How Can You Overcome Your Fear Of Water?

Overcoming fear of water is one of the first steps to learning to swim. While many people quickly get used to a pool or the sea, others can develop a deep phobia. This makes it more difficult for them to master the different swimming techniques.

This problem is more common than you may think and usually stems from a bad experience or fear of water from your parents from childhood.

It’s actually most common in children, especially if for some reason they haven’t learned to play in the water at a young age or haven’t had swimming lessons in school.

No matter how old you are, there are certain tips to help you face your fear of water and enjoy the benefits of swimming. It does take some willpower and perseverance, but you can really overcome this fear. Do not worry!

Basic exercises to overcome your fear of water

How you overcome your fear of water depends on your situation and why you became afraid in the first place. Sometimes it may be best to go to therapy, where a professional can help you recognize and deal with past trauma.

One of the first steps to getting over the fear of water or the sea is to gradually get used to it again. You need to boost your confidence to avoid those feelings of stress when you come into contact with water.

The exercises below are a good way to deal with anxiety in different stages. They are best for people who have not yet learned to swim because of the fear they experience when they come into contact with the water.

habituation exercise

This first exercise for overcoming the fear of water will help you reacclimate your body to the experience of a swimming pool. This should be a gradual process.

• First, sit on the edge and immerse only your legs in the water.
• Once you get used to the feel of your legs underwater, then gradually move into the shallow end of the pool. You can use the pool ladder, stairs or ledge to help you.
• Finally, submerge your arms and head under water.

• Try to stay as relaxed as possible to avoid feeling like you’re drowning. This will help you understand that there is nothing to be afraid of in this environment.

Safety drill

Feeling safe in the pool is essential to overcoming your fear of water. In this exercise, you focus on mastering your self-control while underwater. The best way to achieve this is to learn to float.

• All you have to do is enter a small or shallow pool where you can stand without any problem.

• Then practice inhaling above water and exhaling slowly underwater.
• Once you feel more confident, you can repeat this exercise in a larger pool or the sea.

Knowledge is power

After you’ve overcome your fear of being in the water, the logical next step is to take swimming lessons. A good swimming teacher will teach you many different techniques for swimming, breathing and dealing with emergencies.

Knowing how to swim can help you feel more comfortable in the water. This is the final step in making the link between a water-based environment and your happiness and well-being.

Tips to improve your swimming skills

Becoming a better swimmer takes patience and discipline. If you want to get better from day one, try following some of these simple tips:

• Start with two swimming sessions per week.
• Once you feel more comfortable in the water, increase it to four to five times a week, but no more than that.
• Avoid too much strenuous exercise. Remember that you should adapt your training program to your physical endurance and goals.
• Keep your head still when you practice front crawl or back swim. Your body is the only thing that needs to turn, at the hips.
• Try to use fewer strokes as you practice.
• Maintain a good breathing rhythm. While there are many methods that you can use while swimming, choose the method that is most comfortable for you. Ideally, you should take a breather every three strokes.

Still struggling to overcome your fear of water? Stop being frustrated and don’t try to avoid swimming lessons.

Try some of the exercises we’ve suggested here and get advice from a swimming teacher to master some basic skills.