Is there any hope for me?

Yes floatings definately out for me too,semiruralgirl

I take my youngest sons and often my GC on holiday,and i sit by the pool or paddle a bit.we went once a couple of years ago,and life guard said " you must be in the pool with under 8's!" I said,"crikey mate,SHE could save ME!"

interested to read your message. I am 78, and had a similar experience in a swimming pool when I was about 9 years old. I was pulled under the water by some other children messing around, and ever since I’ve had a phobia about swimming pools and the echoing sound of children shrieking! I’ve had lessons, and can basically swim, but lose my confidence as soon as I go near a swimming pool. I was ok in the sea, but shaky, and if there was anyone nearby I would just stop. I’d love to be able to swim but just can’t get over my phobia. I’m even scared to float which everyone tells me is a good way to start swimming. I think I need some hypnosis or similar to get over the phobia.

Firstly I think you need to be kinder to yourself. You had a bad experience and a tragedy with your brother. Quote "I feel so stupid, not being able to swim". Really, be kinder to yourself.

Does your local pool to a pool exercise class? No swimming involved, just a lot of faffing around in water with feet firmly on the floor. Maybe see if you can go along and watch one before committing yourself, and have a word with the trainer. Join in as much or as little as you want. You need to find confidence in water first before - and I'm going to say it - chucking yourself in the deep end demanding swimming of yourself.

I love to swim but I know in myself I don't like to be in any depth where I can't touch the floor. I accept that of myself.

My other 'kids' can all swim,and my GC, 2 of them are at quite high levels of training,and even doing diving and now lifesaving,(ages 9 and 11) so maybe i should ask them for lessons when they've completed everything

See thats the thing,neither me nor my son seem to have a natural bouyancy-its same for me with riding a bike,i could never get the hang of it-i never had the balance-and my son is same for that too- very strange!(im definately not learning to bike- ride now!

Stop dwelling on your age - its just a figure that people attach to you. If you are fit and healthy then private lessons are the way to go. Once you have had a few lessons you might be able to join a small beginners group which will be less expensive. Good luck.

I too cannot swim.i went with school a few times,but when instructor said let go you'l float,i sank like a stone! (I only weighed 6 stones back then as well My youngest son(16)is the same- he tries,he sinks,very odd! Ive tried a couple of times as an adult,but i get bad backpain in one area lower back,instructor said it will 'go away' as i 'mustn't be doing it properly' but its always the same! Yes it would be nice,but don't know if its worth the bother now im 56

Go for it GreenGran78 - this time you have a real incentive! What a joy it would be!
?
Good luck!!

Go for it! I have never learnt to swim and would love to, as in this country there are so many lakes and so many opportunities, and everyone can swim, but I would feel self conscious about having lessons as the only "oldie"I dont know if they do one to one here, I doubt it,maybe I will have a go one of these days.
Green Gran let us know how you get on please.

Would you be in the position of being able to have one to one lessons ?
Perhaps by having the instructor give you their undivided attention and knowing the sign that you are beginning to panic a little would help, rather than you getting past the point where you can cope.

Oh Greengran I’m pleased to see your name as I’d forgotten it but knew you were due to go to Australia soon and wanted to wish you a great time. As for swimming ...this may sound odd but when lying in the bath it amazes me how if you just relax, your arms just float to the top and make you realise just how buoyant we are. Relaxation is probably key. Yes, go for lessons but don’t do what my mother did in her 80s and wander into the men’s changing room in error!

GreenGran78 please go for it.
I too have a phobia of deep water but I go swimming regularly at my local pool, and my trick is to keep to the lane on the far left by the side, so that you can hold onto the side if you need to. You can also use the side of the pool to do exercises in the water.
The water is so soothing, it clears my head and is very stress defusing. Swimming is one of the best kinds of exercise too.
Another tip is to have some lessons, and then go to the pool at a quiet time of day, so that you don’t get splashed or dive bombed by over enthusiastic children.
You don’t have to do anything spectacular when you have learnt. You can keep to the shallow end if you wish.
You will not regret learning...I promise you.

I am full of admiration on this one at your bravery for even considering it.

Sounds like you have the motivation. Slowly does it. We remember that story about the tortoise and the hare?

