Learn to swim

dcorcaigh

Hi, I am looking for some advice. I am a 35 year old guy but I can’t swim. I have tried numerous times to learn how to swim but everytime it’s the same problem, whenever I feel I can’t touch the ground or am not within arm distance of the rail I freak out. I don’t think it’s a fear of water as I can get into water no problem (well once its waist deep) it’s when I feel I don’t have control that’s where the problem is. I promised my wife that I would learn how to swim as we are planning for kids and I personally would hate not been able to do water sports with them if we ever did have kids. Like I said at the start I have been to loads of learn to swim classes, group and individual but had no success, could anyone advise another option I could take? Even writing this message is making me anxious. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

Laneyh

have you tried one to one swimming lessons ? you explain to the instructor that you're nervous and build up slowly to swimming in the deep end.

You just want to be comfortable in the water so group lessons where they want to move onto a different skill every couple of weeks mightn't suit.

The other option might be to incorporate it into a holiday. Get some intensive lesson somewhere hot.

If you learn to swim in the sea its a little easier than in the pool - the salt water makes you naturally more bouyant and there wouldn't be the same emphasis on swimming lengths. That's just my thinking- I'm not speaking from experience.

When I was on holidays in Thailand there were a couple there who went snorkelling - the guy couldn't swim and was given a life vest.
Maybe something like that would be a bit too much but if you could find a way of getting out into deeper water where you still felt safe it might help

Best of luck

dcorcaigh

Thanks for your reply Laney. I have tried the one on one lessons before but it’s always the same outcome, huge dread when I go out of my depth. I have also tried the life jacket while on holidays and that also ended with me totally panicking and scrambling trying to get into the boat. That was the last time I tried to learn how to swim and I think that experience has made had things worse.

Would anyone know if hypnotherapy would be beneficial?

Laneyh

Hi

I'm sorry to hear that you had bad experiences. I can imagine its very frustrating
I am not a very strong swimmer myself and not too comfortable when out of my depth. I don't breath properly and get a bit panicky if I can't stand up in the water but I wouldn't say I'm phobic.

I don't really know about hypnotherapy I suppose it would be worth a shot.
You could try it and then maybe do something like aqua aerobics where you get used to being in the water but you're not out of your depth.
Are you ok with submerging your head ? that's the main thing I had to overcome.

Daisy78

Your issue appears to be the need to be more comfortable and confident in deep water. I would recommend finding a good patient tutor who could get you to practise treading water near the pool wall to help you develop your technique. If you panic you can reach for the wall. Gradually you can move a little further away until you can maintain your position in the water. I'm not a strong swimmer and have only recently taken up classes to improve but with a lot of persistance I have become more confident. I can recommend a good tutor for one on one lessons if you are based in the Dublin area.