Huge fear of sharks, what is wrong with me?

Question

I have always been terrified of sharks, When i was younger i even found it hard to wash my hair in the bath because i was scared of putting my head over the water! I never told anyone because it sounds silly. I have now got over that phase but when i read magazines like the National geographic because its got loads of photo under the ocean and whenever i approach a photo i panic and feel shaky. Is this normal?

Answer 1

Sharks are a common thing to be afraid of, although I would agree that yours is to a higher degree.  There is nothing wrong with you, you just have a phobia.  Phobias usually develop when someone has a bad experience with the object that they're scared of. What makes a phobia different from just a simple fear is that phobias revolve around a particular object that provokes physical symptoms like shaking, sweating, increased heart rate along with others. But it's not uncommon to have a phobia without an encounter....for example I'm scared of butterflies. They make my hands clammy, my heart races and I become skiddish. It doesn't really make much sense but it's there.

Answer 2

No, it's not normal.  It is a phobia.  

Since it seems not to interfere much with your life, you could just put up with it.  But if you want to do something about it, you need to go through a process of desensitization.  You could seek out a therapist that specializes in phobias; not just any therapist, since they deal with different kinds of problems.

Or you could look up behavioral approaches to desensitization, and develop your own program and see whether you can do it on your own.  You don't sound like you are too bad.  

I don't recommend medication for this, as you apparently function well apart from this particular phobia.

Answer 3

There is nothing wrong with you. Are you positive it is a fear of sharks you have, and not water?

Most people have a fear of something, and is perfectly normal, and is known as galeophobia.

Answer 4

......no, that is not 'typical' of most Ntl. Geo readers

.....you might discuss this sensitivity with a doctor and ask for some medication that may help you as you learn how to rationalize this perception (in counseling) with a Licensed Professional Conselor

.....this situation could lead to a serious situational catastrophy later in your life, left unaddressed

....also, much of your fear may be an aspect of 'inexperience' with animals, such as contact with living small furry animals like cats, dogs, woodchucks, woodpeckers, squirrels, magpies

....and you may also have a 'water-related' fear in general

....how is your swimming skill? non-existent?

....many kids are able to overcome their fear of water

...that is possible for you, and perhaps a realistic goal that you could consider

.....as for sharks, chaaaa!, 'Girl, I am afraid of sharks, toooo!' but i lend you my faith that washing your hair is safe from them, as long as the water is soft water....that helps reduce those stubborn tangles

....the hard water makes tangles so stubborn to comb out!

Answer 5

you watched jaws to many times

Answer 6

are you sure its not water your scared of? if it is sharks,you have to work out WHY sharks scare you?what is it about them?is it the black lifeless eyes or the fact they could kill you? if you are just scared because you are scared to get hurt,thats fine.we have evolved to a degree that we are born with pre-programmed fears,alot of them rational and some that are not.i personally believe you are scared of water or the fear of the unknown.we don't really know whats down there do we.and that can be scary.