fear of drowning essay

Aquaphobia – The Fear of Drowning

While bodies of water are sometimes seen as calming, a place where one can relax, there can also be a logical reason to be fearful or scared. The water can very quickly can become an uncontrollable element, something that a minute before was rocking you gently now is attempting to drag you to the bottom. Whether you know how to swim or not, drowning can occur to anyone and is something we should be cautious over, but for some this fear can be immense.

A type of phobia, Aquaphobia is defined as the fear of drowning.  Although it is recognized as a disorder, it is not specified in the DSM-5 rather it is classified as a Specific Phobia. These phobias fall into one of 5 categories (i.e., animal type, natural environment type, blood-injection-injury type, situational type, other type) with Aquaphobia falling under the natural environment type. To be diagnosed with Aquaphobia, an analysis by a licensed clinician must be done to evaluate the history of experienced symptoms and the effect these experiences have had on one’s daily life.

What are the symptoms of Aquaphobia?

For individuals with Aquaphobia, being around water or even anticipating being around water can create immense anxiety because of being afraid to drown. While everyone can present a number of symptoms and a unique combination of these symptoms, they typically fall under three categories: psychological, physiological, and behavioral.

Psychological Symptoms

Because Aquaphobia falls under an anxiety disorder, common symptoms include those found in other anxiety disorders such as excessive fear due to exposure to the stimuli or even anticipating exposure. As a result, panic attacks can be quite common and are accompanied with a number of other symptoms we will discuss shortly. Not only are these symptoms, but psychological symptoms also include cognitions such as irrational thoughts regarding water and drowning. This symptom is critical for diagnosis because it is the core of any phobia, an irrational and debilitating fear of something that commonly shouldn’t be feared. While we did discuss being cautious around water, we do not need to believe we are going to drown every instance we are near water.

Physiological Symptoms

Additional symptoms include the physical reactions following exposure or anticipation of exposure to the negative stimuli. In the previous section we discussed panic attacks and if you are aware physical reactions are a tale tell sign of a panic attack. Thus, physical symptoms individuals with Aquaphobia can experience include sweating, a racing heart, dizziness, and difficulty breathing.

Behavioral Symptoms

Lastly, behavioral symptoms will most likely also be present and can look like avoidant behaviors. For any person scared of something, logical or illogical, we tend to avoid it at any cost to keep from experiencing the fear or being harmed. Now avoidant behaviors of individuals with Aquaphobia may look like the assumed avoidant behaviors (e.g., not going to pools) but can also look like avoiding small quantities of water (e.g., a bath or full sink). Asides from these avoidant behaviors, isolation can also be behavioral symptom

What are the causes of Aquaphobia?

So, we have defined Aquaphobia and have discussed its symptoms but how does one develop Aquaphobia? The answer is not so simple because like many disorders and diagnoses the reason something occurs can have multiple factors that increase the likelihood. Psychologists and licensed practitioners have identified three main factors or causes that lead to the development of phobias like Aquaophobia: Psychology, genetics, and one’s environment.

Psychological

One factor to consider as a possible cause for the development of Aquaphobia are psychological reasons. Not to be confused with previously diagnosed psychopathologies, psychological factors here typically refer to traumatic experiences. It could be very plausible for an individual to have experienced almost drowning or even witness a drowning and end up fearing this situation to occur again thus developing a phobia. While these are two examples of possible situations, there is no direct experience that can lead to the development of Aquaphobia.

Family history is also another factor that needs important consideration as to why someone might have a phobia such as Aquaphobia. Like many diseases, diagnoses, or health problems genetics can provide tangible evidence for the development and/or presence of phobias. Specifically with phobias like Aquaphobia, family history of anxiety can provide this tangible evidence as genes related to anxiety can be passed down from parents to children. Of course, the presence of such genes doesn’t guarantee the development of Aquaphobia, but they do increase the likelihood of the individual developing anxiety or other anxiety disorders.

One’s Environment

Another consideration or possible cause for the development of Aquaphobia is one’s environment, the places and people they are surrounded by every day. One’s environment can have a large effect or influence on the development of an individual, certainly on a child or adolescent’s beliefs and perception of the world. Thus, the exposure to other individuals who demonstrate anxious tendencies such as extreme caution of the water can influence a young child to also take on these beliefs. Additionally, there are a few cities across the world that are by water and repeated exposure to news stories about drownings or similar incidents can also impact an individual to develop a fear of drowning.

How to cope and overcome Aquaphobia?

Life with a phobia can be challenging and incredibly difficult, as not only is the fear debilitating but its impact on one’s well-being and quality of life can be crushing. Fortunately, there are a handful of treatments individuals can take part in and incorporate into their lives to cope and overcome a phobia like Aquaphobia.

Cognitive – Behavioral Therapy

One of the most common forms of treatment for phobias like Aquaphobia is Cognitive – Behavioral Therapy or CBT. While there are some techniques individuals can incorporate into their lives without a clinician, CBT is a therapeutic treatment that is done with a licensed clinician with the purpose for an individual to overcome a phobia.

