Discover how to overcome the fear of sharks

Galeophobia or selachophobia - the fear of sharks - is one of the most common phobias related to the ocean. As one of the world’s mightiest predators, most humans are scared of these animals. Do you know how you can overcome an irrational fear for sharks? 

If you are in the ocean and suddenly start hearing iconic Jaws theme music, there are chances a shark is around. The great white shark is the strongest fish on Earth: it has up to 300 razor-sharp teeth, scary eyes and can jump up to 15 feet (4.5m) to catch their prey at full propulsion. 

However, they are not at the top of the oceanic food chain. This role belongs to the orca, also known as the killer whale. The orca is, nonetheless, a marine mammal and not a fish. The notorious reputation of sharks has been fueled by several misconceptions and false assumptions, most of which have been caused by popular culture. 

Marine phobias

There are different types of phobias that relate to marine life. The less common one is ichthyophobia. This is the fear of being near, touching or even eating fish. This is rare and is not considered a psychological disorder, and it comes from the Greek word “ichthus” which means “fish” and “phobos” meaning “fear.

Aquaphobia and Thalassophobia are commonly miscalled, as both involve the fear of water. While aquaphobia involves the fear of water itself, in the case of thalassophobia it centers on the intense fear of deep bodies of water such as the ocean or the fear of the sea. These seem vast, dark, deep and dangerous, as they are not afraid of the water itself, but what lurks beneath the surface. 

This brings us back to the current fear of discussion: Galeophobia. This is the persistent, uncontrollable fear for sharks. Compared to the fear of small fish, more people are prone to suffer or experience galeophobia, and it could be said it is a less irrational phobia. This is because sharks are potentially dangerous and can (already have) killed humans. 

Symptoms of galeophobia

Although the odds of losing your life in a shark attack are slim, there is a possibility, and this is frightening. People who suffer from galeophobia or selachophobia can experience panic attacks, nervousness,  stress, hysteria, stomach ache, chest pain, elevated heart rate, anxiety and nightmares. 

When they see a shark, either on the beach or in an aquarium or on a boat, galeophobes can go through deep mental distress, shortness of breath, trembling, nausea and dizziness. As a common response, they close their eyes, cry, scream and try to run away from the situation. 

This fear of sharks can be so extreme that people have actually fainted or experienced arrhythmia. In some cases, simply referring to the word “shark” can trigger unpleasant emotions and discomfort in these individuals. 

Depiction of sharks in Hollywood

While it is understandable that people fear sharks, they can avoid swimming in the ocean or even swimming pools, meaning it could affect their social life. Hollywood movies like “Jaws” (1975), “Deep Blue Sea” (1999), “Open Water” (2004), “The Shallows” (2016 and “47 Meters Down” (2017) have boosted our imagination and dark fears for the oceanic predator. 

These depict sharks as ruthless, merciless, cold-blooded marine predators that attack everything that gets on their way. The film industry has portrayed sharks as violent and bloodthirsty, as if they obsessively chased human prey for a tastier snack. 

How to overcome and treat the fear of sharks?

One of the best ways to treat galeophobia/selachophobia is with exposure therapy. This means you will have to face and meet these sea creatures yourself. In some water parks, there is the option to swim with sharks without getting any body part nibbled on. This is a great opportunity to slowly overcome the fear of sharks. 

Depending on the individual’s level of galeophobia, people can at first start from behind the glass in an aquarium and end up shark cage diving. After all, fear is a construction of the mind and changing your conduct towards certain things can help you change your thoughts about it (according to cognitive behavioral therapy CBT practices). 

Moreover, shark phobia can be treated by psychoanalysis, hypnotherapy or having open conversations with a practitioner. In the case of children, they might have mild symptoms of galeophobia and then lose these fears and fall in love with this animal years later. 

In other situations, there is a natural trigger to this fear. This happens when there has been a traumatic event involving this predator. Here, an extreme response to the presence, reference or thought of a shark is a natural reaction of our bodies towards danger. 

However, if this is not the case, there is a chance we might instinctively be overestimating danger to increase our chances of survival. Sometimes, this can be disproportionate to the threat. 

Therefore, if you feel like you, a family member or friend have a fear of sharks that lasts longer than six months and it interferes with your daily life, we recommend you visit mental health professionals for a diagnosis.  

This video from National Geographic studies where our fear of sharks originates from: