It is quite common to be afraid of sharks (Galeophobia), but many times, individuals are even afraid of small and seemingly harmless fish. Such an irrational or persistent fear of fish is called Ichthyophobia. The word originates from Greek “ichthys” which means fish and phobos which means fear.
Many cultures, especially the Navajo tribes, are known to fear all kinds of aquatic animals, including fish. Thus the entire tribe is termed as “Ichthyophobic”, however, in this case, the fear is not psychological as much as it is cultural or mythical. They believe that all aquatic beings are taboos and hence they refuse to touch or eat them or even dive deep into water bodies where they may encounter these creatures.
In case of fear of fish that originates due to psychological factors, the phobia can cause the individual to be afraid of dead or living fish. Such people tend to have a full blown panic attack even at the sight or thought of fish. This can negatively impact one’s day to day life.
Causes of Ichthyophobia
As with all other specific phobias, Ichthyophobia also begins with a negative or traumatic episode involving fish, mainly in one’s childhood.
- As a child, the phobic might have been scared by pranks played by his/her siblings or friends who might have showed him a dead or wriggling fish. In one particular case, a phobic recalls being terrified by a chopped fish head placed on his bedding.
- Children with superior imagination tend to believe that small fish are as large as ‘Great White sharks’.
- Another phobic recalls having gone deep sea diving where he encountered a rather large fish that ‘appeared suddenly out of nowhere’. The individual recounts having ‘forgotten to swim’ momentarily
- Fish are slimy and smelly creatures. People with anxiety disorders tend to believe that fish are responsible for many diseases/ illnesses or can lead to mercury poisoning etc. This is one of the common triggers of Ichthyophobia.
- Certain varieties of fish jump out of water. A child (or an adult with nervous mindset or an overly anxious personality) is likely to be startled by such ‘flying fish’ while boating or swimming.
These seemingly scary episodes replay constantly in the individual’s mind leading to lifelong phobia about these creatures.
Symptoms of fear of fish
Ichthyophobia has various psychological and physical symptoms just like other phobias. These include:
- Screaming or crying after seeing a picture or image of fish or even simply thinking about them.
- Feeling nauseated or throwing up
- Passing out, feeling dizzy
- Trembling, shaking
- Feeling like being choked to death
- Running away from situations involving fish, hiding or conversely, being paralyzed or frozen to the spot.
Many phobics are afraid of swimming or even walking on or near bridges or beaches due to this phobia. Some refuse to go near aquariums or any theme parks with fish. In very severe cases, individuals might refuse to visit friends having pet fish kept in fish bowls or aquariums.
Overcoming Ichthyophobia
- Dr. John B. Watson, an expert in Behavior Therapy recommends gradual exposure/desensitization technique for overcoming the fear of fish.
- In children suffering from this Ichthyophobia, siblings and friends can help by showing how fish are harmless creatures. They can put their hand in a fish bowl to catch small gold fish. Likewise, phobics can also be exposed gradually to pictures or movies or aquariums having fish etc until they are comfortable enough to withstand the creatures without experiencing a panic attack.
- Hypnotherapy is another powerful mind technique that helps get the bottom of the phobia. This is helpful in case of older patients who can then learn to rationalize their fearful thoughts and change them into positive ones.
- Another effective, though slightly traumatic technique called Flooding is also known to have positive results though it must be done only in presence of experienced therapists. In this method, the individual is immersed in a tank containing harmless fish. This helps him/her understand that such fear is irrational. Relaxation techniques must be used when facing fish in this manner.
- In extreme cases, it is worthwhile taking anti depressants or other medication to reduce anxiety about fish. An experienced psychotherapist can also help one overcome Ichthyophobia for good.
Jenny Lewis says
I’m going to an aquarium to face my fears. I’ve been scared for years, and I finally want to try and help myself with this, but I’m scared if it’s the wrong move, and I’ll freeze once I’m there. Any advice?
Diane says
I have been taunted with a dead fish shoved in my face from a young age. I was crying, and from there, I was terrified of fish. I can go through aquariums without feeling scared and the beach. I guess once it’s dead and just has a body, I get terrified. I suppose it’s from past experience of my incident. I still cry and get scared from seeing dead fish.