This form of therapy works to identify negative thought patterns individuals have about the negative stimuli, such as drowning, unroot the reason for this association, and finally work to change the negative association to a neutral one. For the first step, identifying the negative thought patterns, several methods can be used like journaling or self-monitoring depending on what works best for an individual. Following this, finding the reason behind these negative associations is also done so that a discussion can be had about why these thoughts are illogical. For example, not every instance with water is going to end in the individual drowning. Once this is done, work can begin to change the negative associations to more neutral ones enabling individuals to not react intensely when exposed to the stimuli. Techniques used to change behaviors at this stage include role-playing, goal setting, and even problem solving

Another form of treatment includes medications, typically anti-anxiety and/or antidepressants for Aquaphobia. Because Aquaphobia is not only a phobia but an anxiety disorder, anti-anxiety medications are usually prescribed by a psychiatrist to manage and lessen the symptoms such as panic attacks or extreme anxiety. Other medications such as antidepressants can also be prescribed to an individual. This is also common due to Aquaphobia’s co-occurrence with depression. Many times, individuals also suffer with depression because of the impact the phobia can have on their lives such as tendencies to isolate oneself or avoid certain situations creating feelings of self-loathing or self-hate.

Related posts:

• Phobias and Fear (50 Common Phobias List)
• Bathophobia - The Fear of the Deep
• Fear of Sharks - Galeophobia
• Fear of Getting Rid of Things - Disposophobia
• Fear of Crowds - Enochlophobia

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How to Overcome Fear of Water

Drowning prevention begins with learning to manage anxiety outside the pool..

Posted December 9, 2014 | Reviewed by Ekua Hagan

• What Is Fear?
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I’ve been traveling the country speaking about facing fear since Some Nerve came out last year. Nowhere has it been more of a life and death issue than the 11th annual World Aquatic Health Conference (WAHC) hosted by the non-profit National Swimming Pool Foundation®(NSPF®) , where I gave a keynote speech in October. This year, the WAHC focused on how to help people overcome their fear of water, to find solutions to the perpetual high rates of drowning in this country, and to begin a conversation amongst attendees on how to move forward.

Look at these statistics:

Two-thirds of Americans are afraid of deep, open bodies of water and 46% are afraid of the deep end of a pool. Thirty-seven percent of Americans are unable to swim, and almost 4000 people a year in the United States die of drowning.

Knowing how to swim (and equally important, knowing how to prevent panic in the water) are unquestionably life-saving skills, but if most swim lessons begin with “get in the pool,” those afraid of that first step will avoid lessons entirely.

Those who enter the pool afraid are often prone to panic at some point in their learning and never go back. Studies show that most children of non-swimmers don’t get enough practice to become competent swimmers themselves, perpetuating the cycle. How can we help the millions of fearful swimmers learn to enjoy the water safely?

We must address the fear first .

Anyone who enters the pool feeling overwhelmed by fear of embarrassment , failing, or being out of control, or who goes into flight/fight mode, will have a terribly hard time listening and learning over their pounding heart and racing thoughts.

In my remarks, I advocated for training swim instructors on how fear and anxiety affect students physically and emotionally, and how to de-escalate the fear and regain control. In profiling aquatic therapists like Jeff Krieger of Strategies for Overcoming Aquatic Phobias for the Water chapter of Some Nerve, I observed several differences in his approach vs the standard beginner class:

• Starting the lesson outside the pool and establishing trust . Very often anxious students are told, “there’s nothing to be afraid of.” But they are afraid. So anyone who says this immediately loses credibility. Taking the student’s concerns seriously before they enter the water makes them feel more safe and able to learn.
• Demystifying the water, explaining the properties of buoyancy, what happens when we’re in it and it goes into our ears or nose, washes overhead, etc.
• Practicing relaxation techniques like breathing and visualization outside the water first so they become easily accessible if needed in the pool.
• Going slow and accepting that it may be an emotional process, but keeping the goal clear: competence in the deep end. While many believe the fear of water is simply too hard to overcome, that isn’t true. In the documentary film Taking the Plunge (produced by Shawnelle King of Falcon Rattler Media) screened at WAHC, we see two of Jeff’s adult students go from tears in the shallow end to swimming laps with pride and joy within 10 classes.

Even more than learning strokes, learning to cope with fear and maintaining ease in the water is what prevents drowning. I can swim but ever since I had a terrifying experience getting swept down a river as a teen , I’ve struggled with anxiety in moving water. I once needed the lifeguard to pull me up in the three feet of water at the bottom of a waterslide, simply because I was flustered and forgot how to stand up. Even competitive swimmers panic — that’s why there are swim angels to help triathletes in the open water. When you get scared, you forget what you know. Teaching people what to do when they feel fear is about the most empowering antidote.

In the U.S. today, there are only a handful of swim instructors who specialize in teaching fearful students (presenting at the WAHC were Jeff Krieger of Strategies for Overcoming Aquatic Phobias (S.O.A.P.) , Melon Dash of Miracle Swim , and Kimberlee Shults of Face in Water ). These pioneers have developed effective strategies that have helped many, many students but there is still so much need out there.

If you or someone you love is afraid of the water, connect with them, or advocate for your local pool to get their staff trained by them . I would love to see basic “Getting Comfortable in the Water” classes as ubiquitous as Toastmasters International which started with 1 club to help people overcome the fear of public speaking and has grown to over 13,000 chapters in 116 countries. Why not?

