Are you afraid to learn how to swim?

swimming - Learn to swim
United States
July 5, 2010 11:00am CST
Hello my good friends of mylot. I have started this discussion to see if I can learn some tricks or tips on how to get over my fear. I love to swim and be in the water. My problem is that I afraid to learn how to swim. I can't seem to get into water that is over my head. I have to be able to touch bottom. Actually I can only let the water get up to my chest and then anything past that I get real nervous. I want to know how to overcome this fear that I have. My husband has tried to teach me but nothing yet. If someone out there has any tricks for me then PLEASE share them with me. I really want to overcome this fear and learn how to swim. Thanks in advance to all that comment to my discussion.
6 people like this
31 responses
@simonelee (2715)
• China
5 Jul 10
Hello, Rose. I'm not a good swimmer but i do know how to swim. Same as you have fear of getting drown. I can swim but not to the extent that i let my head under water. I do sometimes try it but i have to make sure that my feet still touches the sand because i often panic and my breathing is so short so i end up drinking drinking it. My fear started when my dad forcefully teach us to swim. He usually bring us to deep area and leave us. So, i was traumatized. It didn't help me though. I learned how to swim by my own. Want to know my secret? I use a floater to hold on(supine position) and started to relax and when i feel my body was relaxed, i started to release the floater and feel that I'm floating. Just enjoy and you'll learn. Don't force your self. Just have fun with your family.
@simonelee (2715)
• China
11 Jul 10
maybe they thought your not interested in learning? Anyways, it's not late too learn. Once you learned it would be a good weekend bonding with your family. We used to do that when we were a little and together. You know we recently discovered that are mom don't know how to swim. I thought when we where still young she is just busy fixing our things and preparing our food that is why we haven't seen her joining. She's always at the sea shore watching us. Our dad didn't inform us also.
• United States
5 Jul 10
Hello simonelee Yeah I think that is one of my problems of not being able to relax in the water. No one has never forced me to swim but then on the other hand no one never really encourged me to swim when I was smaller. I like the floater ideal and just might give that a try as well. Thanks for thoughts.
@juicekodai (1121)
• Philippines
5 Jul 10
we have the same problem.. i love the beach but i cant really swim.. i would love to learn but too afraid to drown.. one time when me, my neice and my dad went swimming in the beach, early in the morning for exercise.. i tried to practice on how to swim. my dad has been supportive.. but gets frustrated because i would stop.. im afraid that i might end up in deep water..
1 person likes this
• United States
5 Jul 10
Yes that is how I am. If I get to the point to where I can't touch bottom I will start to panic. Hubby has tried several times but I just can't get over the fear. Thanks for your comment. Have a great day and keep smiling.
1 person likes this
@azis74 (228)
• Indonesia
7 Oct 11
and when we panic it will be easier to sink
@skysuccess (8858)
• Singapore
5 Jul 10
Treading Water - It is important always to remain calm, relax and in correct posture when you tread water.
