discouraged...

[JimJam]

Remember, human beings were not born to be waterborne creatures...some might be more comfortable, but regardless it is a learning experience for ALL of us, some just have to work harder at it than others. SO WORK HARD AT IT!!! It's well worth it!

 

[Santa]

I believe that sometimes all the natural, and often very reasonable anxiety that is associated with learning to dive is just looking for a concrete expression.

Have a runaway during training and that's what you'll be worrying about. Have a repeat and it may feel like the heavy hand of fate pressing doen on you.

But it's not.

One way to deal with anxiety is lowering expetations and the level of challenge to a point that fits you and take it from there. Successful repeats is good therapy. Unsuccesful ones should be contemplated and adressed but not obsessed with.

My respect for bringing up your worries. All the best.

 

[pacificparadisedivers]

Anxiety~

It happens to lots of folks and I see it all the time.... yes I will have to admit that it still happens to me on occassion.

Spend more time doing the basics- maybe in a pool or warm water some place. The more you do it, the easier it becomes to overcome real world problems. Also find an instructor that understands the issues at hand and is willing to go the extra mile to help you overcome them.

No one is a natural born diver.... it is just not natural for us to breath underwater. Although I will say that it does come easier to some than others- but with time patience and practice just about anyone can do this sport.

A lot of it has to do with confidence. Once you have seen a problem before and figured out how to overcome the issue, it gets easier to do later. This is all built on solid training and combined with experience.

Please whatever you do- don't give up! It is well worth the work!

Enjoy-

 

[Lili Lemieux]

Hi all,

Question for divers out there who have had "anxiety" problems...

Is it possible to overcome this?

I had a bad experience for my OW...lips froze after 45 min at 40 degrees in 5 foot vis...I started breathing in water and the DM took me up from 40 feet. And promptly got a speech about "fixing problems underwater", although I'm not sure what I could have done to stay warmer- my rental suit didn't fit well. Anyway, I've done 10 dives since then, each time practicing skills on the platform to get more comfortable and staying relatively shallow. I feel like I'm getting more comfortable, but the OW thing still haunts me.

One of my very experienced buddies commented that there are those who were born to dive, and those who were not. This hit me kind of hard. I'm clearly a "not", but I want to work through it b/c I'm a grad student in ocean engineering and diving will likely be a part of my career. Sooo......is it possible to get over the anxiety??? I want to be a good diver so badly, but I don't want to keep beating my head against a brick wall if I'm just not born to dive.

thanks for all input.
smash

Where were you diving in 40 degree temp? It must have been hell - and viz was only 5 feet? Oh my God you are so brave!!! I certainly could not have done that, period!! It's no wonder you were anxious - I would have been a nervous wreck (probably, I wouldn't have done the dive at all). You should have bitten that dive master!!! Don't think you can't dive.

OK - the best way to overcome this problem is change your diving venue - get out of that cold water!!! Try Cozumel where the water in 84 degrees and the viz is 150-200 feet!! You can see for ever down there and it's stunning!!! At first, when I started diving, I too, felt nervous, but it gets better with more diving. Personally, I experience vertigo in poor viz, so the clearer and warmer the water, the more enjoyable it will be - no need to dive in ice-cold water. Good luck and keep me posted!!!

Lili Lemieux

 

[Vtdiver2]

Oohhh!!! That comment just makes me want to POP the arogant POS right in the nose. There are NOT people born to do or not to do ANYTHING! Some things are easier for some, but that doesn't mean the rest can't do them just as well with a little work. Aptitude only gets you part way. How bad you want it determines sucess or failure, NOT aptitude.
You can ABSOLUTELY get past this. In fact, if you go forward with determination you can and WILL become a better diver than your "buddy" who was "born to dive". It may take some resolve to face your aprehension, but if you do that and keep practicing you will be amazed at what you acomplish. One of the most rewarding feelings in life is to reach the point where you find pleasure in something you once feared. Do not give up! The reward for sticking it out is too great.