With the energy, imagination , and commitment of aquatics professionals like the nearly 400 swim program directors, pool operators, health officials, parks & recreation representatives who attended WAHC, everything is possible. Many were eager to brainstorm ideas at the conference — we talked about adding parent classes alongside kids classes, or offering a free private lesson for parents of kids enrolled. We talked about enlisting mental health professionals to get certified to teach or consult with staff. We talked about starting every beginner class outside the pool, with more direct instruction on managing anxiety. We talked about Spanish language classes in underserved communities. Talk that I am confident will lead to action.

Perhaps most moving for me were the swim instructors who told me that they never understood the adult students who couldn’t do basic things like put their face in the water and blow bubbles before. More than one had tears in their eyes as they said things like, “I had students quit after one lesson and I never knew why. I wish I could go back and do it over again,” and “Now, I get it. This is going to help me understand my students a whole lot better.”

What can you do to help? Can you raise awareness of the issue in your community? Can you fundraise to get pool staff trained to teach fearful swimmers? Or build partnerships between health and wellness providers to educate the public about anxiety and drowning prevention? A good place to donate is the NSPF Step Into Swim Campaign , a 10-year initiative to create 1 million new swimmers. So far they have raised $103,427 with matching funds.

Let’s start viewing fear of water as something that can be overcome, and swimming as a human right. All of us can play a part in saving and improving lives by sharing our ideas and then taking the plunge.

Patty Chang Anker is the author of Some Nerve . She also blogs at Facing Forty Upside Down.

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Understanding Factors That Influence Fear of Drowning in Children and Adolescents

2015, International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

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A qualitative single-subject exploratory case study approach was used to examine the effectiveness of an intervention process to assist a 30-year-old female in reducing her fear of water. During the 18-week intervention, systematic desensitization was utilized in conjunction with multiple data sources to determine its success. Data sources included the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), semi-structured interviews, swimming skills tests, collages, and participant and researcher journals. Data analysis examined changes in scores for the STAI and swimming skills tests while an inductive data analytic strategy was applied to organize and make sense of the interviews, collages, and participant journal entries. A researcher’s journal was kept confirming major findings. Results showed a decrease in fear as documented by interviews, participant journal entries, and the post-collage. No differences in scores were noted for the STAI and swimming skills tests. These findings sug...

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Learning to swim via a structured program is an important skill to develop aquatic competencies and prevent drowning. Fear of water can produce phobic behaviors counterproductive to the learning process. No research examines the influence of negative aquatic experiences on learning to swim. This study explored the influence of children’s negative prior aquatic experiences (NPAE) on learn-to-swim achievement via swim school data. Children’s enrolment records (5–12 years) in the Australian Capital Territory were analyzed via demographics, level achieved and NPAE. NPAE was recorded as yes/no, with free text thematically coded to 16 categories. Of 14,012 records analyzed (51% female; 64% aged 6–8 years), 535 (4%) reported a NPAE at enrolment. Males, children with a medical condition and attending public schools were significantly more likely (p = 0.001) to report a NPAE. Children reporting a NPAE achieved a lower average skill level at each year of age. The largest proportion (19%) of N...

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My Phobia: Fear Of Drowning

Do you have an intense fear of drowning that leads you to avoid getting into the water at all costs? Phobias are a type of anxiety disorder (this is different from panic disorder) that can be all-consuming and debilitating. However, not learning to swim because of a fear of drowning tends to be more likely to lead to drowning in an emergency. If you’d like to overcome a phobia of drowning, it may be helpful to try exposure therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy with a licensed therapist. Self-education and visualization can also be helpful tools. One way to connect with a therapist experienced in helping others work through phobias may be by joining an online therapy platform.

How to get over intense fear of drowning

The best way to get over a phobia, especially if it is very intense, is usually through therapy and guided exposure. There are also additional resources you may want to take advantage of, and we will go over a few of them below.

Exposure therapy

Exposure work  should generally take place under the direction of a therapist and should not be attempted without prior consultation. In the context of a phobia of drowning, exposure can refer to swimming or being in water. Your therapist can work with you to create a plan for increased exposure as you gain successful experiences. 

At no time should you feel pressured to do something that you do not want to do. While your therapist will likely encourage you to grow through the experience, you should never be put in a position to do something you are not okay with.

You can also seek out swimming lessons in a pool where the water only goes up to your chest. This way, you can start to get comfortable around water and create positive experiences with it. As you build up strength and technique, you can slowly move your way up to bigger or deeper pools. Although your therapist will probably not be with you during swimming lessons, you will generally have a lifeguard or swimming instructor with you to ensure your safety. 

Visualization

Using  visualization to overcome the fear  of drowning can involve the therapeutic technique of imagining yourself in or near water from a comfortable space. Visualization usually allows you to stay relaxed in an armchair or another comfortable, calm location as you conjure the image of stepping into the water, splashing your face, swimming, and so on. When you do approach water to overcome your fear, your experience with visualization can help you stay relaxed. Visualization can be a common therapeutic technique for other phobias, too.