rosepedal64, Not really knowing how confident you are in the water, I just like to let you in on how to go about gaining water confidence. This confidence is always neglected by novice swimmers and when that happens picking up swimming will always be a daunting task for them. In swimming, you cannot be all tensed up like running on land because if you tense up in the water you will sink. So, whenever you have a situation in the water, try finding a way to breathe and remain relax at all times. For a start, you should have a swim cap on at all times so that you can tuck your hair away and not affect your vision or be too concern to brush away your hair when your head is above the water. I always see students struggling with their hairs when they recover from the water. The next thing you should learn to do is breathing with your mouth, just like when you are on land, you need to breathe to live. So, when you are in the water you must always learn the proper way to breathe when you are swimming or treading water. Also, you must learn to leave some air inside you when you exhale as this air will let you feel comfortable, prevent you from choking if you are unable to catch a breath on a wave lash and most of all it helps you with your flotation. After you have learned how to breathe, you will need to learn how to open your eyes in the water without the aid of goggles. This is to let you get accustomed and comfortable with submerging your head in the water even when you loose your goggles or when your goggles suddenly starts to leak. You have to be able to practice with the above until you can perform them instinctively, like second nature. After that, you will need to learn how to prostrate on the water of a shallow pool and then stand up without any aid or loosing your balance. You may start with the side of the pool to grab hold of the gutter if you loose your balance. You will also need to learn how to lie supine and recover into standing position as well. Breathing in this position should not pose much problems than recovering to standing position. So, practice this as much as you can here. After you have accustomed to it, you may want to do the across the breadth or length of the pool. You may also do it with your breathing exercise, as swimming is really about coordination and movement synchronization. With this exercise, you should be able to learn and feel what it is like to balance, float and most of all glide. Once you are proficient enough, you will then proceed to a slightly deeper end to learn treading which is basically a coordinated movement to stay afloat in the water. Basically, you will need to remain calm and relax at all times as you go about finding the right tempo and rhythm for your body weight. As women have more body fat than men you will find that floating is no mean feat for you and treading water will be easier because of this physiological fact. You will need to remain in a siting position at all times with your upper body leaning slightly forward. Legs are bent around the knees and feet pointing out sideways, which you will kick outwards alternatively and recovering with your knees bent. (see pic attached) Your arms will help you keep your balance by moving around in circles with both palms facing down. The movement will be quite similar to wiping your dinner table with both hands. Practice this at the side of pool, grabbing the wall for confidence and feel. Once you feel comfortable practice from arms distance. Remember to breathe with your mouth and keep some air inside you throughout. I think if you can keep all these in mind, then I am quite sure you should be able to overcome your phobia of deep water. Have a nice day.
• Singapore
6 Jul 10
Swimming Ear Plugs - Hard - Pre-Molded Rubber plugs which is one of the types of swimming ear plugs available off the shelf.
You are welcome, rosepedal64. I am just glad to help and will be looking forward to your updates. I hope that you will find the above helpful but at the same time, if I may remind you to be patient and never to neglect picking up the much needed water confidence first. Remember, Rome was not built in a day and so is learning to swim. @LetranKnight25, You can always get a silicone swim cap and a pair of swimming ear plugs to protect your ears from water and infection. There are many brands and types on the shelf available for you, just choose the ones that you feel comfortable with.
• United States
5 Jul 10
WOW Sky. This is very helpful. I have never in my life had anyone explain it to me in this matter. I will differently give it a try and keep you posted as well. Okay now all I need to do is get hubby to take me swimming and let practice these things. You are a big help. Thanks again. Keep smiling..
• Philippines
6 Jul 10
this is good tip right here. trouble, he can your ears be covered most specially to those like me who have ear problems. we better keep this info just incase, thanks a lot sky.
1 person likes this
• United States
5 Jul 10
Hello rosepedal64! I too, used to be afraid of the water. Do you know how to swim in shallow water? Because it is in shallow water, you will always be able to touch water. I feel that if you learn how to swim in shallow water first, it can help you overcome your fear. The other thing I did to help me stop being afraid of water was bouncing along the bottom of the pool. Now I don't mean going all the way to 8-10 feet just bouncing along, but just far enough that you have to bounce a little in order to keep your head above water. If neither of these work, try wearing some floaties, going as far as you dare, and then just a little bit beyond. However, I recommend that you at least know how to swim in shallow water first. Any further than that though, you can try counseling to help drive out your fear of water. Good Luck!
1 person likes this
• United States
5 Jul 10
Hi classie I never thought about this before. I haven't even tried to see if I can swim in shallow water. I think that might be something that I will give a try. Thanks for the suggestions. Have a great day and keep smiling.
• India
6 Jul 10
Don't worry initially u will have many problems like this.....later on u will pick up. Even I had fear before I swim....now I am alright.
• United States
6 Jul 10
I hope that I can pick up the ideal of swimming. I just need to get past my phobia of swimming. I know it sounds funny since I love the water so much. Thanks for sharing.
• United States
13 Jul 10
Thank you
• India
7 Jul 10
Don't worry....I know u will learn fast. God bless u dear.
