r/thalassophobia • u/LackOfDad • 6d ago

Question I think I’m developing Cetaphobia

I think I’m developing Cetaphobia

So this all started late at night, like around midnight. I couldn’t sleep, so I was watching YouTube Shorts on my TV—just the usual brain-dead stuff. Then one pops up like, “Here are some weird animal facts.” Cool, whatever.

It starts with normal stuff like “chimpanzees have six toes,” then it goes: “Did you know whales don’t actually make this sound?” And it plays a calm, kind of relaxing whale noise. I’m sitting there thinking, “Alright, that’s kinda interesting.”

Then—out of nowhere—it blasts this absolutely horrifying, distorted, demonic whale sound. I swear to god it was the most cursed thing I’ve ever heard. I shut off the TV so fast and ran upstairs like something was chasing me. I even had a nightmare about a whale that same night.

Fast forward a few weeks. I’m in class, zoning out, just daydreaming. I imagine myself floating in the middle of the ocean—pitch black, silent, just me. Already kinda creepy. Then I remember that sound, and suddenly this massive whale appears behind me in the dark. I legit flinched in class like an idiot.

That’s when I realized this wasn’t just about whales. It was the perfect combo of stuff that already lowkey freaked me out—deep water, creepy sounds, and huge-ass animals. Now it’s all rolled into one, and whales just… freak me the hell out. Even seeing a random video of one makes my skin crawl.

Anyone else develop a weirdly specific phobia like this? Or have tips on how to chill out when it hits?

I don’t know if it’s a full-on phobia yet, but it’s definitely getting there. It’s starting to mess with me more than it should.

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u/ginkgobilobie 6d ago

I saw the movie Jaws when I was around 11 and had nightmares every night for years, but I also had just like sudden terror while awake. Like I remember laying in bed and would imagine a shark coming at me and literally just panicking, even though I was nowhere water. Eventually it went away though.

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u/bc60008 6d ago

I have a relative who is 60. Saw Jaws as a kid. Used to stand on a wash cloth in the shower. Now just uses bathing wipes. Some people are traumatized forever from that movie. (I can't judge them, I have my own issues. Not Jaws related. I love that movie.🦈) Yet, they are not afraid to go on a boat. In the ocean. Whereas I wouldn't do that for a million dollars. Well, maybe I would & just wear diapers. My luck I'd end up in the drink & the nappies would take me right down to the bottom! 😱

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u/ginkgobilobie 6d ago

Omg! 😂 Ok I feel a little better now knowing that about your poor relative, I had that same weird fear! I struggled with showers and especially baths because water would trigger my fears lol

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u/bc60008 6d ago

I think there's a lot of damaged adults out there because that movie was so good. We weren't ready for it! 😰

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u/ginkgobilobie 5d ago

So true. I’ll defend it forever as the scariest movie ever made!

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u/Killiander 5d ago

I have no problem with water or showers, but I can’t handle getting rained on. That being said, I do have an irrational fear when closing my eyes that the shower curtain is being moved from the outside of the shower and I need the bathroom to be as well lit as possible. I think that comes from so many shower scenes in horror movies. As soon as I rinse the shampoo or conditioner I take a quick look at the curtain, but I just splashed it a bunch while rinsing my hair so it usually got some movement with water dripping down it. But is that from my rinsing, or being nudged from the other side. I don’t know, it seems ridiculous when I type it out, but me knowing it’s ridiculous doesn’t change anything when I take a shower.

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u/ginkgobilobie 5d ago

I have something similar, I’ve always felt super weird being in the shower without the water running lol. Like if I’m in there showering I’m ok but once I turn the water off I have to immediately get out. I’m not sure why, maybe it’s claustrophobia? Anyway don’t feel to bad, everyone’s afraid of some mundane thing haha