Hi Everybody,
I need your help. I am writing a book that aims to help people overcome their fear of water or deep water and I need some input and interviews with anyone who fits the following categories:
1. You are comfortable in the water/underwater. Yet you can remember a time when you were not and can describe in great detail what changed for you.
2. You consider yourself part fish(!) and are extremely comfortable in any one or all of the following: surf, deep scuba, competitive swimming, open water swimming, or freediving. How do you view fear in your activity? Are there things that are beyond your considerable comfort zone?
3. You may be a confident swimmer, but still have fear or anxiety about being in deep water/open water/ or water over your head. What thoughts, feelings, and ideas are contributing to that unease? How do you feel in a pool, lake, river, sea, or ocean?
4. You or someone you know overcame a fear of the water on their own or with the help of someone else. What made the difference?
Obviously, it would be great to have a discussion here, but I am also looking to interview those of you with have interesting things to say that can help other people see their own relationships to water in a new light. I believe that thread content is copyrighted, so I don't think I can use anything posted for my book. I will ideally like to conduct the interview over the phone, Skype, or by email. If you are in Vancouver, BC, I'd be happy to meet you.
Please send me a Private Email if you can help!
Many thanks,
Peter Scott
Vancouver, BC
Parents
Former Member
Dear Peter:
I have given this advice for people totally new to the art of swimming and may have a lot of discomfort or even a phobia about drowning.
I spent a while in Japan where the bathroom tub was actually a deep sink that could be filled with water to about 2-1/2 feet and this was the first time of my life where I experienced the basic sensation of “swimming”. So here’s my personal advice to anyone who has not learned to swim.
Before going to a pool, you might try sitting in the middle of a hot tub until you just become buoyant, which is about chin deep. Then you can just use some broad hand and arm movements to stay afloat. Once you know how to overcome that fearful sinking effect, you will be comfortable with getting in the pool and learning the basic swimming positions. If possible, stay in an area that is no more than 4 to 5 feet deep so if you become uncomfortable or panicky, you can just get on your feet.
Once you are comfortable being in the deep end of the pool, you can graduate to something more challenging (and a lot more fun to). :applaud:
Good Luck -
Dolphin 2 :)
Dear Peter:
I have given this advice for people totally new to the art of swimming and may have a lot of discomfort or even a phobia about drowning.
I spent a while in Japan where the bathroom tub was actually a deep sink that could be filled with water to about 2-1/2 feet and this was the first time of my life where I experienced the basic sensation of “swimming”. So here’s my personal advice to anyone who has not learned to swim.
Before going to a pool, you might try sitting in the middle of a hot tub until you just become buoyant, which is about chin deep. Then you can just use some broad hand and arm movements to stay afloat. Once you know how to overcome that fearful sinking effect, you will be comfortable with getting in the pool and learning the basic swimming positions. If possible, stay in an area that is no more than 4 to 5 feet deep so if you become uncomfortable or panicky, you can just get on your feet.
Once you are comfortable being in the deep end of the pool, you can graduate to something more challenging (and a lot more fun to). :applaud:
Good Luck -
Dolphin 2 :)
