Learning to swim as an adult

[Viney]

I admire anyone who learns a thing like this when they are older, well done you.

I learnt to swin in spain i think it was. I was thrown in the deep end, and off it went...sink or swin basically

Ear plugs?

You probably have an abundance with the very nice sounding bike you're OH has

Originally Posted by Speedy Claire

I always think that as good as a partner might be if they`re teaching you anything there`s always the potential for an arguement

Well we were fine last night, I only get frustrated at myself and I can't justify being angry at him when he's using his time in the pool with me when he should be getting fit doing more lengths haha. If it was my own mother teaching me then there would be arguments I'm sure!

Sally, earplugs are an option yes but I want to conquer the problem, not use ways to get around it if that makes sense

Originally Posted by ophic

My dad was like that, before he had proper lessons. He started learning properly in his 40s iirc.

I find I twist my body or my legs don't kick properly in the same motion.

Well done you!!...can't be easy overcoming such a phobia(given your previous history in the water),just wondering,do you wear a nose clip?as a lot of people can't get past 1st base as they hate the water going up their nose & find it really offputting when starting out.......just a thought.

Originally Posted by sv-robo

Well done you!!...can't be easy overcoming such a phobia(given your previous history in the water),just wondering,do you wear a nose clip?as a lot of people can't get past 1st base as they hate the water going up their nose & find it really offputting when starting out.......just a thought.

No I haven't bothered. Nor with goggles or earplugs. It's not that I don't like the water, I love water hence why I want to be 100% comfortable with it. It's the fact I don't trust it, although I think I'm getting there, ever so slowly...

Thanks for all the comments everyone, you're helping lots

[Littlepeahead]

Well done for learning. I took lessons when I was 27 - I found a neighbour who also couldn't swim so we went together then rewarded ourselves to a big bag of fish and chips afterwards. I still don't enjoy it but I'm swimming with elephants in Thailand next year so it was worthing doing the lessons for that alone. But I have all the bouyancy of a house brick!

[anna]

I remember that my mom was adamant that I would learn to swim because she couldnt. She then took lessons at the same time I was learning to swim to also try to encourage me to keep going.

Well done MYC it´s an incredibly brave thing to do to overcome a fear

I do remember though about watching something by the hypnotist Paul McKenna... I normally dont like him, but this was a series about him using his powers of suggestion in a positive way for people who were afraid of the water, and other fears.

Not sure if that is something that you could look up and see if he has a DVD or something to try and think about the panic you feel a little differently to able you to learn to swim without the fear?

My sister is a swim teacher, but she is based Exeter way so couldnt help you but I will have a chat with her and see if she has any ideas.

Thanks Anna, that would be fantastic

firstly, well done!, its an important skill to have being able to swim
i taught my dad the swimming basic's on a holiday we had a few years ago and he was 54years old at the time, it was quite upsetting for me watching a grown man especially being my dad struggle in the water, but we kept trying and he ended up being confident enough to try swimming in the sea by the end of the holiday

the way we did this was to try and make it more fun than hard work, try not to do too much at once then end up gettin frustrated with yourself as you'll end up knocking your own confidence, it'll come with time and patience, as they say practice makes perfect

im sure before long you'll be so confident you'll wonder what all the fuss was about, good luck and keep at it!