@carpediem17 (1315)
• Singapore
6 Jul 10
i am a swimmer and have taken to the water as a child. I notice that children have greater adaptability to the water. I have tried coaching an adult friend and note that adults have too much fears and inhibitions and refuse to let go of control (i.e. adults often want to be in control of a situation). Perhaps it would be good if the adult learner should learn how to float first to gain some level of confidence - maybe under the guidance of a family or friend (a competent swimmer). Once some level of confidence is attained, further progression with a swimming instructor would be good. I think letting go of one's fears step by step would be a good start to learning how to swim. Begin with the end in mind.
• Singapore
6 Jul 10
I have learnt to float, and I can trap water but I could not swim! There seems to be some problem with my hand, leg, nose and lung coordination because I always don't seem to take in air after my head comes up. So after about 3 strokes or so, I have to stop and take a deep breath then start again.
• Singapore
6 Jul 10
I think hand eye condition is important also. Perhaps working on that aspect helps one in moving forward in the pool.
• Singapore
6 Jul 10
sorry, hand eye coordination.
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
11 Jul 10
I had that problem too, especially when trying to learn from family members or acquaintances. The solution for me was to take lessons from a professional swimming teacher and after that I loved to swim and had no more fear.
• United States
11 Jul 10
Hi drannhh Good to see you. I hope everything is going okay your way. I wanted to go swimming this weekend but things didn't go my way.LOL. Hubby ended up helping his mom with a water leak in her house and it just went from there. Maybe next weekend will be better. Thanks for sharing and have a good day.
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
7 Jul 10
I discovered in 2002 that I have fear of heights. And for some years after that, I was afraid of roller coasters, the especially fast ones with drops. One year I went on California Screaming and Disney's California adventure, and it was miserable. The next year I went on it with a different attitude. I started the ride with a big smile and told myself to just let loose and scream on the scary parts. It was great. So I don't know if this helps any at all, but maybe a change in how you approach it?
• United States
7 Jul 10
Someone else had told me the same thing. I do have a different attitude about it now. Im even going to bed at night telling myself that I can learn how to swim. I will see what happens this weekend..I hope..
@cream97 (29087)
• United States
6 Jul 10
Hi, rosepedal64. I am not afraid to swim. Unless someone teaches me, I am not. I could not swim on my own.. I will need someone to guide me. I can't go past 5 feet deep at all. I can only stay into the 3 feet deep water.
• United States
6 Jul 10
I went to the pool the other day and stayed in the 3 feet while a girlfriend of mine and granddaughter was over in the 5ft. I was just too nervous about going that deep. Im going to work on this hopefully this weekend. Wish me luck.
• Philippines
6 Jul 10
hello rosepedal, I remember when i was in the boy scout camping back in my elementary days. i had an opportunity to learn how to swim but unfortunately, i was too scared and got this ear problem already so, when we were practice to float one of my foot was at the pool wall, every one was able to float and swim, except me that was probably the first and the last time i got a chance to swim or even practice to swim.
• Singapore
6 Jul 10
Swimming Ear Plugs - Soft Moldable Silicone plugs to prevent water from entering your ears when you swim or bathe.
LetranKnight25, I am sorry but what is that ear problem you are referring to here? Is it otitis media? I think if the condition does not keep you away from swimming then I am sure a pair of swimming ear plugs might help you. There are currently 2 types of fear plugs available in the market - the Soft Moldable Silicone plugs and Pre-Molded Rubber plugs. Both are excellent choices for protecting the inner ear from entering water. Anyway, I hope that you will have that ear treated by a specialist as your problem seems quite serious to me. Take care.
• United States
6 Jul 10
My hubby's brother has an inground pool. We went over there the other night and everyone was playing games in the water and here I stood next to the wall. I felt so out of place. This is why I decided to learn how to swim. Im going this weekend with hubby and see if he can help me overcome this fear.
