OT: Fear of sharks?

[killafins]

Does anybody know how to get rid of a fear of sharks? I mean, most people confront their fears but I don't see myself jumping in a tank full of sharks and beating them all up... it just doesn't seem likely to happen.
It's horrible, I can barely go past my waist in the ocean and I feel myself start to black out when i see them in aquariums... BEHIND GLASS!
But what's worst is that I am going to a college on the ocean where you will be doing alot of ocean related things: like scuba diving, sailing, etc. But I know that all I will be worrying about is sharks no matter if there are any. I mean, I worry about sharks in fresh water, lol, (i know, its pathetic but i do)
Well, does anybody have any ideas? I would like to get rid of this fear early on so i can enjoy the ocean.

 

[stacyt]

I used to be the same way. When the wife 1st decided that she wanted to learn to dive the 1st thing that popped into my mind was no way. To many deadly sharks in the ocean. Then I started talking to a good freind thats been diving for years. He has never had a bad encounter with sharks while diving, and told me as long as you use extreme caution around them, you shouldn't have any problems. I started researching more about them, and realized that there really isn't that much to worry about. You have a better chance of getting mugged or shot, than being bitten by a shark. My 1st few ocean dives all I could do is look around for that giant killer to come swimming along looking for an easy meal. After several dives I realized that I was worrying for nothing. Last November I finally came across my 1st shark. It was about a 3 foot horn. I swam up to him, and touched him on the back, and all he did was swim a few feet away. Since then I've seen a couple of sharks up to 6'. They normally just swim away when they spotted me. I still however try not to go into the water durring their normal feeding times. Early morning, and at dusk. Although I have done a few night dives, and went in right as the sun was setting.

 

[kreach]

Ok, here are some things to consider...
The International Shark Attack File (ISAF) investigated 86 alleged incidents of shark-human interaction occurring WORLDWIDE in 2002. Upon review, 60 of these incidents represented confirmed cases of unprovoked shark attack on humans. Only 3 of these attacks were fatal.
More people are killed by bees every year than by sharks.
So the liklihood of you being attacked by a shark is VERY VERY slim. You are more likely to be hit by lightning than to be attacked by a shark.
One thing I would suggest would be to do some research on sharks, learn more about their behavior. They really do have a mostly undeserved bad reputation.
And if your phobia of sharks really is that bad and you want to overcome it, I would suggest seeing a psychologist... someone trained in dealing with the treatment of phobias.

 

[sebae0]

guessed we all watched to many jaws like movies huh? i would say the best rememdy is to confront your fear, maybe start by looking at them in a tank and make yourself watch them. you do know that sharks don't like human flesh, its usually a mistake when they bite someone. if it was true after they bit someone they would come back and finish eating them right? all those movies about sharks and my favorite one " piranha" got me scared alot, even in freshwater lakes.
confront your fear! and enjoy the ocean. good luck

 

[cboyfan2020]

go get in a cage and go diving with them. I have always wanted to do that so I cant really comment on the fear of sharks part but I can comment on my fear that I overcame. I hated being up high...not because of the height but because I hat that feeling you get when you fall really fast...G-force I think it is. I hate rollercoasters for that reason. I confronted it by jumping off the high dive when I was a little kid. Not really afraid of it anymore. Just dont like it.
If a shark bites you it will more then likely just let you go when it realizes you are not a seal or a sea lion. Kinda like snakes. Give them respect and their space and they are more then happy to run the other way.

 

[fishy88]

i used to be the same way. when i was little i used to think sharks were in my pool.

 

[fish boy]

maybe go to a place were you can dive with sharks in a tank like the living seas in disney the sharks are only about 5 feet long and when i first was going in the tank all i was thinking about was the sharks but i think they were more afraid of me then i was of them once your in the tank underwater and you see they actualy arent going to hurt you. there are somemany cools things in the tank you forget your with sharks and now that i have dove with them when i am scuba diving in the wild i am not scared of them at all

 

[fshhub]

fear me!
but not the fishes, they are beautiful creatures and as you know, highly over rated as killers.
a little time with them, should convnce you of that, unfortunately I think I have to agree that must be one fear that has to be hard to conquer.
Good luck and hlpe you get past it, under the surface, the ocean is sooooooo beautiful.

 

[grouperhead]

Don't listen to JWT, he's a little girl .
Bo

 

[fshhub]

Originally posted by Grouperhead
Don't listen to JWT, he's a little girl .
Bo
yeah, i hear he looks cute in a skirt and high heels too.

 

[fshhub]

i have to admit, tho
trying to imagine you in high heels and a skirt kinda cures me of my fear of sharks