Evelyn says
That’s really traumatic. I’m so sorry.
amy says
I am 16, and I am suffering from fish phobia like the rest of you. I’m just utterly terrified of them. I don’t even know how it started, but I feel like it has just always been a part of me. I don’t eat them, I don’t touch them, I can’t look at them (even on a screen), and I can’t swim with them. I often get nightmares involving fish and wake up drenched in sweat. I then can’t stay in my bed because it feels like the blanket is the water where the fish are in. Recently I’ve discovered that the more I avoid them, my fear grows. Also, the worse my mental state, the worse my anxiety around fish. During the lockdown, it got so bad I threw my phone away from me on instinct after accidentally seeing a meme with a fish as a reaction photo. So now I’m trying to expose myself to fish a bit more. I’m trying to conquer this fear even though I don’t know if it’ll work. Wish me luck
sarrrr says
Hello, I can totally relate to you. I don’t know why I am afraid of fish, but I always have been from a young age. It’s so hard for me to walk past a pond or fish tank or even look at fish. I even get nightmares just like you, and I get so nervous and uncomfortable. Even small fish like goldfishes trigger my fear, and thinking about it is just so uneasy.
Marcelle says
I am terrified of fish in water. It’s strange because I can eat fish. I just came back from Mexico, and I surprised myself. We went to a fish restaurant where I ate snapper even though it came out with its head and tail, which is something I never used to be able to do.
I also booked a trip to swim with dolphins and was told it would be in a pool with no fish. When we got there, there were LOADS of fish! I had a full-blown panic attack. I was crying, screaming, and shaking but somehow, with the help of my friend and the trainer, I managed to do it. It was absolutely amazing, and I was so happy to knock that off my bucket list. I’m still not sure how I did it as the day after, I saw one fish in the sea and had to run out with my heart pounding.
I feel like my fish phobia ruins every holiday, and I would love for it to disappear.
I really feel for you as it affects you far worse. Good luck
Lily says
I have an irrational fear of fish, but it doesn’t have a tremendous effect on my life. I’m okay with having two pet goldfish or going to an aquarium, but I can’t stand the thought of dead fish or look at the meat counter at the grocery store, where there are dead fish with their heads and tails intact. I can’t eat fish, and I am freaked out by their huge, unblinking eyes and slippery texture. But I’ve never had any fish-related traumatic events or anything.
evelyn says
Good luck! :)
A.L says
Hi everyone, if you don’t mind I’m asking for some advice because my phobia is very weird. I’m not afraid of eating fish. I can look at pictures and I can go to aquariums. But I just can’t swim with fish. My friend has a creek with minnows and I freak out when they swim towards me. So it’s only when I’m in the water with the fish. Anyone have a situation like mine?
Danielle N Trujillo says
I love and hate swimming. If I can recall, I had a dream where my cousins taunted me with fish. I tried cooking fish today, and when it got exposed to heat, it started moving a teeny bit. It creeps me out. I tried baby step #1, didn’t work.
A says
I have the same situation as you. I can go to an aquarium, eat fish, and see pictures of fish, but I’m afraid of living fish that moves in the water. I mean, I’m afraid to be in the water with fish.
Angelina says
I do, in fact, my half-brother wants to take me to a lake today to swim, but I’m just so scared of them, and I don’t know why. But I hope this helped!
Jayne Kenney says
I’m exactly the same as you! I can eat them but not touch the skin, fins etc. even if the fish is dead. So it has to be just the flesh. The only problem is swimming. I’m terrified they’ll come close or touch me. I won’t go in the water if I can see them. I know they’re there but I try not to think about it, otherwise I wouldn’t swim at all. And I get out if I do see one while swimming.
SWR lincs says
I know just what you mean. Bizarrely I can catch, gut, scale, and cook fish and have no problem with them being served up on a plate complete with head, but getting into the water with those horrid guppy mouths, is a nightmare—ditto with aquariums. The number of Chinese restaurants where I have to ask for a different table is embarrassing!
Weirdly though, this only started in my late teens. As a kid, I was more than happy swimming in the sea and fishing for guppies. Go figure! Any advice is appreciated.
Cassie says
Yes. I can eat fish. I can be around fish if there is a top on the tank. I do try not to touch them, even photos, but I can do so with only faint revulsion. I can’t even think of going into the ocean. Or a lake. Or a river. No traumatic experiences caused the phobia. Just no. The panic attacks only happen when I’m forced to be near because of jerks, or they swim up on water.
