Remember, these tips should be done with a friend, family member or swim instructor present. Even though the above tips can help people with aquaphobia overcome their fear of water, swimming classes are the surest way to glide, float, and stay safe in the water. Rather than visiting your local public swimming pool, choose a thalassotherapy centre. Attending such sessions and listening to how someone overcame their fear of flying or fire may give you useful insights on how to confront your own fear of water. Just don’t forget to celebrate your achievements! Of the 19.2 million American adults who are diagnosed with a phobia, the fear of water – or Aquaphobia – is one of the most common. Aquaphobia or fear of water does not affect the daily activities of an individual so many people do not seek treatment for it. We particularly recommend a self-hypnosis program. While these tips can help children or adults overcome Aquaphobia – swimming lessons are the best way to learn techniques to tread water and swim safely. You will be taught how to actively confront situations, memories, and thoughts that trigger your fear of water. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Some people go into a complete panic mode when they see water or come into contact with it. Interoceptive exposure will be introduced to help you confront these bodily symptoms. The goal — what Dash considers to be the mastery of aquaphobia — is to float peacefully in deep water for at least five minutes, 10 feet from a wall or support. Since you’re required to keep a journal of all these events, with time you will have created a reliable pattern of your thoughts, both positive and negative. Once comfortable with knee deep water, slowly move to waist deep and then chest deep in the water. You may be asked to hyperventilate for a few minutes or hold your breath in a safe and controlled manner, or an antiperspirant may be prescribed to minimize sweating. While holding on to the edge, practice kicking and focus on the feeling of holding your weight up right in the water. Useful Resource: 14 Reasons Why Anxiety Sucks (And How To Fix Them). Connect by text or video with a U.S. board-certified doctor now — wait time is less than 1 minute! In this article, I'll explain exactly how we create fear – and every other emotion – and reveal one of the most powerful known methods to overcome Aquaphobia. Over time, a series of small successes will increase y… In a shallow end of the pool, hold one hand onto a railing or edge of the pool and pinch your nose... 3. Although you may think that aquaphobia and hydrophobia are the same, the former term relates to a social phobia wherein you experience an irrational and ongoing fear of water. You just don’t overcome your fear overnight. In this article, learn about the symptoms, potential causes, and treatment options available. Overcoming Aquaphobia. Here, you’ll learn how to challenge your believes and thoughts about water in general and your fear for it. Fortunately, there are ways to overcome the fear of water forever. What Is Somniphobia? You are not alone in this aquaphobia battle. In a shallow end of the pool, hold one hand onto a railing or edge of the pool and pinch your nose with the other hand and gently dip your face in the water. 6 Empowering Tips For Overcoming Aquaphobia 1. Exposure Therapy. Later, the condition may have escalated to something hard to attend to. can help them feel comfortable in the water and teach them potentially life-saving swimming skills. These fears can also a negatively impact a person’s well-being as they seek avoidance mechanisms to … You might be given homework assignments, such as filling the bathtub with a few inches of water and stepping in, or visiting the ocean while remaining safely on the shore. They’ll start to sweat, have trouble breathing, and in severe cases, lose consciousness. She swam competitively for 18 years, is a five time All-American, a Division I National Champion, was co-captain of Team USA at the 2007 World University Games and was named a finalist for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award. Practicing being near water and taking swimming lessons can also help you confront your fear of water and get you swimming safely. We all learn things differently, and what worked for someone else may not work for you. Talk to your instructor before the sessions about your fear of water and find out what strategies they would employ to help you overcome it. Controlling anxiety … Your therapist will use the recordings to help you replace the negative perceptions or thoughts with more positive and constructive ones. If just thinking it causes you to start to feel the fear, it’s time you did something about it. Can a person overcome his fear which now has turned into a phobia? This is because it targets the behaviors that people develop in response to memories, thoughts, or situations that are deemed frightening