I can swim (though not particularly well). I have a different challenge than you over the next few years...I started learning to drive years ago, but had a few less than positive experiences, but would really like to have another go.

It's never too late!
all best
painting

How I empathise - I was pushed into the pool at school, aged six, by a teacher who got annoyed at my reluctance to jump in - I couldn't swim - and had to be hauled out choking and gasping. I did learn to swim but have never been able to jump in. That is enough - add to that the tragic loss of your brother and I am hardly surprised at your phobia. However - we are never too old to try anything (within reason!) so I say go for it GreenGran - how you will enjoy a swim, and the suggestion of having some therapy to get over your fear is such a good idea. Try - you will always regret it if you don't. Good luck! x

Lots to gain
Nothing to lose

I swim regularly even tho I don't like to put my face in the water. I mostly do backstroke, with the occasional length of breaststroke. It took me a while to adjust to the pool as you can't touch the bottom but the floating lane markers give you something to grab if necessary. You have to be able to relax in the water or you'll sink like a stone! Try floating on your back as if you were going to sleep. It's an amazing feeling, really! Go for it!

I also have a phobia, one that makes me hyperventilate to the point of being sick, then passing out unconscious/fainting. The Dr suggested some CBT (cognitive behaviour therapy) which gives you tools for when you start to panic, and therefore then overcome the fear. Similar to mindfulness for relaxing back down when in panic mode. I think get to the root of the problem first, learn these techniques, then the lessons will be more productive, because if they prove unsuccessful again it reinforces the negative feelings towards your swimming.

Neither DH nor I can swim. He isn't really afraid of water, and I did pay for him to have a week's residential swimming course, which you might think would have cracked it, but no, he can take his feet off the botton and glide, but can't breathe whilst swimming, no-one has been able to teach him that.

I do have a real fear of my head going under. When I was 8 I moved to a school with its own outdoor pool. We had to go in when the temperature was above 50 degrees F, it was freezing and I have always felt the cold anyway. On my first lesson we were told to join hands and play ring a ring a roses. The girls on either side of me held me down under the water and I have been terrified ever since. I had ten years of lessons and nothing worked.

I can get into the water if it is above 27 degrees C, and even take my feet off the bottom with a noodle under my arms, but that is as far as it goes. I would love to be able to swim, but my fear is very much greater!

wow, go for it,, what will it hurt to try! such wondrous times are ahead for us 80 year olds! I quite envy you being able to travel to Australia... what fun! what an adventure! hope you can report back to us in due course. you inspire me!

I don’t know if there are Aquacise classes at your pool, but some non-swimmers attend these at ours, keep very much to the shallow end obviously, but makes them feel part of it and hopefully builds up their confidence.
One newish lady has started going, and after the class she practises on her own with floats. I’m sure if she had lessons, she would soon be away.
My advice would be to go for it. If you don’t, you will always wonder what might have been.

I decided to learn to swim as a challenge to myself when I was 60. It gave me a great sense of achievement and was money well spent. I would go for it greengran78 the idea of a pool in Australia is a great incentive. Good Luck.

GreenGran there is plenty of hope for you. My recently widowed neighbour decided to learn to swim at 72, because since being on her own, she is included on holidays with her daughter and SIL to resorts that have swimming pools and she felt left out when the whole family were in the pool. So she started to take 1 to 1 lessons about 4 months ago. She is tiny by the way! About 5'. She was also 'terrified' at the thought of being out of her depth.

But with a patient swimming teacher ( and a noodle ) ...

she proudly came to show me a video last week of her swimming breast stroke across a pool - on a cruise!

You can do it too!

Good luck.

Didn't learn to swim till I was in my 40s, but even then it was a very gentle breast stroke doing widths across the shallow end as I was terrified of being out of my depth. Did try a length, but when I realised I couldn't touch the bottom I panicked and reached for the side where I clung on for dear life!
I'm still the same, and still terrified. The rest of the family can swim like fish, including the DGDs.
But I think you should go for it GreenGran, you have a good reason and the motivation. Surprise your DD!

Greengran it would 100% be worth doing! Swimming here cannot be compared to a pool in Australia, so all your hard work here will be so rewarded! Go for it!