Evelyn says
Yes! That is a good description of my problem, except I just can’t eat seafood.
Abi says
Hi. I am 10 years old. From a young age I have been afraid of fish. I do not even know why it started. That’s why I’m afraid to go into any natural water source. It makes it difficult for me socially and also on family trips. I can’t get over it.
analee says
Oh my god, I can totally relate! I am 11 years old. Once I was on a trip to st. Maarten scuba diving. I saw a small group of fish and almost drowned and choked. I can see them in water, but eating fish is 100% disgusting. I just cannot eat or swim with them! This phobia is not easy to get rid of.
Julia Reyfman says
When I was a little kid, I was swimming in the ocean pretty far out to where I couldn’t stand, and someone behind me (closer to shore) was throwing bread into the water. Suddenly, a school of fish came at me, swarming around me, and some fish were even jumping out of the water, and one fish hit me on my face. I had no way out from the swarm, and I started screaming, and my mind went blank. Since then (I am 16 now), I have been scared of any body of water, fish tanks, aquariums, etc. I am not even afraid of sharks, but small fish freak me out. I run out of the water screaming if I see one, and I am immediately nauseated at the thought of one near me, especially touching me. I always get told that they are more scared of me than I of them, but my childhood trauma and the fact that they repulse me say otherwise.
Tahel Daloya says
This started from a very young age, something like 3 or 4. This fear is always bothering me. I know that it won’t hurt me and touch me most of the times. I look at fish and I can literally throw up or have a massive panic attack. I can get in the sea and rivers but when I see them near me, I immediately get out.
lily says
I’m 15 and was never really scared of fish until I was about 12. It’s weird because I’m mostly scared of just mall fish, such as minnows. I used to have several fish and loved maintaining the fish tanks and taking care of them. Then, one summer, I had to stay with my grandparents because I was moving, and my uncle took care of all of my fish. Well, they died after 3 weeks because he cleaned their tanks using soap. The thought of dead fish really grossed me out all of the sudden, and I never got more fish after that. Jump to a couple of years later, and I was at my friend’s house who has a twin our age. For whatever reason, he showed me a video (I’m getting nauseous thinking about this) of live fish being put in a blender then drank like a smoothie. Disgusting. It was really nauseating and I felt my palms getting sweaty watching the video. I had to look away. From that point on, I’ve been scared of fish to the point where I couldn’t even look at the class pet fish we had in my classroom, especially once 2 died during a long weekend. Another example is when I was at the beach and had to leave after seeing a dead fish. My fear is a bit better now, but I still get scared and uncomfortable seeing fish and the thought of touching or looking at a minnow terrifies me. I don’t eat seafood anymore and avoid the fish section at grocery stores.
Charlotte says
I have this fear of fish along with the rest of you. I think it started when I was 7 or 8 after watching River Monsters right before bed. So I was traumatized I guess. I’m a great swimmer though in pools and other places (depends). When I go out on the lake in the boat I’m perfectly fine. When we stop to swim I’m like ok we are going to do this. Then my brain processes that there are fish in the water and I stop dead in my tracks, as in “you’re not going to jump in anymore”. Everyone tells me that fish are more afraid of you than you are of them. Yes, I know they are harmless, but River Monsters had a different approach on my brain. At one point in time, I will jump in sooner or later, after everyone else is in. I hate them dead or alive. It feels like I’m just going to get attacked by them. A bit of story time: I was just in like 3 feet of water where I could see the bottom. I was cool because of that. I was with my sister looking for shiny oysters or other things. Then literally out of nowhere (by the way I have to tell you my face was practically in the water) a fish the size of my hand was right underneath my face. I screamed my heart out. Everyone on that beach heard me, even my grandma up the hill by the cabin 200 feet away (maybe even more). I started bawling my eyes out. My sister was just like “dude chill”. This sweet lady helped me onto the dock while my grandma was coming down and me yelling at my sister to get me out of there. Luckily I was on a ring tube. I jumped up on that tube like it was my life support. Anyway, it’s a memory which I hate, but it’s there. Well, that’s all I have for my story. Hopefully that wasn’t too much.
