How To Overcome Fear Of Water

Fear of water, especially deep water, is to some extent normal if you cannot swim. But if you can swim and suddenly develop this phobia, you should act before the new fear of water restricts you too much in your everyday life.

Fear of water, especially deep water, is normal to some extent if you cannot swim. But if you can swim and suddenly develop this phobia, you should act before the new fear of water restricts you too much in your everyday life.

How does fear of water arise?

Fear of water is also called “aquaphobia”. If you think that this is normal and do not limit yourself, since you do not sail around the ocean every day, then you are mistaken: you should do something about it in the basics.

Because what initially only announces itself as a fear of deep water can develop into a pronounced phobia, in which those affected can later find it difficult to perform everyday activities such as daily showering or bathing.

Fear of water needs treatment and the sooner you do something, the better!

How does aquaphobia arise?

The fear of water is based on a variety of causes, which are often personal, but very often related to the fact that those affected cannot swim or can only swim very poorly.

This is the first point you can take preventive action against aquaphobia: learn to swim and teach your children to swim early!

Unfortunately, learning to swim is no longer as natural as it used to be. In Germany, only about half of ten-year-old children can swim well enough to stay afloat.

As a parent, you can take swimming lessons to prevent your child from developing a fear of water!

If the person affected by aquaphobia can (or was once able to swim), a traumatic experience in connection with water is usually the trigger for a newly emerging fear of water.

But that too can be overcome if you tackle it!

How can you overcome fear?

It doesn’t work alone. If you are afraid of water, you need to seek professional help.

If the aquaphobia is only mild, look for special courses offered by swimming clubs or the DLRG. These are usually aimed at adults and not children.

In the first step, you will be taught (again) in the course of the therapy to dip your head under water without fear. Simply laying your face on the water can be an insurmountable obstacle for those affected, which can ultimately be achieved with specially trained trainers or therapists.

Ideally, in the course of the therapy or training, your own ability to swim and thus always be able to stay afloat will be trained so that you can regain self-confidence and thereby reduce your fear of water.

More tips

Like many anxiety disorders, aquaphobia sounds ridiculous at first, which is why many sufferers feel ashamed and do not address the problem or only address it when it is already restricting everyday life too much.

Even admitting the shame of not being able to swim or not being able to swim sufficiently drives many sufferers into isolation and a world of lies, excuses and avoidance strategies.

W he is honest with himself, can also open about his problem and work on its solution.

If your anxiety disorder is very pronounced, you should combine psychotherapy with swimming lessons and entrust yourself to someone who supports and accompanies you in your process of approaching the water.

Prevention

Aquaphobia is not uncommon and is unfortunately becoming more and more common, because many parents can no longer swim well enough to teach their children to do so.

Since there are usually no more swimming lessons in schools in Germany, parents are required to teach their children how to swim, which is essential for survival.

Use your children as an opportunity to improve your own swimming skills. There are also swimming lessons for adults!

If you pass on your fear of water to your child, they will not learn to deal with water themselves and will be restricted in their life by your phobia.

Learning to swim is the best way to prevent aquaphobia! And we are sure: if you can swim well, you will have fun and will pass this positive approach on to the youngsters.

Don’t give aquaphobia a chance, learn to swim and teach your kids it early!