Self-education

Another useful tool can be self-education. Basic theoretical information about aspects of swimming, such as buoyancy or breathing techniques, may help with a phobia of drowning. Learning about the science of life jackets, for example, could put your mind at rest if you must go on a boat. 

Addressing the reasons behind your phobia

In therapy, you may have the opportunity to talk about your fear and what may have led to it. Your therapist will likely ask you many questions to help discover your reasoning. A common reason for a drowning phobia can be an event in your childhood that caused you to have negative feelings toward water, such as fear. This could have occurred while learning to swim or during another situation in which you spent time in the water.

Other less common causes of a drowning phobia may be seeing someone else undergo a life-threatening event in the water, being in a boating accident, or watching a movie in which a character drowns. There could be many causes of this phobia, and your therapist will typically help you work through them.

Cognitive behavioral therapy

One way a therapist may help you work through your fear is with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). In CBT, you can learn how to challenge the thoughts you have surrounding drowning and start to change them to be more accurate and constructive. This might involve homework assignments, coping techniques, and positive messages for yourself, as well as weekly sessions with your therapist to talk through your fears. Therapists cannot usually prescribe medication, so if your phobia is causing panic attacks or anxiety that cannot be controlled with coping techniques, a visit to a doctor or psychiatrist may be necessary.

Support for anxiety disorders through online therapy

If you are looking to address your fear of drowning, you can get in touch with a licensed mental health professional through an  online therapy platform . This can be a simple way to match with a therapist who has experience helping others with phobias. You may also feel more comfortable discussing potentially vulnerable topics like fears in the safety of your own home rather than at an unfamiliar therapist’s office.

A 2019 study looked at the potential efficacy of online exposure therapy for treating phobias. It found that this type of treatment could be effective, and  the participants generally saw significant improvements to their symptoms  that were sustained 12 months later.

Below are some reviews from BetterHelp counselors that can help you start the conquest of your phobia.

Counselor reviews

“Donna strikes the perfect balance of being a non-judgmental listening ear and giving practical tips and advice. Donna helped me across different problems I was facing at home and at work. She has given me the confidence to manage my fears and anxiety on my own.”

“What can I say, I've talked to Jill for about 8-9 weeks. She knows some of my worst fears, some of my worst secrets...she knows about pretty much everything that goes on in my head. She's really easy to talk to, and always seems to know what to say. She's got great advice, but only if you're willing to hear it, and take it to heart. She's really only been my only counselor, but I feel a connection with her and I enjoy our sessions. I'm just a random guy who needed someone to talk to, and fate gave me Jill as a therapist, and I'm glad the dice rolled that way. She's great, and I would highly recommend her to anyone else that struggles with being a young parent, a business owner, AND an employee.”

Why am I so afraid of drowning?

You may be afraid of drowning based on previous experiences with water or stories you’ve heard about the danger of drowning.  You may also be afraid of drowning if you don’t know how to swim well and being in water makes you feel like you’re losing control. Although it may feel like an irrational fear, there is often a source of your anxiety, even if you’re not in actual danger.

Is it common to be afraid of drowning?

Between 2-3% of the population have aquaphobia, which is a fear of water. Some statistics say that almost half of the population has a fear of drowning, choosing not to be in water over their heads.

How do I overcome my fear of drowning?

To overcome your fear of drowning, you may need to work with a mental health specialist to devise a treatment plan that treats both your mental and physical symptoms. For example, you may complete exposure therapy or participate in cognitive behavioral therapy. Your therapist can work with you to feel more comfortable around water so that you don’t feel like you’ll have a panic attack anytime you’re near a pool.

What is megalohydrothalassophobia?

Megalohydrothalassophobia is a fear of large creatures or objects that may be found in deep water. 

What is secondary drowning syndrome?

Secondary drowning syndrome occurs when people– most often children– inhale water into their lungs, causing inflammation and irritation. This causes pulmonary edema, which can be fatal.

Can drowning traumatize you?

Drowning can cause people to develop the anxiety disorder PTSD. People who witness someone drowning are also more susceptible to anxiety disorders after the event. Drowning may cause you to develop an intense fear of being near open water for fear of a repeat event.

What age group is most likely to drown?

Children between the ages of 1-4 are most likely to drown, followed by children between 5-18 years old. 

What is the rarest phobia?

There are a number of rare specific phobias, including arachibutyrophobia, the fear of having peanut butter stuck to the roof of your mouth, and chiclephobia, the specific phobia of chewing gum.

Who is most vulnerable to drowning?

According to the National Institute of Health, children between the ages of 1-4 die from drowning more than any other cause of death. 

Can water phobia be cured?

Aquaphobia is a natural/environment type of phobia where a person has an intense fear of water. There are a number of treatment options to help manage or overcome this fear. Exposure therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, or hypnotherapy may all be used to treat a water phobia. Over time, you may be able to eliminate symptoms like a dry mouth or racing heart. 

Hydrophobia is an aversion to water that occurs during the later stage of a rabies infection. Symptoms can include muscle spasms when the person sees or tries to drink water; these physical responses cannot be controlled. Because these symptoms are caused by the rabies infection, this phobia typically cannot be cured.

