or gain more experience. Each situation pushes the fear to your conscious mind.

Resulting in the development of irrational fears or this case bathophobia. Here are some of the reasons why the fear of depth may develop in an individual psyche:

• Genetics compositions that fear depths.
• Cultural or environmental factors are associated with the negative or fearful impressions of depths.
• Exposure to media or supernatural elements causes trauma in an individual mind.
• Physical alterations in your brain cause an imbalance in the functioning of the mind.

Summary: The root cause of such phobias is still unknown. However, some of the factors like environment, past experiences, genetics, etc can be behind this irrational fear of depth.

In the current medical world, there is no specific test or way designed to diagnose the fear of depths. But it can be diagnosed with the old traditional way. Like any other human emotion, phobias can also be diagnosed by talking or having a discussion concentrating on current problems, associated symptoms, and any physical or mental stress you had due to the same. This counseling session also includes your medical, social, and personal history to know the root of the problem.

After identifying the root cause, one may use testings to identify the levels of anxiety, fear, and other forms of human emotions. They might also show some illustrations to identify your trigger points.

Summary: Diagnoses of Bathophobia are done with the help of counseling sessions followed by some basic psychological tests and observation.

Here are some preventive methods that can keep bathophobia at bay:

• Haven a healthy physical and mental health balance.
• Module the fear more positive and encouraging situations.
• Try to face your fear in a safe and comfortable environment.
• Join support groups in order to have personal growth and understanding.

Summary: It is extremely difficult to handle Bathophobia on your own. A complete diagnosis is needed to handle such a phobia. Consult a professional psychiatrist in order to get accurate diagnoses. With the help of an expert, one can prevent bathophobia to a great extent.

If you feel like your fear of depths is controlling over your personal, love, social and professional aspects of life. In that case, contact your trusted psychologist or psychiatrist to know the exact reason behind your unusual behaviors. Especially in the case of children, they might feel confused and act differently than usual. So keep an eye on your children as it can permanently scare their emotional health.

Mental problems such as phobias have an unstable nature. In rare cases, phobias go on their own. But in most cases, one may need professional help to cope and process internal conflicts. So if you find yourself having more than one symptom, consult your trusted mental healthcare professional to have accurate diagnoses.

There are different forms of counseling and therapy that can help an individual cope with its fears of depths. One of the most frequent forms of therapy that is used is counseling or in layman terms talk therapy. Other than that, here is the list of therapies that are used under the treatment of phobias like bathophobia:

• CBT or Cognitive-behavioral therapy allows a patient to have a safe environment to express their feelings and emotions. It includes a healthy conversation between you and the counselor in a safe and private area. This aids better understanding of oneself towards their psyche and fears.

  CBT also focuses on the management of daily life, which includes aspects like how to face your fear, how to be socially more aware of oneself, and how to let out those emotions without any physical or mental damage.

• Exposure therapy - Like its name, this therapy mainly focuses on exposure to your fear in your comfort zone. Your therapist focuses on exposure to different forms of situations without any ignorance or interruption so that the patient can face the situation and overcome his/her feelings.

  It may start with images or verbal situations which escalate to more realistic visuals and then a staged platform that helps you experience real-life depths and heights.

Alongside therapies, your doctor might prescribe some beta-blockers and sedatives to manage the physical symptoms. Especially during sessions, one may feel anxious and panicked, which can result in panic attacks and cardiac arrest if not taken care of.

Summary: Treatments associated with Bathophobia may include counseling, CBT, and medications. These will help you cope with the phobia without any physical damage.

Bathophobia is not associated with any form of food or consumption in general so one can eat anything which is necessary for a healthy human life. However, you can ask your medical professional if any specific intake of consumables will benefit your course of treatment.

Do not consume any form of drugs, alcohol, or nicotine during and even after the course of treatment. It not only can trigger your anxiety but can also develop a serious medical condition due to high blood pressure and confused thoughts.

There are no specific side effects that one can see during the treatment of bathophobia. However, some sedatives can temporarily cause digestive issues which will cover themselves within a day or two. If not, consult your doctor immediately to discuss the alternatives.

Summary: The side effects of the treatment may depend on the type of medication and therapies you are taking from a medical practitioner.

The urgency of medical aid in the case of Bathophobia is situational. In case the patient becomes a threat to oneself or others, then it is an urgent situation. In other cases, one can contact their psychiatrist or counselor as soon as possible.

Summary: It depends upon your current mental situation if you need to seek urgent medical help or not. If a patient is feeling uneasy and the situation is getting worse, then it is the right time to take urgent medical help.

The treatment of the procedure merely depends on each individual case and the method of treatment that has been selected to do so. Therapies can take weeks or months, as they work slowly towards the core of the problem and give an individual the space to deal with it.

Summary: The treatment of the procedure merely depends on each individual case and the method of treatment that has been selected to do so.

Due to a lack of sources, psychological treatments in India can be a bit expensive. Psychological counseling mat starts from as low as INR 500 per hour and can go up to INR 2000 per hour depending on the psychiatrist, and location. Medication and therapeutic sessions may cost your ruffle around 1000 - 5000 per month/ session.

Summary: Psychological counseling may start from as low as INR 500 per hour and can go up to INR 2000 per hour depending on the psychiatrist. Medication-related psychological treatment comes with a moderate price tag.

Bathophobia is not associated with any form of physical exercise. But one can keep a healthy fitness regime in order to maintain adequate physical health. Exercise will help you regulate your heart rate and blood pressure as well as your overall body health.

Summary: There is no specific physical exercise designed in order to cure Bathophobia. But one can keep a healthy fitness regime to stay fit.

Bathophobia is a form of mental disorder that is developed by human emotions only. So there is a high percentage of relapse amongst its patients. However, it can be managed through psychological methods.

Summary: Since Bathophobia is a psychological condition, it can be triggered at any point in time making the treatment partially permanent.

There are no alternatives for phobia treatment. If you are not planning to consult a psychiatrist or take medication then self-control techniques are the best alternatives. One of the best ways to overcome this disorder is to face the fears that trigger your anxiety.

Summary: If you are not planning to consult a psychiatrist or take medication then self-control techniques are the best alternatives.

People who are suffering from Bathophobia are eligible for the treatment. Also, people with the same set of symptoms mentioned above can also consult a psychiatrist for diagnosis and treatment plans.

People who are not suffering from Bathophobia are not eligible for the treatment. Also, people with the different sets of symptoms mentioned above can also consult a psychiatrist for diagnosis and treatment plans.

Here are some of the post-treatment guidelines that one can adopt in order to prevent any relapse:

• Try to face the feared situations be relaxed about it.
• Reach out and talk to your close ones or join a support group.
• Take care of your physical and mental health.
• Try to module the fear into some positive situation.

Summary: Bathophobia is a psychological disorder that can be described as a fear of depths. Bathophobia is a sense of fear one feels when coming near or thinking about depths or certain parameters. It is not necessary that only adults can be afraid, but children are also prone to mental disorders. Bathophobia works on the basis of irrational logic and overpowering thoughts about a particular subject like beauty. One can come out of this very easily with the help of therapy sessions and medication if treated on time.