I started to learn to swim back in March. Since then, I can do the basics such as the front crawl and back stroke. My problem is that I don't feel comfortable in water that I can't stand up and actually touth the bottom of the pool. That restricts me to staying in water that's 5 1/2 feet or less. I use to be afraid to backstroke in 3 feet of water and I got myself out of that once I learned to stand myself up while in the water. I have not made any progress since. I won't even allow myself to learn to tread water because I am afraid to even get in deeper water even though the ropes and the wall is there for me. I don't know what to expect. Does anyone have any suggestions for me? What happens if I try to get myself to a stand up position in deeper water? Will I start to go down? My goal is to be able to get into 12 feet of water and be comfortable, and then I want to start swimming in the ocean. But, I don't know what's holding me back. I know it can be done because Masters can do anything in the water. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Parents
Former Member
I learned to swim as an adult, after a lifetime of being terrified of water. So, I know what you're going through.
First, as a swimming teacher pointed out, swimming in deep water is just like swimming in shallow water, except you can't put your feet on the bottom. These words weren't exactly comforting, but he was right--the big deal isn't the technical stuff (there's a bit of that, I guess), it's the irrational fear. Once you can swim a decent distance in shallow water, you can swim in deep water. You might start by building that distance if you don't have it--I think I was able to do well over 200 yards non-stop before I went into deep water for the first time. However, I was warned that you have to be comfortable with water in order to be able to tread water.
It's also comforting if you have a lifeguard keep an eye on you. You might try to get someone to go into deep water with you (sort of like "the buddy system" mentioned in school safety units).
I know of another "fearful" swimming program. See www.adultswimminglessons.com (also see an older site www.beafish.com). However, I think regular teachers should be able to deal with fear issues. If they can't, they shouldn't be in the business.
For me, the transition to deep water was pretty fast and sudden. A lifeguard I knew suggested one night that I might think about going off of the diving board some time. I thought he was crazy--I'd thought that lifeguards were supposed to save lives, not endanger them. He twisted my arm, and did convince me to swim in deep water for the first time. About a month later, I had gotten confident enough so that I could jump off the diving board. During that time, I spent a lot of time swimming in a diving tank, and working on trying to go under without TOO much terror. Going under was the hardest part (although swimming across a diving tank wasn't exactly easy, either.) Ironically, though, that working on going under was the most helpful thing for me. Once I realized that I could go under water (which is the last place someone afraid of water wants to go) and then get back up to the surface on my own, much of the fear went under control.
Your approach will vary. Everyone is different, and I'm sure that I had A Plan before I got started, which probably changed many times. (Actually, my original idea was that I'd swim in deep water enough so that I knew I could take care of myself, and then retreat to the shallow zone for good.)
One problem is that I think it can take a long time to get comfortable. It probably won't happen the first time you hop into the deep end. Take it one step at a time. The time range is hard to predict. It took me a month before I was willing to go off a diving board. But, even then, I still had a dislike of deep water. But, even now, I have occaisional twinges of fear--although I just ignore them.
One thing in your favor is that it sounds like you're ready for change--you're sick of the status quo.
Good luck!
I learned to swim as an adult, after a lifetime of being terrified of water. So, I know what you're going through.
First, as a swimming teacher pointed out, swimming in deep water is just like swimming in shallow water, except you can't put your feet on the bottom. These words weren't exactly comforting, but he was right--the big deal isn't the technical stuff (there's a bit of that, I guess), it's the irrational fear. Once you can swim a decent distance in shallow water, you can swim in deep water. You might start by building that distance if you don't have it--I think I was able to do well over 200 yards non-stop before I went into deep water for the first time. However, I was warned that you have to be comfortable with water in order to be able to tread water.
It's also comforting if you have a lifeguard keep an eye on you. You might try to get someone to go into deep water with you (sort of like "the buddy system" mentioned in school safety units).
I know of another "fearful" swimming program. See www.adultswimminglessons.com (also see an older site www.beafish.com). However, I think regular teachers should be able to deal with fear issues. If they can't, they shouldn't be in the business.
For me, the transition to deep water was pretty fast and sudden. A lifeguard I knew suggested one night that I might think about going off of the diving board some time. I thought he was crazy--I'd thought that lifeguards were supposed to save lives, not endanger them. He twisted my arm, and did convince me to swim in deep water for the first time. About a month later, I had gotten confident enough so that I could jump off the diving board. During that time, I spent a lot of time swimming in a diving tank, and working on trying to go under without TOO much terror. Going under was the hardest part (although swimming across a diving tank wasn't exactly easy, either.) Ironically, though, that working on going under was the most helpful thing for me. Once I realized that I could go under water (which is the last place someone afraid of water wants to go) and then get back up to the surface on my own, much of the fear went under control.
Your approach will vary. Everyone is different, and I'm sure that I had A Plan before I got started, which probably changed many times. (Actually, my original idea was that I'd swim in deep water enough so that I knew I could take care of myself, and then retreat to the shallow zone for good.)
One problem is that I think it can take a long time to get comfortable. It probably won't happen the first time you hop into the deep end. Take it one step at a time. The time range is hard to predict. It took me a month before I was willing to go off a diving board. But, even then, I still had a dislike of deep water. But, even now, I have occaisional twinges of fear--although I just ignore them.
One thing in your favor is that it sounds like you're ready for change--you're sick of the status quo.
Good luck!