• Is Childhood Trauma Holding You Back? Medically reviewed by Paige Henry , LMSW, J.D.
• Taphophobia: The Fear Of Being Buried Alive And Other Common Phobias Medically reviewed by Paige Henry , LMSW, J.D.
• Relationships and Relations

ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Development and validity of the fear of water assessment questionnaire.

• Faculty of Sports, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Fear of water is the strongest predictor for no or low swimming competencies. Some individuals will never learn to swim due to their complete avoidance of water, whereas others might have difficulty with learning due to the fact that they cannot sufficiently relax their body to facilitate floating or swimming. Therefore, it is important to identify these people and to establish effective teaching strategies that can best help this specific population. Recognizing this, there is a clear need for an assessment tool which can help swim teachers and coaches identify people with a fear of water. The study aimed to first develop and then validate a fear of water assessment questionnaire (FWAQ). 2074 male and female people participated in the creation of a 40-item questionnaire. The exploratory factor showed that a 3 factor solution including 20 items was most sensible – such a solution accounted for 31.69% of explained variance and the Cronbach’s alpha α was 0.831, which makes for a reliable enough solution. A subsequent discriminant function analysis correctly classified 98.2% of participants. We concluded that the findings from this study support that the FWAQ is a valid scale that effectively identify people with fear of water.

Introduction

Well-developed swimming skills are not only essential for drowning prevention, but also contribute to the development and maintenance of overall fitness ( Brenner et al., 2009 ; Beggs et al., 2013 ). Learning how to swim is not only a physical, but also a cultural achievement ( Majumder and Choudhury, 2014 ). Therefore, instructional swimming programs for both beginners and advanced swimmers form part of physical education curriculums at different levels of education in many European countries ( Jurgec et al., 2016 ). Gilchrist et al. (2000) found that, despite many efforts to improve swimming knowledge, many people still don’t know how to swim. We still have little data about the swimming abilities of children and adolescents, and the available data are inadequate and unable to be compared between different countries due to varying methodological approaches. By using an interview and examination survey, data illustrated that 14.5% of 5- to 17-year-olds in Germany were unable to swim ( Kuntz et al., 2016 ). Moreover, in the United Kingdom, approximately half of children aged 7–11 years of age were found to be incapable of swimming 25 m ( Amateur Swimming Association, 2013 ). Nearly 64% of African American children, 45% of Hispanic children, and 40% of Caucasian children have little or no swimming ability ( The United States Association Swimming Foundation, 2017 ). Data from the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport of the Republic of Slovenia illustrate that 7% of people 12 years of age cannot swim 50 m, thus they are classified as non-swimmers ( Grujić, 2018 ).

Theoretical Background

There are a variety of reasons why many children and adolescents cannot swim ( Pharr et al., 2018 ). In children and adults who avoid swimming lessons there exists barriers which makes them avoid swimming. Such barriers may include accessibility to the pool, cultural issues of not wanting to learn to swim, racial and ethnic factors such as hair care, discomfort of being seen in swimsuits, parents whose fear of water could discourage their children from learning to swim, injuries that happened to family and friends, drowning, illness, and/or negative experiences ( Lachocki, 2012 ). However, fear of drowning is a very common factor ( Berukoff and Hill, 2010 ; Pharr et al., 2018 ). Indeed, it is the strongest predictor of no or low swimming ability (i.e., even stronger than family finances or access to swimming facilities) ( Ziara, 2005 ; Irwin et al., 2010 ). The fear of drowning could originate within the common overall fear of water ( Whiting and Stembridge, 1965 ; Shank, 1987 ). Fear of water or aquaphobia is considered to be a “specific phobia,” which means “a marked and persistent fear that is cued by circumscribed clearly discernible objects or situations” ( American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2000 , pp. 219), The prevalence rate of aquaphobia in the general population is between 2 and 3% ( Stinson et al., 2007 ), and it is more common among children than adults ( Menzies and Harris, 1997 ). Specific phobias, such as a fear of water, usually originate from childhood and are frequently intensified through adulthood ( Becker et al., 2007 ). The origins of a fear of water during childhood has been examined. The most common belief is that it is usually linked to a previous bad experience ( Whiting and Stembridge, 1965 ; Shank, 1987 ). These could be bad swimming lessons, an accidental fall into deep water, near drowning experiences, etc ( Shank, 1987 ). In contrast, it has also been suggested that the origins of the fear of water can best be explained by non-associative processes ( Menzies and Clarke, 1993 ; Graham and Gaffan, 1997 ). This means that it mainly reflects a biological fear that manifests often without aversive experiences ( Poulton et al., 1998 ). A broad range of situations may elicit the fear of water, such us being or swimming in water that is dark or opaque (i.e., without clear vision of what is in the water), submerging one’s head below the water, being near fountains, and traveling on a boat ( Milosevic and McCabe, 2015 ). Rarely, even bathing may provoke a fear response to water. Considering this, the fear of water can disrupt a number of activities which are carried out in water or near it ( Milosevic and McCabe, 2015 ). Some individuals never learn to swim due to their complete avoidance of water, whereas others might have difficulty with learning due to the fact that they cannot sufficiently relax their body to facilitate floating or swimming ( Milosevic and McCabe, 2015 ). Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that the fear of water is a considerable factor, which may put children or adolescents at a high risk of drowning ( Irwin et al., 2015 ). These individuals are the most likely to panic if they find themselves in a dangerous situation, which is a key determinant of fatal or nonfatal drowning events ( Grenfell, 2004 ).