Nessa says
I am the same. lol
Zara says
It’s so great to know I’m not the only one! I was never scared of fish when I was small but somewhere along the way I developed this fear, and now I can’t stand being near them. I don’t mind aquariums and sharks but I’m most afraid of small ones that exist in the ocean. Considering the fact that I’m an excellent swimmer, I cannot ever enjoy time with my family or friends in the sea because once my mind registers there are fish, I cannot physically get in due to which I miss out on so much fun. Although I know small fish are practically harmless it’s just something about them that really scares me and I want to get over my fear but I cant!
Camilla says
I’m 13, and I’m absolutely terrified of fish. I’m not quite sure when I started to have this fear. I used to be fine in the ocean and around fish, but now I am terrified. I hate going to the beach, and I won’t even stick my feet in the water. Just that fact that I know there are fish in the ocean scares me, and I stay as far away as possible. My sister told me that when I was about three, she tried to show me a fish she caught while fishing, and I lost it, screamed, and ran away. I don’t eat sea food, not necessarily for my fear, but I just find it disgusting and repulsive.
I’m not really afraid of sharks, but mainly just normal fish. I can handle seeing them in the aquarium, or learning about them, but I can’t handle actually seeing them in the ocean, and the thought of swimming with them makes me tremble. It’s pretty weird, and I’m the only one in my family with this fear.
Kei says
I understand you completely. I’m 22 and I feel the same way. I can see them in aquariums and pictures but to know that if I go to the water I know that they are there and I just panic. I evade and try as much as possible to not dive in the water and see it. If I’m walking into the water I try not to look at the bottom and see them swimming or pass by my feet because I could loose it and run away. I’m the only one in my family too that has this phobia and I don’t eat seafood either, it disgusts me. I think the phobia started when I saw a documentary of a small fish from a lake. There was a guy that went to pee in the water and the fish swam through his man parts. I think that’s when it started and I’m a woman.
Mikey says
No feelings either way about fish until I was 21 years old, snorkeling like I always do with the fish, when suddenly I just extremely nope’d out of the water. No idea why, but suddenly I was terrified of fish. I have absolutely no problem with sharks (they’re fish, I know, but you know what I mean) or whales. I hate aquarium stores walking down the aisles of different fish, the sights, the smell, it’s all very wrong to me. My beach here now has clean, but dark water with big waves and it’s nice not to see them, but once it started drizzling and fish started jumping out of the water all around me, and yeah, I flew out of the water.
Allison says
I am 13 and so scared of fish but for some reason not sharks as much as regular fish. The thought of a fish freaks me out and when I was little I remember going to a friends house and she showed me her huge goldfish and I was so scared and unconformable the whole time I was there. I was terrified that the fish tank would brake and the fish would flop on the floor and die. Just writing this now I feel like I am getting really hot. I was always afraid of fish. One of my earliest memories is when I was on the beach and I saw what I thought was a fish and it scared me so much I ran back to my mother and cried. Another time I was at a lake with my family and some close family friends and one of my friends was throwing me up and down and he threw me on a dead fish. I almost fainted when I realized what had happened and now I will not go into water that could potentially have fish. I am absolutely horrified of stepping on a dead fish even worse if it is alive. Whenever I see a fish in a textbook of something in school I have small panic attack. When I was little, and I still do this, we would pass the sea food part and I would always look away. One time I made an attempt to look in hopes of being fine. But I caught a glimpse of a fish and freaked out so never again. I don’t like going to the beach because I am scared of seeing a fish dead on the shore and I don’t like researching marine stuff because it is even worse when a fish appears suddenly on my screen. I don’t eat fish either and the mere idea of someone touching or eating one scares me so much.
Carole says
I have been terrified of dead fish all my life, I am in my early fifties. I can’t look at fresh fish on the counters at the supermarket, when I see them my body shivers. I hate the scales, the eyes, fins, tales. I could never hold a fish, I would faint. I know where this originates. When I was a small child i was about 3 or 4 years old, my mother and I would go to the fishmongers once a week. Seeing the fishmonger cut off the head, fins and tail traumatized me. I have never bought fresh fish in my entire life. I love fish from the chip shop. Carole
Addy Reynolds says
I’m 13 and I am terrified of fish, but only swimming with them! I have no problem seeing a dead one or eating a fish. It’s only when I swim with them. I had an incident with fish at this lake we go to in the summer. I was surfing behind my boat and out of nowhere I fell, and when I did, these fish started jumping over my head like I was at SeaWorld. I have never been able since to swim with them. I went to Florida one year and we were snorkeling and I saw all of these fish and lost my cool. I jumped on my dads back, almost choking him out. I am going to Hawaii over the summer and I am trying to figure out how not to be scared of fish.
yeete says
I don’t like sea creatures as well because i think they will eat me. That’s why i love sushi, so i can eat them instead!
