Phobia of Swimming, but now I'm forced?

Question

Ever since I was younger, my parents forced me to learnhow to swim. Well then I quit because I had a deathly fear of swimming if the water was deeper than my height.

So now 4 years later, I'm going to the Y to swim. First off my parents think I'll grow if i swim because I'm so short. so they got their friend who will help me or something. They don't realize how scared i am and how embarrassing it is to be so old and not know how to swim. How can i overcome this soon-to-be humiliating experience? Please help. thanks.

Answer 1

Try practicing in the shallower end to assure yourself that you can stay afloat and that you can swim. Then progress to deeper water until you are eventually to the deepest end. By the time you get there you should be over the fear and realize that you can do it.

Answer 2

What I'd look for is that you're comfortable in the water. First, try swimming with an aid (i.e. lifejacket, flutter board, etc.) and go into deeper water. When you realize "Hey, this isn't so bad!" Try letting go of your aid for a little bit (1-3 seconds) and grab back onto it. Then increase the time, until you can swim on your own. You can swim beside the lane rope, so if you panic, you can grab on and avoid having the lifeguard jump in  (we don't like getting wet). As well, try to practice kicking on your own. Get a flutter board, or noodle, and practice kicking width-wise across the pool, this really helps with your swimming.

Really, you're just looking to raise your comfort level, so every time push it a little, go a little bit out of your comfort zone.

In one of the adult classes where I teach, there was a woman who came there having no clue how to swim, and in 4 weeks she could do an entire length on her own.

This is the best help I can give you (not having seen you swim.)

Answer 3

me too. i used to be terrified of the water, but i took small steps and now I am very comfortable in the water. I held onto the side of the pool in the deep end, dunked my head in the water, and eventually let go. you realize that you start to float up and that it's actually easier to float in deeper water.

I know how you feel, I went swimming with friends and had to hide the fact i couldn't swim. I just tried my best and they actually got me to do things I was hesitant to, they were encouraging me and helped me overcome my fear.

Visualization helps too. Before you get in, picture yourself swimming it the deep end, how easy it is... and when you get in the pool Just imagine your swimming in shallow water, or imagine you knew how to swim your entire life.

Answer 4

i was really scared of swimming (i still am), and i was forced to swim at school.. i wouldn't have passed if i hadnt swam that 150 meters.. i was almost crying at the edge of the pool and one of my classmates just "threw" me into the water. i was totally terrified, but i didnt drown (well, i would have if i hadnt got a hold of the edge of the pool=/ ).. and after that i still had to swim that 150m.. i still need to do it again twice (im SO gonna die....)

i still cant swim and i never go swimming on my  freetime..

You could go swimming somwhen when there's very little people at the swimming hall, like really early in the morning etc

Answer 5

This is no advice, but maybe telling you this will make you feel better since you aren't the only one that's scared.

All freshman at my school are required to take swimming. I'm am so terrified of diving in the pool. I'm even scared of jumping in. And I'm wearing a life jacket. I can swim in the 5ft with no problem and I'm about 5ft 5in. But when I get to that 12ft, I'm scared. I'm really scared of jumping in though, not swimming. I'm forced to do it as well. The school year is almost over with and I'm forced to jump from the diving board (not the edge, which I was scared to do that as well- but I did.) to be able to past this test.

Maybe you should start of wearing a life jacket- like I'm doing. But my whole thing isn't swimming, it's about diving in water that's taller than me.

I'll be back to see what advice they give you.