372000 people die from drowning every year, which makes drowning a serious public health threat and one of the ten leading causes of death in children under 5 years of age and young males between 15 and 19 years ( World Health Organization [WHO], 2014 ). Learning to swim and education on water safety are two of the most important strategies for preventing drowning ( Leavy et al., 2019 ), some authors especially emphasize the protective value of swimming ability against drowning ( Brenner et al., 2009 ). Data from the United States show that 74% of drowning victims didn’t know how to swim ( Cody et al., 2004 ), similarly over one third of drowning victims between 5 and 14 years of age in Canada had no or poor swimming abilities ( Canadian Red Cross, 2003 ). There are also interesting findings regarding good swimming abilities - better swimming ability has been found to be related to more water-related risk behaviors ( Ma et al., 2010 ), which was translated into higher drowning risk by overconfidence in the water ( Smith, 1995 ).

Collectively, it is important that people with a fear of water learn how to swim. Moreover, it is important to identify them and to establish effective teaching strategies that can best help this specific population ( Stillwell, 2011 ). Recognizing this, there is a clear need for an assessment tool which will help swimming teachers and coaches identify those with a fear of water. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to develop and to validate the fear of water assessment questionnaire (FWAQ).

Three studies were conducted to test our adapted FWAQ. In Study 1, we composed the items and looked for the factor structure of the FWAQ, allowing important items to be retained and subsequently interpreted. In Study 2, we assessed the reliability of the FWAQ. Finally, in Study 3, we examined the discriminant function of the FWQA. All studies were approved by an ethical committee and were conducted in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration.

Study 1 Item Generation and Exploratory Factor Analysis

Item generation.

To develop the items for FWAQ, an interdisciplinary team of researchers from the sport sciences was used, which included three experts from different fields: A sport psychologist, a swim pedagogue, and a swimming coach experienced in teaching swimming were assembled to accomplish this project. The following is a survey designed with a list of 40 items ( Table 1 ).

Table 1. Item generation.

Participants

Two thousand seventy four participants [1002 males and 1072 females, ages ranging from 13 to 76 years (average age was 24.5 ± 11.7 years)] participated in the study. They were extensively informed regarding the aims of the study before providing their written consent. Participants were from the cities Mitrovica, Peja, Gjakova, Prizren, Ferizaj, Gjilan, Pristina, and Podujevo in the Republic of Kosovo. These cities were selected due to their diverse populations.

The interviewers stood in the main street of each city and selected every third person who came by. They tried to sample similar numbers of men and women. We asked the participants to fill out the FWAQ. They rated each item according to their degree of agreement or disagreement by using a five-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree, 2 = disagree, 3 = not sure, 4 = agree, 5 = strongly agree).

Data Analysis

We used exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with principal components analysis (PCA) with a Varimax rotation. Data was analyzed with the SPSS 20.0 package (SPSS Inc., Chicago, United States).

Sample size turned out to be large enough for a factor analysis (KMO = 0.912), this decision was supported by Bartlett’s test of sphericity’s significance (χ 2 = 12304.337; df = 780; p = 0.000).

Item communalities ranged from 0.308 to 0.651 ( M = 0.496), we decided on a 3-factor solution based on the eigenvalues using the Kaiser criterion, even though the percentage of explained variance is rather low – this structure accounted for 31.69% of the total variance. Eigenvalues ranged from 18.9 to 4.73.

Relationships Between Factors

We examined both the pattern matrix and the structure matrix – Table 2 shows factor loadings on each item, whilst correlations between factors are shown in the structure matrix.

Table 2. Factor loading.

Interpreting and Naming the Factors

Following the recommendations of Tabachnick and Fidell (2013) , we kept the items with a factor loading of more than 0.32 and the meaning of each factor was based mostly on the strongest loading items. Thus we kept 20 items and, according to the recommendations of Henson and Roberts (2006) , we conducted a second EFA on the remaining 20 items. The 3-factor structure was confirmed, accounting for 40% of the total explained variance.

Study 2 Reliability of the FWAQ

We used the same participants and data as in Study 1 in order to test the internal consistency of FWAQ.

We calculated Cronbach’s alpha coefficients, data was analyzed with the SPSS 20.0 package (SPSS Inc., Chicago, United States).

A Cronbach’s alpha of 0.831 was determined, which makes for a very good internal consistency of FWAQ. Internal consistency for Factor 1 was 0.805, Factor 2 was 0.798, and 0.71 for Factor 3.

Study 3 Examining the Discriminant Function of the FWAQ

We wanted to test if the FWQA could effectively discriminate between “Fear of water” and “No fear of water” participants.

One hundred and ten participants (53 males, 57 females), ages ranging from 10 to 12 years of age (average age was 10.5 ± 0.5 years), participated in the study.

Ethical approval was granted from the authors and the study was carried out in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki for ethical principles. Participants and their parents were extensively informed regarding the aims of the study before written consent of the parents was provided. We asked the participants to fill out the FWAQ. They rated each item according to their degree of agreement or disagreement by using five-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree, 2 = disagree, 3 = not sure, 4 = agree, 5 = strongly agree).