Thyra BE says
Once.. one of the methods. The one with putting you in a tank happened to me in a very young age. My phobia of fish is EXTREME. The adults there didn’t want to get me out of the water. They told me to do it myself, and I remember just sinking deeper and deeper down to the button because I forgot how to swim. I remember trying to scream. I remember all the fish going after me and in my hair ears. Everywhere. Even a little fish swam in my mouth. I’m getting an anxiety attack from reading that. Now i know what the adults intended but it only increased and made my fear worse.
Polly says
I can’t stand fish and sea creatures. I won’t eat any seafood and even just looking at dead ones scare me. I wonder if there’s a name for a phobia of sea creatures?
Kaleigh says
I never had issues with fish until I was 8. I remember getting pet goldfish probably 10 or more and they were in a medium sized tank. I thought I fed them properly but after going on vacation I noticed some would start eating one they had killed or just attack each other. Honestly it could’ve been because the tank wasn’t big enough that’s beside the point though. It was terrible to see that imagery. I grew up extremely sheltered and never was exposed to anything remotely violent in fact I wasn’t always allowed to watch PG movies (just to give a little background). This however was devastating and I realize I never talked about it out loud because it bothered me.
Around then I was already skeptical about fish, well in 2004 there was “Hurricane Charlie” where we vacationed, it was maybe a category 2 or 3 where we were. It was more like a tropical storm. Anyways, after talking to some locals a lady informed my parents about “sea slugs” and how there can be unusual aquamarine activity after a storm like that and how the tides turn and so on and so forth. With that being said it had cleared up quite a bit. Although I love the clear waters of the Gulf Of Mexico it shows you literally everything which is good but terrifying for one who hates fish. I ended up getting stuck in a pool full of Minnows, they are literally the most harmful fish but that feeling of them brushing up against me in all directions really did it in for me. I screamed bloody murder, my mom was so embarrassed and told me I was making too much of a scene but I had never been so traumatized in my life.
Now fifteen years later I live close by the Gulf and love the beach lifestyle. My husband goes with me then I feel safe or if I’m with a trusted friend. If I see one or two swim by I don’t panic like I used to. I just try to avoid the ocean after a storm and stay alert. I’m not where I want to be but on top of that I had anxiety from childhood abuse. As I have been healing through that, the fish ordeal is getting better. There is hope, don’t be afraid to talk to a professional, trusted loved one or mentor about it. Thank you all for sharing your stories, I don’t feel like such a freak anymore.
Nova says
I had a fear of fish since i was 10, now i’m almost 12 and i still cant stand them.
When I was 10 i was at a friends house and suddenly they just start wiggling weirdly and one of them jumps at me! I was terrified and started crying.
Another time my bullies played a prank on me. They knew i was terrified of fish so they just put a fish head in my lunchbox and forced me to stare at it so this is why i’m terrified of fish.
Sarah Emilia says
I had a fear of fish since April 2019 because when i went snorkeling with my dad i was looking at the view and suddenly thousands of fish (i’m not kidding) touched me and i just froze. After 2 days i got diagnosed with Ichthyophobia. Today in biology we had to touch fish and i almost fainted. I am writing this just after it happened 15 min ago. Writing about it is my therapy because i just know that i am not the only one and i communicate with other people who have the same problem.
Mary says
Thank god I am not the only one. When I was little my father chopped off a fish’s head. Since then I can’t even look at them, dead or alive doesn’t matter. Worst part is the eyes, those creepy eyes makes me really uncomfortable and they are so slippery. But I have a strange situation because I don’t fear sharks or whales or dolphins. I don’t understand why I’m not scared of them.
Leigh says
I’ve had a strong phobia of fish since I was little. My Dad loved fishing and I remember once coming in to my kitchen as a child and finding fish and an eel in the sink still alive and flapping. Since then I can’t look at fish, I avoid anywhere that has fish and I’m terrified of the smell. I can’t let the family buy or cook any and today they did and the smell of fish has filled the house which has left me crying my eyes out and feeling like I’m going to vomit. Then they downplay it and says it’s not a phobia it’s just a dislike. It’s 100% a phobia I get myself in such a state.
ruby says
I’m 18, seriously scared of all fish since I was little.
