Facing Your Aquaphobia: A Beginner’s Guide to Swimming

Swimming is the 4^th most popular activity in the US, but it’s also something the majority of the US citizens fear. About 64% of American children don’t know how to swim, mainly due to their fear of water. However, learning to swim is a survival skill that you should learn in your early years.

Before addressing your aquaphobia, it’s crucial to understand where the fear stems from. This water-related fear and anxiety could be triggered by childhood trauma that intensifies over the years. You, as a parent, can also transfer your phobias to your kids if you hold them back from taking up water activities.

The good thing is that this fear isn’t permanent, and there’s hope for it to get better. Know that you’re not the only one suffering from water phobia; it is very common. Research shows nearly 68% of people in the US fear open water, and 48% are afraid of deep pools.

Tips to Help Overcome Your Fear of Water

Exposure is the key player here. Psychologists believe exposure to water to be the best way to help people overcome their fear and anxiety. The logic is simple: the more you avoid it, the more you’re scared of it.

If you’re working to manage your water-related anxieties, here are a few meaningful tips to help you get started:

1. Begin with talking about your fears

As embarrassing as it sounds, acknowledging your fears and confronting them head-on is the first step toward overcoming them and the best way to start. Set up small yet achievable goals for yourself to begin with. Always remember, slow and steady wins the race! Start talking about your fears. Avoiding them will only make them worse and long-lasting.

When you start acknowledging them, they slowly and gradually start to fade away. Reveal your fear to those who know you well and care about you. Sharing your fears with someone you know makes them less terrifying. It’s absolutely fine if you can’t make it in the first go. Keep trying until you successfully do so. When you begin to confide in people about your phobias, you’ve successfully taken the first step toward overpowering the fear.

2. Try walking by the poolside.

We understand that this is something you’d never want to do. You might be so scared because you haven’t yet experienced it. Sometimes we often end up overthinking about something we fear when in reality, they aren’t that dangerous or scary. It’s just that we’ve always perceived them that way. That’s completely normal and something that most people do.

Standing or walking near any water body, be it a pool or lake, will give you the real understanding of how it feels like to be near water. Kudos to you if you’re walking on the pool deck when you’re so scared of water.   It is a great accomplishment for someone who completely avoids water. You don’t need to go too close, but just a walk nearby will help you acknowledge your fears and address them.

3. Give yourself some time.

Patience is the key when dealing with your fears. You might not be able to explain to the other person how you feel, but that doesn’t mean it’s something stupid to be scared off. We completely understand; you might at times feel pressured but don’t stress yourself. Practice deep breathing and calm yourself. It’s never too difficult or too late.  Take baby steps, and don’t try to rush. Even a small step toward overcoming your fears is a significant achievement. Don’t criticize yourself for the failures you come across. Remember realizing the need to overcome your fear itself is an achievement.

4. Work with a trained professional

The presence of an experienced swimming instructor around will make you feel more confident that you won’t drown. The reassurance that you have someone to protect you at all times will motivate you to step in the water. They will also give you various tips and teach tricks to boost your confidence. They can identify when you’re in an uncomfortable situation even before you say as they are experienced and can help you calm down better with various breathing exercises they know.

There are more than 3,100 professional swimming clubs that have professional instructors to guide you through your journey.

5. Practice deep breathing

People often start hyperventilating when they experience panic or a stressful situation. Deep breathing is one of the most effective ways to regain control and feel confident. When you focus on your breathing, your mind diverts from the panic-causing stimuli. It releases endorphins in the blood that travels to the brain, making you feel calm and relaxed. It lowers your blood pressure and brings your heart rate back to normal.

6. Become familiar with water

Splashing water or entering the pool will make your body familiar with water. You can even enjoy your favorite refreshing drink by the poolside while hanging your feet in the water. Although it may not seem like a lot, even the smallest of step that draws you closer to getting into the pool is a massive win in this case. You can try stepping into shallow waters to get used to it. Deep breathing can keep you relax and get rid of the fear and stress at that very moment. Don’t let negative thoughts hover around you. Instead, look at the positive side and be proud of coming this far in your journey.