or fear provoking. How to overcome Aquaphobia On average about nine people die from drowning in non-boat related incidents every day in the United States, according the National Safety Council . Since aquaphobia is considered a specific phobia, it’s treated most commonly with two forms of psychotherapy: exposure therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. Get comfortable with the deep end Slowly continue to walk around until you’re relieved of the initial tension, panic and fear. And one doesn’t need to be next to an ocean or such large water bodies. May 30, 2019 - Aquaphobia is the term which we further explain as ‘Fear of Water’ which is also known as ‘Hydrophobia’. Just because someone confronted their fear … Buy Fear of Water: The Ultimate Guide To Overcome Aquaphobia Or Fear Of Water For Life by James Scott (ISBN: 9781973194811) from Amazon's Book Store. There are countless reasons why person may find water dreadful, but a previous awful incident always plays a bigger part. Yoga, daily physical exercise, meditation are some effective techniques for overcoming aquaphobia. So, if one of your parents of family members naturally fears water, there is a likelihood of you sharing their fear. When used to treat aquaphobia, the therapist assists the affected person in facing the water-related situation directly. Aquaphobia manifests itself in many ways. However, to overcome the distress and effect caused due to the social and recreational activities, following therapy can be taken. Face the water The Difference Between Aquaphobia And Hydrophobia. A study conducted by the Mayo Clinic, shows that sometimes changes in the brain function can also trigger the development of specific phobias. Like most specific phobias, aquaphobia responds quite well to treatment. Are you wondering how to overcome your fear of water? These ways are developed based on the theory There are those who fear the strong waves or being deep into the water. With a good cognitive behavioral therapist, you’ll learn how to: Every win you document increases your confidence and shapes you into a valiant being. Thousands of others face what you are facing every single day. This is due to their body and bone density. Our swimming instructors are available for all levels, from developing your water confidence through to helping you to overcome aquaphobia from a near drowning. Cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy are some of the most effective treatment plans for people with aquaphobia. Sometimes your therapist may give homework assignments like filling a bathtub with a small amount of water and trying to step in. If an aquaphobia sufferer decides to fully think about the negative experiences instead of avoiding them, they’ll eventually learn that these experiences are not quite as terrifying as they may seem. While some may advertise themselves specifically as lessons in overcoming aquaphobia, all adult swimming courses will assume that the students have some degree of fear or discomfort with the water. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is especially popular. It’s aptly called Overcome Fear Of Water. Even going out in the rain can be terrifying to some people. Rather than visiting your local public swimming pool, choose a thalassotherapy centre. Adults who can’t tread water for a few minutes or swim 25 yards without stopping should be cautious around water and strongly consider swim lessons. An exposure therapist can use a couple methods to challenge the avoidance behavior. As children get older, swimming lessons can help them feel comfortable in the water and teach them potentially life-saving swimming skills. Human beings always stay afloat, either near or on the water’s surface. You see, it’s not the amount of water that triggers the anxiety. Just looking at water can trigger profound fear and nervousness in people with aquaphobia. Therefore, they will be able to reflect and respond to your fear appropriately. Remember to be patient with yourself and only progress to entering the deep end of a pool when you’re ready – don’t force it. This learned avoidance behavior, (in your head), will guarantee your safety. This option is also great … © Clear Comfort 2021. This therapy helps them make an accurate assessment of emotional behavior and reactions to different situations relating to water. If you’re ready to enter the deep end, start by dangling your legs over the edge of the pool and gradually slide into the water, while holding onto the edge. Once you are ready, find a friend, teacher or coach who understands your problem and is willing to help. Aquaphobia refers to an extreme or irrational fear of water. The first feeling a human experience in his life is fear. Aquaphobia definition (a fear of water) Aquaphobia is an abnormal and persistent fear of water often caused by a negative past experience. Your therapist will recommend the best for your specific case. On