@sasalove (1709)
• China
6 Jul 10
I am the same as you that I fear of the water. I think the basic reason I should blame on is I have been ever drown once when I was 5 years old. I seems that I would not independently swim away. I have been to the swimming pool more than 20 times. However, every time I went there, I just diving along the swimming pool and never have the courage to swim toward the center of the swimming pool. When my colleage and I go together, they tried to help me overcome the fear. one of them held me in the arm to make me balance and the other one held my feet to correct my movement. I felt what is swimming at that time as my body is tired after a few miles. They tried to let me go, but I screamed and yelled and drank a lot of water. If I never fell down, I don't think I could learn how to ride a bicycle. If you are not ready to drink enough water of swimming pool, you will never learn how to swim.
• Singapore
6 Jul 10
Kiefer Aquafitness Belt - A swimming flotation aid to help you in the course of learning to swim without worrying on how to float.
sasalove, I think it would help if you could try and seek out a swimming instructor to teach you. Let him teach you how to overcome your fear of the water and instill back the needed water confidence in you. If you cannot get an instructor, then you may consider getting your an Aqua belt (see attach pic) when you go swimming. This is actually a flotation aid for beginners like yourself where you are having a hard time keeping yourself in a correct swimming position due to your phobia. You may go through my tips above to pick up the water confidence skill and proceed further. I do not advocate holding of hands and/or legs during learning like what you have described as this will impede the necessary movements to learn how to swim actually. Take care.
• United States
6 Jul 10
Hey Thanks for the pic. I will myself invest this. I too sasa am afraid of drowning. I think what sky has suggested will help us both. Let me know how it turns out with you as well.
@sasalove (1709)
• China
12 Jul 10
Hi Skysuccess, Thanks very much for your suggestion. I did not see the Aqua belt here before. Is it expensive? People always say that if you use the life buoy to learn swimming, you are never going to swim by yourself. Does it the same effect as the life buoy? I am just afraid that I rely too much on the Aqua belt.
@mspitot (3824)
• Philippines
7 Jul 10
I learned how to swim when I was in first year college. It was on our Physical Education class. I didn't have choice but to learn how swim. When we had to get our face submerged in the pool to float, that was the part that I was really scared that I was even noticed by my teacher. The next activity, I tried to think that I was just on a pool so I can just stand if I don't feel comfortable so I let my face be in water and I was able to float and move in the water while floating. I was very happy that time cause finally I did it. After that I was able to do the next lessons easily cause I have Faced my fear.
• United States
7 Jul 10
I have gotten several suggestions that I think will help me thru the process of learning how to swim. Im looking forward to this weekend to give my new attitude about swimming a try. Thanks for sharing and hope that you have a good day.
• Philippines
5 Jul 10
Hi there, I had the same problem before when I still learning how to swim. I was very nervous and really afraid when the water will reach past my head. I just don't like it when I am underwater already. My cousin helped me learn how to swim. The first thing we did was not to be on water immediately, we actually spoke about my fears and we tried to figure out what I was really afraid of, in my case, I was actually afraid of drowning, so before we start a session, I had to remind myself that if I learn how to swim then I will not drown at all and that my cousin is there to help me eventually. He always held my hand to assure me that someone is physically there and that I am not gonna drown. We started off by submerging my whole body in water so I would overcome my fear, it took some time, believe, and it's not easy especially when things would start to get into my mind again like thought of drowning and dying that way. After some time, I eventually got past that and it was actually easier learning to swim after that.. I hope this helps and good luck to you my friend.
• United States
5 Jul 10
Thanks barney. My husband has worked with me before but I just couldn't do it. I was afraid that he wouldn't know that I couldn't breath under water. I really want to learn how. I see all these adults doing it looks fun. Thanks for your tips and I will try to remember that I am save with him by my side.
• Philippines
16 Jul 10
No problem rosepedal, good to know I was able to help in some way. Good luck and pm me if you're already a good expert swimmer.. LOL.. God bless!
@markphil (285)
• Philippines
6 Jul 10
When the time I was 10 years old and do not know how to swim there is the fear that I could be drown. I learned how to swim from my friends, all of friends that time know how to swim and they are enjoying it, because of that, it makes me more comfortable to learn how to swim with them because I also enjoyed that time.
• United States
6 Jul 10
yeah that is how I am. I see all the people having a great time in the pool. I want to be in that crowd. Thanks for sharing.
