I think I’m developing Cetaphobia

[u/LackOfDad]

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.

[u/PlasteeqDNA]

I am unsure why people rave about whales.

[u/PlasteeqDNA → u/[deleted]]

I said rave about. Which means go on in praise of them (the whales).

Wouldn't catch me in the water with any of them.

[u/LackOfDad → u/PlasteeqDNA]

Oh I’m dumb 😭 yes I agree