You know what’s weird about having a Fear of Water? You drink water every day to survive; bathe in water to promote good hygiene; swim in it for fun and leisure. Yet according to a study that will go unreferenced, more people have a Fear of Water than having a Fear of Getting Sick, a Fear of Starbucks or a Fear of Getting Old. Crazy, right? So what is it about water that people Fear so much? Well, over the next few paragraphs you will find out. So, now that I’ve figured out a terrible way to end this sentence, here we go!
Taking the Plunge into Fear of Water
Science defines water as a liquid. Much like a chameleon, this means water can take the shape of whatever object it is put into in order to blend in with its surroundings. Pretty sure that’s what chameleons do but it’s too late to fact-check that now. For example: if you take 50 litres (or 13.2 gallons) of water and put it into a standard 500ml bottle, you will quickly see the water attempting to take the shape of the ground below the bottle. But the shape-shifting behaviour of water does not stop there. Water sometimes fills the space in your lungs where oxygen usually goes. You can see small bubbles of air escaping from your mouth and making their way to the surface, your muffled screams the only sound you hear, as you slowly descend into the blackened depths below. While gasping for air, you only swallow more water. You know your death is quickly approaching and there is nothing you can do to stop it. Also, you see a shark.
Water, unlike fire, is not something most people yell in times of peril. In fact, for the most part, water goes pretty unnoticed in your day-to-day travels as it’s something that is sort of everywhere and nowhere at the same time. For example: the Earth is over 70% water. Humans are basically 60% water. Celery is almost 100% water (which makes no sense). Despite these facts, it’s very easy to go your entire day without drowning so you don’t need to worry about the scenario outlined in that first paragraph. Fire, on the other hand, is in everything. Read the label of any fun product and it will say “caution: flammable”. This means the item can spontaneously combust and erupt in flames at any point. Again, too late to fact-check so we’re moving on.
Treading Above Your Fear of Water
Without water, there would be no Fear of Water. Also without water, you would die. A harsh reality but one that is important to realize. For as much as water is the source of so many horror movie plots and various other water-related Fears, it is also something that is found in a lot of positive places too. Like the aforementioned celery. And water can also be found in the bowls puppies and kittens drink from. See? What’s not to like about water? If you or someone you know is struggling with a Fear of Water, consider taking a dip into a pool of exposure therapy. Start with pouring a glass of scalding water over yourself. The 2nd degree burns will quickly help you realize there are worse things than water. Once you have recovered from that ordeal, you can then dive head-first into the deep end of a swimming pool. Pro-tip: make sure there is water in the pool first.
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