How do I get rid of my fear of drowning?

Breadcrumb

1. You’re not alone! Be honest with yourself.
2. Trust. You have to find trust in those around you as you work to overcome your fear.
3. Start Small. There is no need to jump in headfirst! Start by dipping your feet and legs into the water of the shallow end of the pool.
4. Learn to Float.
5. Blow Bubbles.

What to do after you almost drowned?

Call 911 or your local emergency number if you can’t rescue the drowning person without putting yourself in danger. If you are trained and able to rescue the person, do so, but always call for medical help as soon as possible. All people who have experienced a near drowning should be checked by a health care provider.

Why am I so scared of drowning?

The most common cause of aquaphobia is a previous negative experience. 1 If you have been through a near-drowning experience, shipwreck, or even a bad swimming lesson, you are more likely to develop a phobia of water. Learning to swim is a rite of passage for many children, and frightening experiences are common.

Is Near drowning traumatic?

Victims may experience brain trauma, the inability to speak, walk or even feed themselves. Drowning rates in the state have flattened, tapering off after a steady decline that followed a push from fire departments and hospitals to educate families on water safety, as well as state ordinances to keep pools more secure.

Can near drowning cause brain damage?

Oxygen Deprivation from Near-Drowning Can Lead to Brain Damage. In cases of drowning, not all victims die. Fatal drowning are usually the most publicized, but what the public often doesn’t hear are the tragic stories of near-drowning survivors who face lifelong disabilities due to the lack of oxygen to their brains.

How common is the fear of the ocean?

How common is thalassophobia? Phobias are very common. According to professional diagnostic criteria, approximately 7–9\% of people in the United States have a specific phobia in any given year. However, there are no estimates of how many people live with thalassophobia specifically.

Why do I panic in water?

As you get into cold water, your heart rate and blood pressure increase and that fight or flight reflex gives you a surge of adrenaline. But this passes after a few minutes and you will relax into your swimming. It’s not just about allowing the first couple of hundred metres of each swim to overcome panicked feelings.

How can I overcome my fear of the ocean?

If you feel you need help overcoming your fear of the ocean, a mental health professional can help. Thalassophobia may be treated through cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy, both of which have a high success rate.

Is it normal to be afraid of the ocean?

For some people, a minor fear of the ocean is something that can be dealt with easily. For others, being afraid of the ocean is a much bigger problem. If your fear of the ocean is so strong that it has an effect on your daily life, you may have thalassophobia, or a phobia of the ocean.

How can I help someone who is afraid of water?

If you or someone you love is afraid of the water, connect with them, or advocate for your local pool to get their staff trained by them.

How do you overcome aquatic phobias?

In profiling aquatic therapists like Jeff Krieger of Strategies for Overcoming Aquatic Phobias for the Water chapter of Some Nerve, I observed several differences in his approach vs the standard beginner class: Starting the lesson outside the pool and establishing trust. Very often anxious students are told, “there’s nothing to be afraid of.”