ENG PROJECT ARTICLE ON AQUAPHOBIA

1. Name-Sakshamclass-12throll no-26subject-English(article writing)topic - AQUAphobia

2. AQUAPHOBIA • Introduction and meaning • Difference b/w aquaphobia & hydrophobia • Causes of Aquaphobia • Symptoms of Aquaphobia • Diagnosis & treatment of Aquaphobia

3. INTRODUCTION AND MEANING • The term aquaphobia describes a type of anxiety disorder that involves an intense fear of or aversion to water. A person is said to have aquaphobia if any source of water such as a swimming pool, lake or any other water causes him an excessive amount of anxiety • As with other anxiety disorders, the severity of aquaphobia varies from person to person. Some people may fear deep bodies of water or fast-flowing rivers, while others may fear any body of water, including pools, hot tubs, and bathtubs

4. Sometimes people are often confused with the terms ‘Aquaphobia’ and ‘hydrophobia’. Even though they sound to be very similar yet there is a huge difference between them. AQUAPHOBIA HYDROPHOBIA Whereas hydrophobia is the result of late-stage rabies that spreads from the initial wound through the central nervous system. Human beings typically contract rabies through scratches or bites from rabid animals • A psychological fear of water, aquaphobia, is often the result of a traumatic incident involving water and is not a symptom of rabies. You may fear water after choking on water, nearly drowning, or witnessing someone choke or drown

5. Causes of Aquaphobia • The cause of aquaphobia and other specific phobias remains unknown. However, one trusted theory suggests that phobias develop when a person experiences an emotional event or response while exposed to the object or situation that induces fear or anxiety. • For example, a person may be swimming in the ocean or at a public pool and sustain an injury or witness a person drowning. As a result of this simultaneous exposure, the person may permanently associate water with danger. • Another theory proposes that phobias are learned associations. For example, a person can develop a specific phobia after observing a phobic reaction in another person, such as a parent, sibling, or friend. The person may internalize the other person’s fear reaction and adopt a similar aversion to the object or situation.

6. Symptoms of Aquaphobia • Some symptoms of aquaphobia include: • an immediate sense of fear, anxiety, or panic when thinking about water • an excessive or irrational sense of fear and aversion in the presence of water • an acknowledgment that the fear that is out of proportion to the real threat of water • fear and anxiety in the presence of water that noticeably impacts a person’s ability to socialize or function • a persistent avoidance of water A person with aquaphobia is likely to experience anxiety, fear, or panic when exposed to water. The physical effects of aquaphobia include: • a rapid heartbeat • sweating • chills • shallow breathing • tightness or pain in the chest or throat • trembling or shaking • butterflies in the stomach • a dry mouth • dizziness • nausea • confusion or disorientation

7. Diagnosis of Aquaphobia • Doctors use the new edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) to help them diagnose mental health conditions. • Currently, the DSM-5 doesn’t have a specific diagnosis or category for aquaphobia. Instead, it identifies a fear of water under the diagnosis for specific phobia. • If you suspect you have aquaphobia, make an appointment with your doctor. They’ll be able to refer you to a mental health specialist who can diagnose and treat your phobia. • Based on the criteria from the DSM-5, a mental health specialist will likely diagnose aquaphobia (or a specific phobia) if you have experienced the symptoms listed above for at least six months. • Part of the diagnosis also includes ruling out other mental health conditions, such as: • obsessive-compulsive disorder • post-traumatic stress disorder • panic disorder

8. Treatment of Aquaphobia • Since aquaphobia is considered a specific phobia, it’s treated most commonly with two forms of psychotherapy: exposure therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. • The preferred treatment method is exposure therapy. During this type of therapy, you’ll be repeatedly exposed to the source of the phobia — in this case, water. As you’re exposed to water, your therapist will keep track of your reactions, thoughts, feelings, and sensations in order to help you manage your anxiety. • With cognitive behavioral therapy, you’ll learn to challenge your thoughts and beliefs about your fear of water. As you learn to challenge your fears, you’ll also develop strategies to cope with those thought patterns and beliefs. • In addition to professional treatment, there are also several self-care techniques you can practice at home. Mindfulness-based strategies, daily physical activity, yoga, and deep breathing are all helpful strategies when treating phobias. • In the later stages of treatment, you may decide to work with a specially trained swim instructor who can help you learn to feel comfortable swimming.

9. Summary • Aquaphobia refers to an intense fear of or aversion to water. It is classified as a specific phobia. People often develop specific phobias during childhood. • A person may develop aquaphobia after an emotional or traumatic experience in or near water. It is also possible that a child might internalize an observed phobic response from a parent or caregiver. • However, aquaphobia is highly treatable. Exposure therapy and CBT are effective treatments that help reduce feelings of fear, anxiety, and panic in people with specific phobias

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