A fear of swimming actually is a natural psychological reaction to water. Anthropologically, humans are land dwellers and swimming doesn't come naturally to many. Any nervousness that you feel around the water is a perfectly normal and instinctual reaction. Still, a fear of swimming that goes unchecked might not only ostracize you from the general public, but also can be deadly if you find yourself in deep water without the ability to swim. By understanding your fears and working to feel comfortable around the water, you can learn to swim.
Causes
A fear of swimming or of water in general is known as aquaphobia and typically is the result of a past traumatic experience with water, according to "Athletic Business." For instance, if you experience a drowning incident as a child or never learned to swim as a kid, you might find yourself scared to swim as an adult. The negative feelings that you associate with swimming resurface each time you're near water. For some, a fear of swimming also might be a symptom of a medical condition. For instance, people diagnosed with rabies often have trouble swallowing and develop a fear of water after diagnosis.
Building Confidence
Before you attempt swimming lessons or even get in the water, it's important that you build confidence around the water so that you feel more comfortable. This might include spending time recreationally around the water, if not in it. By working to remove the panicky or negative feelings when you're around water, you'll find it easier to learn to swim through lessons. By creating positive memories that involve water, such as family parties, you can begin associating water with something other than a bad childhood memory.
Overcoming Fears
When your fear of swimming prevents you from spending time with your family or causes you to be nervous around water, it might be a situational reaction. For instance, you might have had a negative experience while swimming in the ocean, but generally feel comfortable in private pools. Explore your comfort zone and know what environments tend to trigger negative feelings. Once you find an environment and situation that you're comfortable with, you can begin to overcome your fears.
Meeting with a counselor also might help you identify the roots of your swimming fears and why those fears linger. A counselor can help you with coping techniques that help you see past negative experiences, and use affirmations or anxiety control to help you feel less scared of the water.
Swimming Lessons
Swimming is a vital skill that all children and adults should have for survival purposes. Even if you never plan to voluntarily swim on a recreational basis, knowing that you can swim can help you feel comfortable around water and give you confidence in your abilities. Choosing a Red Cross-approved swimming course can give you an excellent introduction to the basics of swimming, including holding your breath, various strokes and survival tactics in the water. By telling the instructor ahead of time that you harbor a fear of swimming, she'll know to take that into consideration when planning lessons.
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