-Ben

I agree with AIRSIX, if you want this bad enough, you CAN do it. Sounds like you got the equipment issues solved, next thing I'd do is find an instructor or experienced diver who's willing to spend time with you to work out your anxieties and isn't going to just write you off.
It sounds like you could be trying too hard. Relax and enjoy it and then it'll come. Even though it's going to be part of your career, it's also supposed to be fun.
Good Luck and keep us posted on your progress,
Chris

 

[DelightedDiver]

Try a few easy warm water dives and that may help. One of my friends had a really rough OW experience and she is now a diving diva and is working on her master diver certification. One of my worst dives was in 42 degree water with low vis -- it was terrible. I'm only a warm water diver now.

Hang in there -- it gets better!

 

[nisswavic]

My husband recently had anxiety problems in his OW check-offs. He quit before going under water twice. We solved the anxiety with hypnosis. As I am trained in clinical hypnosis I recorded him a tape to use. He used it once the day before the dive and swears that is how he could complete his certification. He has been diving 3 more times since he certified a week ago. I would suggest that you find a competent clinical hypnotist, Private insurance covers this therapy. Good luck!

Hi all,

Question for divers out there who have had "anxiety" problems...

Is it possible to overcome this?

I had a bad experience for my OW...lips froze after 45 min at 40 degrees in 5 foot vis...I started breathing in water and the DM took me up from 40 feet. And promptly got a speech about "fixing problems underwater", although I'm not sure what I could have done to stay warmer- my rental suit didn't fit well. Anyway, I've done 10 dives since then, each time practicing skills on the platform to get more comfortable and staying relatively shallow. I feel like I'm getting more comfortable, but the OW thing still haunts me.

One of my very experienced buddies commented that there are those who were born to dive, and those who were not. This hit me kind of hard. I'm clearly a "not", but I want to work through it b/c I'm a grad student in ocean engineering and diving will likely be a part of my career. Sooo......is it possible to get over the anxiety??? I want to be a good diver so badly, but I don't want to keep beating my head against a brick wall if I'm just not born to dive.

thanks for all input.
smash

 

[ch0ppersrule]

I had anxiety problems just trying to snorkel. It wasn't natural to put your face in water and breathe at the same time. I finally got over that and took to diving until I had to take the mask off. I did the pool work just fine and when we got to the ocean and it was time for mask removal I freaked out. After 4 attempts my instructor (who was totally patient and tried talking me through it) went on to a different skill. I was already bawling (more because I really wanted to do this and wasn't able to) so it made for a great rest of the dive. I finally calmed down and after the rest of our skills the instructor asked if I wanted to try again and finish up. It took alot of talking myself into getting the mask off then swimming. I finally did it and could have kicked myself in the butt for worrying about nothing. My problem is that I cannot swim without holding my nose. I have over 200 dives now with no problems and when we go to the pool I stick my face in the water and don't hold my nose. I am still working on not sucking water through my nose, but I overcame the fear/anxiety and LOVE diving. I believe you can overcome this and become a great diver. After your first good dive you will relax more and more.

Melissa

 

[smash731]

Hypnosis! That's so interesting...I'm definitely going to look into that.

I'm in Florida now, and even though I'm too far north for good vis, the water is warm and I'm starting to be OK. I even petted a manatee last week! Being a "working" diver helps because I have something on which to concentrate underwater so I don't think about how I'll probably get eaten by a shark or some other unrealistic phobia. I still don't trust myself not to panic should an emergency start to rise, so I stay relatively shallow (I work at 29ft). I'm going to sign up for AOW soon at the recommendation of my dive partner. Anxiety can be overcome...slowly....

 

[triciask]

I too am a clinical hypnotist and can attest to the Hypnosis as well. If your anxiety is preventing you from concentrating on the important issues such as diving, hypnosis is a good venue for behavioral changes. I highly recommend looking into a hypnotist in your area; a good hypnotist will ask you questions on the phone and talk you through basic FAQ's initially before asking you to come in for first consulation.

Good Luck to you,
Tricia

Hypnosis! That's so interesting...I'm definitely going to look into that.

I'm in Florida now, and even though I'm too far north for good vis, the water is warm and I'm starting to be OK. I even petted a manatee last week! Being a "working" diver helps because I have something on which to concentrate underwater so I don't think about how I'll probably get eaten by a shark or some other unrealistic phobia. I still don't trust myself not to panic should an emergency start to rise, so I stay relatively shallow (I work at 29ft). I'm going to sign up for AOW soon at the recommendation of my dive partner. Anxiety can be overcome...slowly....