average about nine people die from drowning in non-boat related incidents every day in the United States, according the National Safety Council. Parents can keep children safe by always having a supervisor watch them when they’re in or around water, whether that’s a pool, lake, river or bathtub. Your therapist will try imaginal exposure. Claire is a swimming and nutrition expert who loves to educate and motivate others to healthier living. A few tips to help overcome a fear of swimming Start by getting your feet wet and try to gradually get deeper into the water When you can stand in water deep enough splash water on your face as if you are washing it. Click here to find a certified adult swim instructor in your area. Transform Your Thinking & Overcome Aquaphobia If you’re committed to overcoming your aquaphobia then we highly recommend following either our Advanced Cognitive Behavioural Therapy course with Paul, or the Changing Limiting Beliefs (CLB) Programme with Joan. If you experience such symptoms when near or in water, let your therapist know. Work on just being close to a pool and graduate to sitting on its side and dipping your feet into the water. Anyone who wants to try to overcome their fear right away would be well advised to follow a few tips: Add some essential oils to the water in order to feel more at ease in your bath. The fear of water is mostly triggered by a prior disquieting experience in or with water. Because you are trying to stay away from certain thoughts, situations, or emotions instead of taking the time to process them. Every achievement counts, no matter how small. Now available in Manchester, Reading and Exeter as well as in London. The anxiety caused by aquaphobia can be life threatening especially for people with high blood pressure or heart disease. How to Overcome Aquaphobia(Fear of Water)? …And in this guide, you’ll discover the tried, tested and proven ways to overcome aquaphobia – even if it’s something you’ve struggled with for years…. After swimming, Claire started coaching and has coached all over the US and even in Switzerland! This phobia can become quite irrational if left untreated. Swim Stress Away: 5 Mental Health Benefits of Swimming, Six Common Swimming Pool Myths: Setting the Record Straight, Lifeguard Lung: The Hidden Danger for Indoor Swimming Pools, Pool Size Comparison: Olympic Size, 25 Meter & 25 Yard, Baby Boom or Divorce Boom: Hot Tubs Offer Romance in the Pandemic Era, [Video] Clear Comfort Check-In: Kyle McCawley, Lamp Rynearson, The Last-Minute Holiday (Eco-Friendly) Gift Guide. Work with a knowledgeable and experienced instructor, 14 Reasons Why Anxiety Sucks (And How To Fix Them), Sudden fear, anxiety or intense panic just by thinking about water, Persistent fear when near a body of water, Realizing that your fear of water is significantly more than the actual threat, An extreme urge to avoid water bodies like the ocean, lakes, or swimming pools or you struggle to get into a shower, Assess emotional behavior and reactions to various water-related situations comprehensively and accurately, Reflect and respond to your fear appropriately. Ever since I brought her home from her foster family, she has had a terrible fear of water: baths, rivers, sprinklers, lakes, you name it.For some dogs, like toy breeds, it is common to find a fear of water. How about when you aren’t able to directly confront your fears? Other behavioral therapies that can be used to treat aquaphobia include: Your therapist may organize group sessions for people with different or similar phobias. While this is commonly used to treat children with aquaphobia and other phobias, adults have also been found to benefit from family sessions. To be at ease while in the water, practice deep breathing and try to relax your body while still on the land. Adults can stay safe in water by swimming with a lifeguard present, not swimming alone and never swimming when intoxicated. In the case of Aquaphobia however, the fear runs far deeper. Have an open attitude and gear yourself for the unexpected. Aquaphobia, and like other types of phobia, is treated using one of two forms of psychotherapy: Exposure therapy; Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) As we mentioned earlier, exposure therapy is based on facing the source of your fear in a repeated, planned manner. Your therapist will help you identify any distorted perceptions or patterns of thinking that result in anxiety. Working up to floating or treading water in the deep end can take years. It might be embarrassing. All Rights Reserved. The more encouragement they give to the person, the higher the chances of getting positive results. Mental conditions such as fear or anxiety and some other types of phobias can be genetically inherited. How to cure aquaphobia (a fear of water) If you are now ready to have this over and done with, here’s what you can expect from us: Deal with the panic There