Aquaphobia can arise from a traumatic or negative experience, from not having learned to swim, or it can be inherited from one's parents. Whatever the cause, all aquaphobics have one thing in common: they avoid being in or around a substance that covers 71% of the planet. Phobias can be explained through three different categories: what they are, how they are caused and how they can be treated. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Aquaphobia is a common fear and is usually found in children who have not learned to swim. Most aquaphobics are under the age of 18 and their fear is attributed to swimming. However, some are adults who suffer from an irrational phobia or have never faced their fear. Symptoms may vary from person to person, but most share similar traits. A good amount of minor aquaphobics are afraid of deep water or entering water; this can lead to ablutophobia, thalassophobia or galeophobia. In rare cases, a person may be afraid to go near water, regardless of its size. It differs from hydrophobia because hydrophobia is the medical name for a symptom of rabies. Aquaphobia can have a large impact on people's daily lives and swimming activities. As mentioned in the previous paragraph, a fear of water usually develops at an early age, but it is rare for people to retain their fear after learning to swim. Like most phobias, it can stem from a negative experience in water, such as being pushed into a pool. While some people have a rational reason to fear it, most do not. In the book Phobiapedia the text states: “Aquaphobia can result from being splashed or pushed into water.” It is also often a hereditary phobia; children can learn fear from people they observe. This makes aquaphobia extremely common, especially in people who have no experience with water. Despite being so common, aquaphobia can be treated. One of the quickest ways to treat a phobia is through exposure therapy. A sufferer might start by dipping their feet in a pool and progress by taking swimming lessons. Introducing yourself to your fear slowly can help eliminate it. It is often stopped at an early age through swimming lessons and experience. In more drastic cases, a simpler treatment may be to immediately introduce someone to water. Aquaphobia can be treated in several ways, and if treated well enough, it can be completely reduced. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay In summary, aquaphobics can interpret their fear in many different ways. However they all fall under one definition. As beaches become overcrowded and more and more homes are built inland, this common phobia is on the rise. New methods and programs are being developed to help reduce the number of aquaphobics. Works CitedAmerican Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). American Psychiatric Publication. Bourne, E. J. (2000). The exercise book on anxiety and phobias. New Harbinger Publications.Davey, G.C.L. (1997). A conditioning model of phobias. In P. M. Salkovskis (Ed.), Frontiers in cognitive therapy (pp. 91-113). Guilford Press.Fodor, I.E., & Lueger, R.J. (1985). Animal phobias: a review of theory and research. Psychological Reports, 57(2), 419-442.Marks, I. M. (1987). Fears, phobias and rituals: panic, anxiety and their disorders. Oxford University Press.Öst, L. G. (1989). Treatment in one session, 28(6), 1021-1037.