I cannot eat them except salmon with wasabi, that’s my biggest endurance.
I’m afraid of its smell, its scales, its eyes. It totally kills me if someone asks me to kill a fish.
Tifany says
I am happy to know that it is not only me who had this weird phobia and makes me feel ashamed.
I can eat fish but living fish scares me. Idk why. When I was a child, looking at fish was ok but my dad made me go fishing with him and I realized that it made me anxious. I also had trauma because my dad kept them as pets. Actually I am ok if I just stare at them at the back of an aquarium but one day the aquarium broke and it was a nightmare seeing all the fish wiggling on the floor and my dad yelling at me because I did nothing cause I was scared and couldn’t even move my body. It’s sad actually. They are pretty on screen but whenever my friend ask me to go to the fish market I still feel anxious even tough I like to see them (just looking, not touching and fishing). I also hate to go to the beach. I am afraid of little sea creatures in the sand, like small crabs, seashells, sea fish, snails etc. I am always very focused when walking on the beach, especially on the border of water and sand in the shore. I usually only walk on sand and never get too close to the water because I’m afraid to step on small creatures in the sea. Seeing dead fish that hasn’t been cooked also gets me nervous. I want to get rid of these so I can cook fish properly but it seems so hard. Even my friend tell me that cleaning fish for cooking is fun but I can only eat fish that’s not so big. If it’s a crab, lobster, squid, octopus or other seafood, I can’t eat it because I am also afraid of their appearance and slimy texture. I just don’t understand because I actually want to be friends with fish but sometimes it feels so hard even though I am an adult now.
OLIVIA says
Exactly. My father used to keep the fish (mostly goldfish) as pets but never really took good care of them. Sometimes he even kept them in the water container where we took bathwater from. Because of the bad care, they started to die one by one. You know how they float upside down and those eyes. I felt uneasy to look at them as a child. One that hit the most was this one fish, was sick and I don’t know what it was, something grew out from it’s belly and caused it to live upside down but not dead! I don’t know why my father didn’t throw it away immediately. So I had to see it everyday. One day the fish really died, and my father was about to bring me to school. But before that, he put the fish into a plastic bag, to throw it away into the river. And you know what, he asked me to hold the plastic bag! I was not touching it directly but still, I could feel the cold and slimy skin. Worst day ever!
Julie says
I know right! They are so creepy! Plus, the beach thing is so me.
gee says
I considered having this, even though I like eating fish but don’t like living fish and I get scared to even come in contact with live fish or to even hold them in the market.
Leidel says
Same but I’m ok to touch them but to see them live and swimming in lakes, oceans and different types of bodies of water oh no.
James says
I hated fish when I was young and still to this day. If I eat fish I’ll probably kill myself. Fish are disgusting animals from Hell. Fish give me a sense to vomit. This might not sound serious, but it is.
Luna says
I don’t think I’ve had a problem with fishes when I was a kid! But now, I don’t know why, but I’m terrified by them! Mentally, I feel safer if I’m in a room with a tame lion than in water with fishes! It’s so sad for me, because I’m always left out of the fun my friends make, I’m always near the shore, and if I see a single fish near the shore, I won’t go in, for the whole day! I love swimming, but I can never go deep because there are fishes, and it’s always so hard to just sit in the sand and watch others swiming, laughing and having a good time, while I wanna burst into tears, because it’s something I can’t control! I know they’re harmless but I’m still afraid of them, I don’t want them anywhere near me! It’s something I can’t control, but it’s ruining my life!
Lila says
This is exactly the same as me! I know exactly how you feel because I know they can’t hurt me and I love to swim in the sea but if I see one fish I simply won’t be able to go in :(
Digg says
ditto, it only happened to me as an adult. i used to spend many days as a kid in the water on the beach.
Nicole says
I have a bad phobia of fish and I don’t know where it came from I wasn’t overly keen on fish as a child but as I got older I became terrified of them. I can’t walk past a fish counter at the supermarket without having a panic attack and the thought of swimming in the ocean can sometimes bring me to tears. It’s ruined my life. Me and my husband to be are going to Barbados for our honeymoon and he wants to go snorkeling. It upsets me that I wont be able to experience it with him.
