How do I get over an irrational fear?

[Deleted]

I don't know where this fear came from, but I have a really bad fear of being on a boat smaller than a cruise ship. I can't even get on a catamaran booze cruise type boat without thinking I'm going to die.

I don't really get motion sickness, but the bobbing around makes me feel like the boat is going to capsize and I"m going to drown and die.

In NZ my friend wants to take a catamaran out to swim with dolphins. I really want to do this, but I'm terrified of getting on a boat to do it.

How do I get over my stupid fear?

[amandasw]

are you afraid of swimming?

[jennlin]

grow a pair

[tacocat]

Drugs

[jennlin]

Oct 23, 2012 15:47:43 GMT -5 tacocat said:

Drugs

i was going to suggest this, but it isn't safe, considering she'd be getting into the water shortly after to swim with dolphins.

[FrozenSunshine]

I'm opposite, little boats don't scare me, big boats do.

Can you swim? Does wearing a life jacket make you feel any safer?

[amandasw]

ok, see, this is why I asked if you're afraid of swimming: if your fear is of the boat going under and drowning, that would only make sense if you can't swim. If you CAN swim and a boat was to start going down, you could jump out and swim, right?

[Deleted]

I can't swim and a life jacket doesn't help. I was in swim lessons for years as a child, but I never learned.

I've tried to grow a pair and I just can't. I don't knwo what it is, but I honestly feel like I'm going to die. One year we were coming back from Victoria on the Clipper and hit a patch of rough water. I bolted for the back of the boat, curled up in the fetal position in the stairwell and practically pushed an old lady out of the way to get off the boat first.

[amandasw]

Oct 23, 2012 15:52:10 GMT -5 @uwhuskygirl said:

I can't swim and a life jacket doesn't help. I was in swim lessons for years as a child, but I never learned.

I've tried to grow a pair and I just can't. I don't knwo what it is, but I honestly feel like I'm going to die. One year we were coming back from Victoria on the Clipper and hit a patch of rough water. I bolted for the back of the boat, curled up in the fetal position in the stairwell and practically pushed an old lady out of the way to get off the boat first.

so, you're not even interested in swimming with the dolphins then? I thought you wanted to do that and needed to get over this fear to get to them! Honestly, I can't think of a better way to 'fix' it than to learn how to swim.

HOWEVER, I will, for your sake admit my own embarrassing fact: I can't ride a bike. I tried over and over, I had a bike as a kid, I had a teacher in HIGH SCHOOL bring her bike to school so I could practice. I just can't. At this point I just don't care anymore and I live my life just fine. I've come to terms with the fact that I'll never bike around the Alps or whatever, but I have other ways of enjoying those places. All that's to say, it's ok if you don't want to learn to swim, but I see that as the best way to get over the boat fear.

[Deleted]

I do want to swim with dolphins. That's why I'm trying to figure out how to get over this. And I want to go to Antarctica. Both of which involve getting on a smallish boat.

How long does it take to learn to swim?

[sarack]

the reason you have that fear is because you don't know how to swim. let's go to the local lake, i'll teach you. or pool.. wait, i have a pool at my apartments!

[tacocat]

Oct 23, 2012 15:49:05 GMT -5 jennlin said:

Oct 23, 2012 15:47:43 GMT -5 tacocat said:

Drugs

i was going to suggest this, but it isn't safe, considering she'd be getting into the water shortly after to swim with dolphins.

My lol didn't show up! Haha, I was kidding

[Deleted]

Oct 23, 2012 16:11:58 GMT -5 sarack said:

the reason you have that fear is because you don't know how to swim. let's go to the local lake, i'll teach you. or pool.. wait, i have a pool at my apartments!

ew no lake water. That's gross.

Is your pool even open right now?

[FrozenSunshine]

www.orcaswimschool.com/Adult_Swimming_Lessons_schedule.asp

[Deleted]

Oct 23, 2012 16:36:51 GMT -5 @legalbritt said:

This is the sized boat I learned to sail in and that I was forced to capsize in.

That is my nightmare.

*shudder*

[Deleted]

So you really think the root of my fear is that I can't swim? UUUUUUGGH. I need to find time for swim classes.

[FrozenSunshine]

I posted a link above for swim classes. They even have a few hour class that is to conquer fears!

I don't remember when your trip is to see if you can fit it in.

