How to Overcome Fear of Swimming

All of us have some kind of fears, and for many of us, that fear is of jumping into the water and swimming. As with any other kind of fear, there are tried and true methods to help you overcome your terror and dive in. Follow these steps to help you overcome your fear of swimming.

Instructions

    • 1

      Find someone you're comfortable enough with to share your trepidation and experience the water with you. Your partner can help you feel less nervous by offering emotional as well as physical support when you begin going deeper.

    • 2

      Understand that the water is by nature a buoyant friend. This means that water, in its essence, will support your body weight, allowing you to float once you begin to understand how to relax and allow it to hold you up. This is the case for you regardless of age, size or fear level.

    • 3

      Begin by spending time at the water's edge, dangling your feet in and feeling the pleasantness of the water itself. Then, slowly, when you feel more comfortable, walk into the water with your partner. The best place for the beginner is a swimming pool, near the edge.

    • 4

      Consider the fact that water is the source of life. Human beings begin in the womb, surrounded by fluid. We begin our very existence surrounded by water. That should offer a comfort to you if you're frightened of it. Know that water is also one of the main resources we cannot live without. Water is a friend, not a foe.

    • 5

      Take the chance and plunge in. Once you spend sufficient time getting used to being in the water, then it is time to hire a swimming instructor. Take a beginner's class and express to the instructor your trepidation. Then, begin to enjoy the pleasure of truly overcoming a fear and enjoying what previously scared you.