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While this phobia has not been confirmed through research, it has been reported by many people in discussion groups across the web. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 12.5% of U.S. adults experience a specific phobia of some sort, such as gamophobia, astrophobia, automatonophobia, and others.
Research has found that women are more prone to phobias than men and that almost 50% of all phobias in the U.S. are considered mild cases. So, if the thought of sunken ships or buoys makes you cringe, chances are that you may experience some mild symptoms of submechanophobia, but it may not meet the full criteria for a specific phobia diagnosis.
Symptoms of submechanophobia are similar to other specific phobias. Therefore, when in the presence of a submerged object, those suffering from this condition may experience the following:
The intensity of these symptoms varies based on the severity of the phobia and proximity to the object. If you experience these symptoms when presented with man-made items being submerged in water, you may indeed meet the diagnostic criteria for a specific phobia.
Being scared of something does not necessarily mean that you have a phobia. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V), these are the criteria for a phobia:
If symptoms of submechanophobia are severely affecting your life, a mental health professional specializing in phobias is the best way to treat the condition and learn coping techniques. Avoidance of the fear triggers is likely to be relatively easy, so it may not be something that impacts your normal day-to-day functioning very much unless you work on the water. Even then, you may want to consider speaking with a professional to help you understand the root of the issue.
Either way, if you’re interested in addressing your fears, a trained therapist can help you begin to understand the way your fearful thoughts are contributing to your symptoms, and how your feelings are related to your behavior to help you improve your functioning.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is often used for treating specific phobias. It can help you develop insight into how you can change the way you think about a situation, and how you can use coping skills to regulate your body when presented with fearful situations or things. CBT is widely practiced by many mental health providers, as well as those treating patients via platforms for online therapy.
Therapists will also use exposure therapy to help gradually expose you to your fears and minimize their impact on you over time. This therapy modality has proven effective for patients suffering from a variety of specific phobias.
If you suffer from symptoms of submechanophobia, is not quite common to want to ignore them out of shame. However, the symptoms themselves and the disruption they can cause to your life are very real. It’s best to find a mental health professional who can help you overcome your fears and minimize your anxiety.
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