7. Drench yourself in water

Once you’re comfortable with how the water feels, try moving a bit further and deeper. If you’re comfortable, it’s completely fine. You can first try going to knee depth and then up to your waist, whatever makes you comfortable. Remember it’s not a race but an attempt to make you feel comfortable with something you’re afraid of. So go with what makes you feel safe and comfortable. Getting drenched might appear to be impossible at first, but with time, patience, and practice, you can achieve this step. You can even hold on to the edge of the pool to feel comfortable.

8. Step up!

When you’re comfortable with entering the water, it’s time to get in there completely. Don’t force yourself. Try it whenever you’re ready. You might feel panicked and claustrophobic before you dip your face in the water for the first time, but it’ll all be worth the results. You can hold your breath by pinching your nose and gently dip it in the water. Submerging your face is a significant achievement in the journey to conquering your fears. Regardless of whether you’re wearing floaters, clutching the side of the pool, or staying at the shallow end, if you’re able to submerge your face in the water, you are en route to overcoming your phobia of water.

9. Don’t attempt to swim alone

Even though you may be humiliated or embarrassed about your fear of water, attempting to confront it single-handedly or swimming without any professional help to keep away from the disgrace may feel like a clever thought but could be extremely dangerous. There are drains and pool vents that you might not be aware of with very strong suction power. If you get on the suction radar, you might end up staying underwater for long, which can further escalate your fears.

Bring a confided companion, a friend, or your trainer with you each time you get close to the water.

10. Praise yourself continuously

Compliment yourself every step of the way. Be proud of yourself and congratulate yourself each time you make a new advancement toward overcoming your fear. Reinforcing yourself at each step will motivate you to further move ahead with your journey. It’s a long process that will take time. Till then, make sure you continue appreciating and crediting yourself.

Why do You Need to Overcome the Fear of Water?

Water is something you can’t avoid. Instead of being scared of it every time you come across a lake, a fountain, or a pool, it’s better to address the phobia once and for all. Swimming is beneficial for your overall health and fitness levels. It is an excellent way to work your entire body and cardiovascular system.

Here’s a list of health benefits that can motivate you to overcome your fear of water.

1. Full body workout

Swimming gets your entire body working from head to toe. It builds strength, tones your muscles, and builds endurance. There are different swimming strokes, each of which targets a separate area of your body. Swimming is said to burn 180 calories on average for a person weighing around 125 pounds. Getting friendly with water will help your exercise in a fun way, instead of spending hours in the gym that can be very tough.

2. Manages stress and lifts mood

Swimming is a mood booster. Researches have shown water activities and swimming to have a significant effect on the psychological well-being of people. Swimming and aquatic workouts are psychologically beneficial for people with dementia. People have also been practicing aquatic exercise to help release stress and lift their moods. If you’re feeling low or want to relax, water is the best therapy.

3. Doesn’t stress out your joints

Low-impact cardio is a great workout without stressing your bones and joints. Not just low in impact, swimming is extremely gentle for joints. This makes it ideal for people with disabilities, arthritis, injuries, or anything that makes high-impact exercising difficult. You can easily maintain your fitness levels by stepping in waters even if you’re injured or suffering from ailments that make it difficult to hit the gym.

4. Burns obstinate calories

Swimming is an effective way to burn calories. According to Harvard Health Publishing, a 30-minute vigorous pool dip can burn up to 360 calories for a 155-pound person. Swimming just for fun as a leisure activity can still burn up to 216 calories in 30 minutes. Imagine working out in the gym to burn these calories. It will take so much effort and hard work. But when you’re in the water, it’s a repercussion of you being in the water. So, it’s high time you buckle up yourself to get rid of all your water-related fears to enjoy all the benefits it stores for you.

5. Better sleep

Swimming helps people with insomnia to have a good night’s sleep. It relaxes your body and gives you the peace of mind needed to sleep peacefully without any stress.

To celebrate your victory against your fear, you deserve a luxurious pool in your backyard. Perfect Pools acknowledges your efforts and congratulates you on your win.

We design and build swimming pools at affordable rates.  Our expert landscape architects provide world-class designs for your outdoor spaces. With the latest pool designs, our professional swimming pool designers will completely change the outlook of your place. The professional pool builders and pool designers at Perfect Pools are experienced and trained at what they do; you can rest assured that your home improvement project is in the right hands.

Contact us now to book your free consultation with Perfect Pools!