I don't know why, but when swimming in the lake, I get this somewhat claustic feeling about not getting enough breath. I am a pretty strong swimmer, and have no doubt I can finish the .5 miles in the triathlons I am doing (my second one to happen this Sunday), but I stop stroking and do a slow *** stroke just to calm myself. This would be OK, but I seem to need to do it quite often. I wonder if this is a problem for others? Granted I have not swum in open water very ofen, and with winter on its way I will probably put that off until late Spring.
Another question: At the end of the swim, as I am standing up to exit the water, I most often have a dizzy feeling and that I am going to fall over. Is this just something to live with? Or is something else going on?
I appreciate this forum and all the advice and help I have gotten in the past. Especially the tips for doing my first triathlon in June. I used ALL the tips, and they helped a lot.
Thanks,
Nancy
Parents
Former Member
I don't have much to offer regarding feeling claustrophobic whilst swimming except to perhaps suggest that you focus on your breathing in an attempt to calm yourself- it seems to help with me. I sometimes feel slightly claustrophobic when I'm in practice and suddenly feel stressed because I know that I'm not going to make an interval. I usually make a conscious effort to relax, which seems to help. Oh yeah, I cut out all caffeine, which has also made a difference (I swim in the early A.M. and used to down a cup of espresso before practice, which would really wind me up).
Regarding the dizziness: I, too, used to feel woozy when getting out of the pool after a practice, or swimming by myself. It has pretty much stopped, though, and I think that it may have been a blood pressure thing, as my pressure tends to be low anyway, and exercise will lower it even more. Having said that, though, do you re-hydrate yourself during swims? Most of the dizziness went away after I made a real effort to stay hydrated during practice (dehydration can mess with blood pressure, too)...
peace...
I don't have much to offer regarding feeling claustrophobic whilst swimming except to perhaps suggest that you focus on your breathing in an attempt to calm yourself- it seems to help with me. I sometimes feel slightly claustrophobic when I'm in practice and suddenly feel stressed because I know that I'm not going to make an interval. I usually make a conscious effort to relax, which seems to help. Oh yeah, I cut out all caffeine, which has also made a difference (I swim in the early A.M. and used to down a cup of espresso before practice, which would really wind me up).
Regarding the dizziness: I, too, used to feel woozy when getting out of the pool after a practice, or swimming by myself. It has pretty much stopped, though, and I think that it may have been a blood pressure thing, as my pressure tends to be low anyway, and exercise will lower it even more. Having said that, though, do you re-hydrate yourself during swims? Most of the dizziness went away after I made a real effort to stay hydrated during practice (dehydration can mess with blood pressure, too)...
peace...