are a number of guaranteed, proven and effective solutions. Sometimes, this fear can be so prevalent that even being sprayed or splashed with water causes a phobic reaction. You will be taught to replace negative self-talk with more positive messages, and learn new behaviors for coping with your fear. But some aquaphobia sufferers just pick up the fear from their parents. Here, you will be asked to imagine the situations or images you fear the most. Nonetheless, with the assistance of a talented healer, simple phobia are often with success managed and even overcome. She also has a master’s degree in nutrition and is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. Here are the symptoms you shouldn’t ignore: If you experience the above symptoms, it’s advisable that you see a mental health specialist. Just thinking about the water itself and the experiences you’ve had with or in it in the past is what brings the fear. The good news is that we have yet to come across someone with a case of aquaphobia that couldn’t be overcome.. Just because someone confronted their fear in only a few sessions doesn’t mean it’ll take you similar attempts to overcome yours. It could be bathing or even doing your own laundry. In some cases, a therapist may also prescribe medication such as sedatives to reduce anxiety, antidepressants to help in emotional balance, or beta-blockers to slow the heart rate. In vivo exposure involves directly confronting the actual stimuli. It can increase the risk of heart attack or damage to the brain’s blood vessels. Deal with the panic 1. The aim of the paper is to put forward the causes of aquaphobia, its symptoms and some suggested ways that can be employed to overcome it. How To Overcome The Fear Of Sleep, Depression Sucks: Here’s 11 Reasons Why And…, How To Treat Aquaphobia: 7 Tried And Tested Approaches, 6 Empowering Tips For Overcoming Aquaphobia, 1. Getting Comfortable with Water Try calming yourself with deep breathing. Even if you sink, your body will come back up on its own. Let’s talk about Aquaphobia. Strategy #1 for Overcoming Aquaphobia or the Fear of Drowning or Water: Face your fear head on. For instance, you may avoid going near water bodies for fear that you’ll drown. This brings us to the most strategic technique for overcoming the phobia of water. Work with a knowledgeable and experienced instructor. You may start experiencing difficulties in relationships or at work or lose contact with your family. If your fear of water is genetically inherited, or the therapist feels that being in a session with people you love will help alleviate your condition, they may recommend family therapy. Something as small as water in a sink can cause this fear. You may also be asked to visit a larger body of water like an ocean or lake while remaining at a safe distance. However, it can be exacerbated by generational fears passed down from parents to children, saddling them with crippling and often embarrassing fear. The objective of exposure therapy, therefore, would be to lessen your fear by helping you get rid of the avoidance behavior. Talk to a doctor now. By painting these images and memories in your mind, you can be able to confront them without actually being “in the situation”. Moreover, avoidance behavior can make the symptoms of aquaphobia stick around for a longer period or even worse, intensify. Being a specific phobia, aquaphobia will usually respond to treatment pretty well. Exposure therapy, also commonly known as cognitive-behavioral therapy, is by far the safest and most effective way to get rid of aquaphobia successfully. You may be required to record your reactions to various events in your life as part of your therapy. The relaxing qualities of the oils will help you to feel more comfortable. Address your fear by gradually entering a pool and letting your body get used to the feeling of... 2. Having A … – Realize that there is nothing to be embarrassed about. The relaxing qualities of the oils will help you to feel more comfortable. Part of this is because the session leaves everyone in attendance feeling obligated to support the aquaphobia sufferer. Others can’t even stand the sight of a swimming pool: Such people have an abnormal and persistent fear that prevents them from getting close to a water body, a condition known as aquaphobia. For instance, if you fear going to a pool you once drowned in, your therapist will suggesting visiting the pool and directly confronting that fear. Well, it’s true, avoidance can be an effective protective response. Walk around the pool to jumpstart your muscles. Maybe you once experienced an excess CO2 build-up in a full-face snorkel mask that almost sent you unconscious underwater. Begin by slowly stepping in a shallow end of a pool and start at standing knee deep in the water. Resource: 14 reasons why anxiety Sucks ( and how to Fix them ) survived... 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