[amandasw]

Oct 23, 2012 16:57:45 GMT -5 @uwhuskygirl said:

So you really think the root of my fear is that I can't swim? UUUUUUGGH. I need to find time for swim classes.

yup, that's the thing that makes the most sense. If you could swim there would be no fear of drowning

[sarack]

absolutely that is why! you need to learn to swim and then going on boats will be your new thing!

[dawnyp]

Wait if you can't swim how could you go swim with the dolphins?

[Deleted]

Sf- I don't know where it is. My friend just found it, but its somewhere in the north island. We're driving down the west coast I think.
Dawnyp- I was just thinking I could put on a life jacket and bob? I'm ok with that, but boats are no bueno.

[amandasw]

Oct 23, 2012 18:23:07 GMT -5 @uwhuskygirl said:

Dawnyp- I was just thinking I could put on a life jacket and bob? I'm ok with that, but boats are no bueno.

this is confusing, lol. so if you wore a life jacket on a boat you would be scared, but wearing a life jacket in the water next to a boat is not scary?

I give up.

LOL

[Deleted]

Oct 23, 2012 18:26:12 GMT -5 @amandasw said:

Oct 23, 2012 18:23:07 GMT -5 @uwhuskygirl said:

Dawnyp- I was just thinking I could put on a life jacket and bob? I'm ok with that, but boats are no bueno.

this is confusing, lol. so if you wore a life jacket on a boat you would be scared, but wearing a life jacket in the water next to a boat is not scary?

I give up.

LOL

I know, right?! I can't explain it. Something about being on my boat sends my brain into panic mode.

Oh, I have a hard time putting my face in the water to snorkle. Does that make this irrational fear any more normal?

[FrozenSunshine]

Oct 23, 2012 18:30:29 GMT -5 @uwhuskygirl said:

Oct 23, 2012 18:26:12 GMT -5 @amandasw said:

this is confusing, lol. so if you wore a life jacket on a boat you would be scared, but wearing a life jacket in the water next to a boat is not scary?

I give up.

LOL

I know, right?! I can't explain it. Something about being on my boat sends my brain into panic mode.

Oh, I have a hard time putting my face in the water to snorkle. Does that make this irrational fear any more normal?[/quote

Did you just want to bob around and watch the dolphins fins come up every once in a while?

[Deleted]

Oct 23, 2012 18:41:45 GMT -5 FrozenSunshine said:

Did you just want to bob around and watch the dolphins fins come up every once in a while?

Yes.

Is that a waste of an activity since I just want to bob around with them?

[amandasw]

alternative idea: you practice swimming and follow the boat all the way out there

I'm deeming this fear totally irrational because you somehow aren't actually afraid of drowning.

oh, what if you were on a boat in a swimming pool 2ft deep?

[Deleted]

Oct 23, 2012 18:51:17 GMT -5 @amandasw said:

alternative idea: you practice swimming and follow the boat all the way out there

I'm deeming this fear totally irrational because you somehow aren't actually afraid of drowning.

oh, what if you were on a boat in a swimming pool 2ft deep?

See? I told you!

As long as the boat doesn't start rocking I'm ok. Its the rocking motion that makes me think its going down.

[amandasw]

Oct 23, 2012 18:54:33 GMT -5 @uwhuskygirl said:

Oct 23, 2012 18:51:17 GMT -5 @amandasw said:

alternative idea: you practice swimming and follow the boat all the way out there

I'm deeming this fear totally irrational because you somehow aren't actually afraid of drowning.

oh, what if you were on a boat in a swimming pool 2ft deep?

See? I told you!

As long as the boat doesn't start rocking I'm ok. Its the rocking motion that makes me think its going down.

so what if it was a boat in a shallow pool?

[FrozenSunshine]

I'm thinking it's time to look for a new activity.

[Deleted]

Oct 23, 2012 18:57:49 GMT -5 @amandasw said:

Oct 23, 2012 18:54:33 GMT -5 @uwhuskygirl said:

See? I told you!

As long as the boat doesn't start rocking I'm ok. Its the rocking motion that makes me think its going down.

so what if it was a boat in a shallow pool?

Um yeah, so a few years ago we were on oahu and h convinced me to get on a sunset booze cruise. The boat was docked, tied up and sitting in shallow water as we were getting on. It started rocking and bumping a bit and I freaked out and ran off the boat... leaving h to explain to the guy why I was crazy.