Want to learn how to swim but have a fear of my feet leaving the pool floor and my head falling below my feet.

Question

Want to learn how to swim but have a fear of my feet leaving the pool floor and my head falling below my feet.

Answer 1

Dont b scared. Try swimming in really shallow water at first and keep getting deeper

Answer 2

You are in control of your body while swimming. Despite the lack of gravity, the water in a pool doesn't push you around. Your head will only go below your feet if you want it to go there.

Take some lessons and remember that you get to choose what your body does.

Answer 3

Hard to teach an adult to swim, all sorts of irrational fears.  But since you asked.  Go to the shallow end where you can stand knee deep in the water, take a deep breath and put your face in the water and lay on the water.  Try to maintain this position and control the fear response to pick up your head.  Actually the lower you put your head the better you float.  You will find your feet really never leave the bottom and after a few tries try it in waist deep water.

If you can master this face down floating try it on your back. Resist the urge to sit by putting your head back to the point of it going under the water.  Taking a deep breath will hold you up.

It would be a good idea to do this with supervision but you should work on developing these two skills before enrolling in a swim class and be able to do them with out fear.

I have been able to teach anyone who could do the above how to swim.

You're welcome!!

Answer 4

Have you considered joining a class?  Lots of other people feel the same so getting help is a good thing and learning with others is fun.  You could also ask about private lessons if you feel that would suit you best.  It is really worth while trying to get over this fear as swimming can be so much fun and good for you too.

In the mean time, try holding your breath and ducking your head under the water at home in a nice warm bath.  Goggles really help but most people can cope with this as they are laying firmly on the bottom of the bath.  If you manage that then you will learn to swim -but get lessons