Ocean Breeze (bxb)-On Hold

0.1 - Thalassophobia

I've learned that
People will forget what you said,
People will forget what you did,
But people will never forget
How you made them feel.

-Maya Angelou

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SPENCER

Right now I was in my art A-level class, might I add one of the best classes ever. That is most probably because I'm really good at art, especially when I'm painting the ocean at sunset, it is the most beautiful scene ever, the way the sun hits the water ever so lightly and makes it reflect off, just making the perfect lighting for a photo.

The bell - indicating that class was over - had just rung.

My only friend (Josh) was waiting outside my class for me "hey, do you maybe wanna go to the beach,"

"I'm not really sure, this week has dragged on so long, I kinda really want to sleep,"

"Come on, you know you really want to paint another sunset by the ocean,"

"Ugh fine I'll come, but I'm not going anywhere near the water okay"

"Okay!"

With that, I and josh head out of school and started our five minute Trek to the beach. We were talking about everything and anything and I learned that he's had two different girlfriends throughout this week, someone's a player.

We had finally made it to the beach and obviously, Josh was already in his swimming trunks. Even though I can go to the beach it doesn't mean that I'm okay every time I go there I have to deal with a racing heart, rapid breathing, sweating, nausea, short breaths, feeling lightheaded, dizziness, and a feeling of knowing that something life-threatening or tragic is about to occur. It's the worst thing in the world but I can cope because it's not as bad as it was when I was six.

I had walked in the middle of the ocean and the other end of the beach "Hey, can you look after my top whilst I go in the water?" I just nodded in response to him, and get my sketchbook out my bag.

I was not even ten minutes into my peaceful and carefree world of drawing when I heard and loud microphone or megaphone say something along the lines of :

'Hello and welcome to the first annual surfing competition of 2019'

So that means I'm going to be stuck here listening to that till josh gets back, because, one I have his bag, and two it has his phone in it 'great' I thought to my self.

After about an hour of me just sitting there I had finished my art a while back, the tied was starting to come in, so I had to move back a bit because I hate the water I know hate is a strong word but it's the right word cause to be honest with you I have thalassophobia not everyone knows that, I try to keep it to my self.

The only people that know I have thalassophobia is my family and josh.

You are most probably wondering what thalassophobia is well it's a type of mental disorder and it means it's a specific phobia that involves a persistent and intense fear of deep bodies of water such as the ocean or sea. What makes this phobia different than aquaphobia, the fear of water? Well, aquaphobia involves a fear of water itself, thalassophobia centres on bodies of water that seem vast, dark, deep, and dangerous. People are not afraid of the water so much as they are afraid of what lurks beneath its surface.

So that's petty much it, also the treatment for thalassophobia usually involves some form of behavioural therapy. Exposure therapy, systematic desensitization, and cognitive-behavioural therapy are some of the most common and effective of these approaches.