@moondancer (7433)
• United States
6 Jul 10
Fear is a condition of the mind. When you over rule this condition you can do many things. You can keep telling yourself that you will and can learn to swim! Never say a negative like I can't or even can I...but "I will and can swim". If you tell yourself this over and over before going to sleep it just may help. You will be conditioning your mind to accept that you can swim and you will build more confidence in your abilities. Good luck!
• United States
6 Jul 10
Hi moondancer. I believe in things like that. It had never enter my mind to do that. I think I will start on that tonight and maybe by this weekend I get hubby to take me swimming and might actually be able to it. Thanks for the suggestion. Have a great day dear.
• Philippines
6 Jul 10
Hello rosepedal64! We're two of a kind! But I can't say I am afraid of the water for I love riding on boats. I do love the waters. It's only that I really don't know why I never succeeded learning how to swim despite all my attempts and efforts. I've already reached the point wherein my relatives and friends have all given up their hopes about seeing me swim. Hahaha I was told that it is a lot easier to learn on seawater because it is easier to float on such. Yet, all my attempts actually failed. So this discussion of yours is truly interesting. I finally might get some tips, too so I can give learning how to swim another try. :-) Thank you very much and good luck to us!
• United States
6 Jul 10
You are welcome. Im not so much afraid of the water either. I just can't seem to calm down enough to learn how to swim. Im like you I love boats and anything to do with the water. Just don't let water go over my head.
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
6 Jul 10
I learnt how to swim as a child so I don’t have a problem but if I hadn’t I am sure I would be facing the same fear as you. Learning things like that as an adult is generally much more difficult than it is for a kid! I know facing the fear is the way to go and I wonder if you have ever attempted going out to deeper water wearing arm floats or something similar; you could have someone go with you and when you are comfortable with the floats you could remove one and eventually the other. I don’t know if it would work but it may be worth a try...
• United States
6 Jul 10
I think it is harder on an adult to learn how to swim than a child. A child has no fears like us big chickens do.LOL.
@tigeraunt (6326)
• Philippines
6 Jul 10
dear rose, floating is the first basic that you should learn and when you are able to, you get the guts to go a little deeper and then deeper as you learn. i did learn in waist deep water. never more than that. i learned to relax (like lying down in bed), not to place the weight on my hips or butt. try floating where the water is calm .. not choppy. i do not swim very well but i am now more confident to go a little deeper like water 3 feet over my head. in open sea, i bring a floater (with two feet long string (something like a cloth rope). i tie the rope in my one hand, and when i feel a little tired, i pull the floater where i can climb on to it, put my weight in the floater and i know i will not sink. and, a must, i do not go alone. always there are people nearby so that when something unthinkable happens, i have life savers nearby. happy swimming. ann
• United States
6 Jul 10
I knew that when I started this discussion that I would get some really good response but I never dreamed it would be this good. You have explained things to me very well. I like the way you think and will give it a try as well. Thanks for sharing your tips.
• United Arab Emirates
6 Jul 10
It has been one of my dreams to learn swimming. I want to learn to save my life in times of emergencies. I have fallen in a well once and there were people around to save me at that time.. There may be times when no one is with me....
• United States
6 Jul 10
A WELL !!!! Oh my gosh. If that would have happened to me I would done for. My sister told me that when I was 6 months old that the family had went swimming and she carried in out into the lake. She lost her balance and dropped me in the water. I wonder if that is why Im scared to learn how to swim.
@ajadon10 (48)
• Philippines
6 Jul 10
I'm not aware that I have fear of swimming. I realized it only when someone told me that I'm afraid because I don't swim. Honestly I don't like to swim because I prefer to go to highlands and view from the top. I like to visit beaches only to enjoy nature by walking on shores and stay outside feel the sea breeze. I ones visit a resort to swim and I enjoyed it. I moved on poolside because I remember I don't know how to swim. I guess do not hesitate and think in advance that you're afraid to swim.
• United States
6 Jul 10
Yes I knew that I had a fear of swimming. Im not scared of water. Well at least I don't think I am. I will take any chance to get in the water. I think it is fact of being over my head in the water. Thanks for responding. Have a good day.