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
Light, the reason that you feel like you are going to drown without goggles is probably related to your fear of opening your eyes. Why can't you open your eyes.
Exposure therapy is generally not succesful in situations where there is a real threat. For example, hanging out with cobras is not going to lesson my fear of them. Being afraid of deep water is rational. Personally I would not recommend ocean swimmng to anyone who refers to freestyle as "the front crawl."
Light, the reason that you feel like you are going to drown without goggles is probably related to your fear of opening your eyes. Why can't you open your eyes.
Exposure therapy is generally not succesful in situations where there is a real threat. For example, hanging out with cobras is not going to lesson my fear of them. Being afraid of deep water is rational. Personally I would not recommend ocean swimmng to anyone who refers to freestyle as "the front crawl."