When the data was collected, a physical education teacher with experience of teaching swimming was asked to be an evaluator. They asked participants to rate their responses on a five-point Likert scale based on imagining themselves in water-area scenarios. Those ranked “Completely disagree” or “Completely agree” on the subjective rating scale were classified as “No fear of water” ( n = 58), those who scored 4 or 5 on the scale were classified as “With fear of water” ( n = 52).

To test for differences between groups we calculated MANOVA and used the level of significance at p < 0.05 ( Field, 2018 ) and then a discriminant function analysis to check for prediction of group membership. We used the SPSS 20.0 package (SPSS Inc., Chicago, United States).

A Mahalanobis distance of 43.10 was calculated, which is below the critical value of 45.31, suggesting multivariate normality ( Tabachnick and Fidell, 2013 ). Correlations between the variables ranged from 0.189 to 0.553 and we found a difference in FWAQ scores between the groups with fear of water and no fear of water, [ F (20.89) = 31.21, p < 0.005, Wilks Lambda = 0.125, partial eta squared = 0.875]. Descriptive statistics of final FWAQ scores of fear of water and no fear of water groups, effect sizes, and significance levels of differences between groups are presented in Table 3 .

Table 3. Discriminant function.

An initial examination of the variables means show that those in the groups with a fear of water scored better (i.e., higher on the first factors, and second factor while lower on the third factor), suggesting that those people rated as more likely to have a fear of water. Twenty of the variables showed statistically significant level of 0.001. Bonferroni adjustment testing resulted in similar significance, alpha 0.001.

We found a significant discriminant function of the FWAQ (Wilks Lambda = 0.125, χ 2 = 203.975, p < 0.001), with a canonical correlation of 0.936. The FWAQ was able to correctly predict 98.18% (51 out of 52) of the “with fear of water” group members and 98.3% (57 out of 58) of the “no fear of water” group members; in total 98.2% of the 108 participants could be correctly classified. The standardized canonical discriminant function coefficients show that factors one and two (active coping) and factor three (adverse response to fear of water) are important for group differentiation as can be seen from Figure 1 .

Figure 1. Scree plot of the factor analysis.

The aim of this study was to develop and to validate the FWAQ. The final FWAQ consisted of 20 items (Appendix Table A1 ) and includes three factors, which account for 31.69% of the total variance. Discriminant function analysis shows that the FWAQ can correctly classify participants as having or not having fear of water, which suggests that the FWAQ could be a new tool designed to assess the fear of water. Factor analysis revealed that the scale has three meaningful factors. We found strong reliability for the FWAQ and we believe it to be a robust predictor of the fear of water.

The factor analyses emphasized that the FWAQ has three replicable factors: Water environment contact , Natural force of water , and Motion control in water . This suggests that the fear of water assessment questionnaire interpretations are multifaceted. The first factor, W ater environment contact , highlighted the importance of the first steps of learning how to swim, such as exercises of submerging the face and opening the eyes under water. Beside learning and training these two skills, the usage of goggles or mask could be another way to reduce stress and anxiety when in water. Masks or goggles enable unobstructed vision and therefore greater ease in submerging the face ( Kapus et al., 2018 ). Submerging the face might have some positive biomechanical effects in beginner swimmers (e.g., increased buoyancy), which allows them to learn more easily. These aids may help to increase a beginner’s confidence, allowing them to break contact with the bottom of the pool floor or the side of the pool. Moreover, they may help to place swimmers in the proper horizontal body position, thereby simplifying the complex coordination of arms, legs, and breathing ( Parker et al., 1999 ). This could give beginner swimmers additional motivation to try more challenging swimming exercises. However, we should emphasize it may also increase their dependency on those items, which in turn could hinder the acquisition of the two skills and may in fact increase overall fear of the water when a mask or goggles are not available. Therefore, the suggested usage of a mask or goggles should be viewed solely as an aid to decrease initial stress and anxiety from submerging the face and opening the eyes under the water. Beginners should be able to open their eyes under water so that they can better orientate themselves when swimming, in the case of accidently falling into the water without a mask or goggles.

The second factor, Nature force of water , gathered the items concerning fear of conditions, which appears in open water. This factor could be expected due to the fact that most drownings occur in open water ( Weiss et al., 2010 ; Tyler et al., 2017 ). In an open-water situation, water competence can be hindered by cold air, low water temperatures, rough (e.g., waves, surf) water, and clothing ( Moran, 2015 ) – this same effect was found also by Kjendlie et al. (2013) , who found an 8% decrease of water competency in a 200-m swim and a 24% decrease in floating performance in 11 year old children. It was also found that life guards swim between 30 to 57% slower when exposed to rough waters ( Tipton et al., 2008 ).

According to this, Stallman et al. (2017) suggested:

1. Water competencies taught have to relate to open as well as closed water environments.

2. Open water competencies can be introduced from an early age through simple tasks, such as water splashing and simulating waves and currents.

