Fear of waves (cymophobia)

Cymophobia is a fear of waves. It might mean staying well back from the shoreline, refusing to swim in the sea, or feeling uneasy watching waves crash on screen, and boat trips may be out of the question.

About this phobia

The name comes from the Greek kyma, meaning wave, and it is also written kymophobia. It is uncommon and has little clinical documentation of its own. It often sits alongside thalassophobia, the fear of deep or open water, and aquaphobia, the wider fear of water.

What it feels like

• Tightness in the chest when watching waves build and break
• Keeping to the dry sand or the promenade on beach days
• Fear of being knocked over, pulled under or swept away

Explore more unusual fears in the rare phobias A to Z, or browse the common phobias.

Common questions

What is the difference between cymophobia and thalassophobia?

Cymophobia centres on waves, their movement and their force. Thalassophobia is more about the depth and vastness of the sea, and what might lie beneath. Some people feel both, while others are fine in calm deep water but uneasy in surf.

How can you help?

I use hypnotherapy and NLP to change how your mind responds to the thing you fear, so the old alarm stops going off. Sessions are one to one over Zoom, and you get a recording of the hypnosis to listen to afterwards.

How many sessions will I need?

Many clients notice a real difference after one 90 minute session. If the fear goes back a long way, three sessions gives us room to make the change stick.

Ready to start?

Book a £49 consultation call and we’ll talk through your fear, or take the free suitability test first.

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