Maya says
I agree with you, Nicole. I am terrified by fish like you and I just don’t like them. I will swim at the beach close to shore, but I will not go snorkeling. I do not know where it came from either. I still have it now, oh yeah I am 8 years old if you are wondering. I have ichthyophobia just like you.
Hannah says
When I was younger I used to have these chills in the middle of the night, that there were dead fish (or alive) fish in my bed. Or sometimes that there were dead chopped off pieces of fish in my bed. I am on a swim team so I am a pretty great swimmer, but one time we went snorkeling, I saw a fish and pretty much forgot my swimming ability. I cant even have a pet goldfish, there eyes…. (shudder). I cant even walk into a market and see dead fish, with their mouths still open and the eyes wide. I try to overcome the fear but all these images make me throw up and sometimes make me faint.
Vicki says
This is exactly me!
When I was a kid the first time that I saw a dead fish I cried!
Aren’t they so disgusting?!
CptMclaren says
Exactly, and I just get constant anxiety attacks and pressure from my parents whenever at the beach to go in the water or something. I would be less scared of aliens walking up to me than fish.
Lola says
Please help me I’m afraid just to look at or even touch or change MY own fish tank
Jason says
You’re not alone, I’m 35 years old, and I hate touching live fish. The last time I went fishing on the bay, I told myself “you’re just going to get over this fear and grab the fish and take the hook out.” I caught a spotted bay bass and grabbed that sucker around the body and as I was trying to pull the hook out it was literally slithering out of my hand, then it jerked and stabbed me with one of its dorsal spines, now I’m even more afraid. One way that is pretty good that my cousin does is to wear a glove and grab it right on the lower lip. This seems to work ok as long as the fish doesn’t have sharp teeth.
Bailey says
My mom is terrified of fish and one day my brothers fish died and my mom was so happy but my brother was not, so my aunt went with me and my brother to get a fish but instead me and my brother got a shark as our new fish and my mom was so mad.
Harlee says
When I was younger, I didn’t have a problem with fish. I don’t eat it or even go by fish enough to understand why I have a problem with them. I think it stems to me not being able to know what’s underneath me when I’m swimming. I don’t swim in lakes or the ocean anymore because of it. It’s unusual because I have no issues with sharks or some tropical fish. It’s more of the bland colored ones that I’m afraid of. Even weirder, I like fishing (as long as the fish get unhooked by someone other than myself) and the show river monsters. I think they’re fascinating but not enough for me to go underwater with them.
Emma says
I have the same problem. I can’t stand being in a lake or river with fish. I don’t know why but I just can’t. I can handle a crowded area though because fish won’t be anywhere near there. If get in the water out in the middle of a lake though, I start kicking wildly (like in trying to scare the fish away from me) and panicking.
Sarah says
I have fear of fish. I can’t stand them. When I was child, I was standing in front of a fish pool and suddenly one of the fish jumped from the pool and was wiggling beside me. Since then, I am never standing in front of aquariums, ponds, or something that contains fish in them. I will cry or scream if someone force me to look at the fish. I have once cured this phobia, but it doesn’t work anymore.
BAOREN LEE says
As a boy , now 23 years old, I am always afraid of fish.. full-time vegetarian for more than a decade.. LOL!
Sierra says
My boyfriend is the biggest baby when it comes to touching a live fish. He also adores fishing. I go with him and fish as well but am frequently interrupted so I can unhook his fish or he’ll leave the poor little throw-back dangling on his hook and wait for me to finish up. Absolutely frozen in place. Any suggestions on how to desensitize someone who’s given up on exposure therapy? He wants to get over it, he just doesn’t understand how lengthy the process is and is getting disheartened.
Sasha says
Fish give me nightmares. I feel like they are after me. My doctor gives me medication.
Daya says
I always dream of fish. I was in the middle of water and being attacked by them and their teeth. I feel like they want to eat me. I don’t eat and touch them.
Mila Rider says
I’m terrified of fish in dark waters. I have no problem with pools, clear lake water or eating fish and and keeping them as pets in aquariums. In dark waters as a child more than once I’ve had a fish touch me and one time it was a fish as big as me at 8 years old. My imagination runs wild from dinosaur fish to oversized fish, regular slimy ones and ones with teeth etc.