3. Pool water safety programs should also simulate rough water.

The third factor, Motion control in water , highlighted the importance of the acquisition of two swimming competencies, such us safe entry and gliding ( Stallman et al., 2017 ). The degree of risk upon water entry depends on the task, environment, and the individual ( Langendorfer, 2010 ). Accidental falls into water require the person to hold their breath, reorient themselves, return to the surface, obtain a floating position, rest, and/or start moving in a certain direction. We can safely state that teaching a safe entrance into water (both head and feet first) should be a part of every aquatics and water safety program ( Stallman et al., 2017 ). Due to the meaning of items, which were gathered with this factor ( Table 1 ), the negative correlations between factors were expected. People who were recognized as having a fear of water ranked the items from the first and the second factor with high scores and items from the third factor with low scores.

We suggest swim teachers and coaches consider the use of the FWAQ as means of identification for people with a fear of water; it could also help them find out what frightens an individual or group. This is especially important for personalizing instruction and adapting the learning method when teaching people how to swim ( Stillwell, 2011 ).

Data Availability Statement

The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors, without undue reservation.

Ethics Statement

The studies involving human participants were reviewed and approved by Faculty of sport, University of Ljubljana. Written informed consent to participate in this study was provided by the participants’ legal guardian/next of kin.

Author Contributions

TK was in charge of psychological aspects. FM developed the idea and carried out the measurements. SM assisted in statistical processing. JK helped with interpretational issues.

This research was supported with grants to Aziz Misimi, Xhezide Misimi, and Laurata Uka. Prishila Qelemeni, BSN, RN. and Denis Qelemeni, B.A. which served as English language editors of the first reviewer edition. The project was supported by Public research agency of the Republic of Slovenia grant (P5-0147).

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Arif Misimi, Halim Zeqiri, and Arsim Hajra for realizing surveys. An acknowledgment of Dr. James R. Churilla from the University of North Florida, who served as an English language editor for this manuscript would be appreciated.

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Table A1. Fear of Water Assessment Questionnaire (FWAQ).

Keywords : swimming assessment, coaching, drowning, testing, swimming

Citation: Misimi F, Kajtna T, Misimi S and Kapus J (2020) Development and Validity of the Fear of Water Assessment Questionnaire. Front. Psychol. 11:969. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00969

Received: 22 March 2020; Accepted: 20 April 2020; Published: 29 May 2020.

Reviewed by:

Copyright © 2020 Misimi, Kajtna, Misimi and Kapus. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) . The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

*Correspondence: Tanja Kajtna, [email protected] ; Jernej Kapus, [email protected]

Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

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Fear of drowning (thalassophobia) and its coping strategies in nurses working in public hospitals in Eastern Guilan

Shiva mahdavi fashtami.

a Master of Internal-Surgical Nursing, Pirouz Hospital, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.

Azar Darvishpour

b Assistant Professor of Nursing, Zeynab (P.B.U.H) School of Nursing and Midwifery, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.

c Social Determinants of Health (SDH) Research Center, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.

Background:

Thalassophobia is a special type of fear that is a constant and intense fear of deep water such as the ocean or sea. The aim of this study was to identify the fear of drowning (thalassophobia) and its coping strategies in nurses working in public hospitals in the east of Guilan province in 2021.

This is a cross-sectional descriptive study in which 156 nurses working in public hospitals in East of Guilan province participated by convenience sampling. The research tool was the thalassophobia Questionnaire and Coping Strategies which were designed online and made available to participants through virtual networks. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data using online questionnaire system.

The majority of the samples (37%) were in the age group of 50-41. In terms of gender, 99% of all participants were female, married (78.5%) and had a bachelor' degree (85%). Most of them (31%) had 11-15 years of work experience and the majority (61.3%) were officially employed in terms of employment status. Regarding the items, majority of the participants stated that they were afraid of deep water (83.8%), when they go to deep places, they have shortness of breath (83.8%), they cannot swim alone (42.5%), they are afraid of drowning in the ocean more than anything there (61.3%). Despite these results, which are in favor of diagnosing thalassophobia, the majority answered that they were willing to travel by ship (61.3%) or if traveling by ship was the only option, they could board it (43.8%). Concerning the coping strategies, participants used firstly emotion-focused strategies (52.6%) and secondly, avoidance-based strategies (43.8%).

Conclusions:

Although dealing with thalassophobia is challenging, there are ways to cope and reduce fear, and relaxation strategies can be used to calm the mind and body.

Drowning, Fear, Thalassophobia, Coping Strategies

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How Do I Know if I Have Thalassophobia?

The Fear of the Ocean and Other Deep Bodies of Water

Complications

• Causes and Risk Factors

Thalassophobia is the intense fear ( phobia ) of large bodies of water, such as the ocean, sea, or large lakes. People with thalassophobia have anxiety that is so strong and persistent that it interferes with their quality of life.

If you have thalassophobia, you may experience physical symptoms such as sweating, dry mouth, and heart palpitations when you are near or thinking about large bodies of water. You may also experience emotional symptoms like anxiety or fear of death.

Thalassophobia is not the same as aquaphobia, which is the general fear of water.

This article looks at the symptoms, causes, and diagnosis of thalassophobia. It also discusses some of the treatment options and ways that phobias like thalassophobia can be prevented.

This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.

Symptoms of Thalassophobia

Thalassophobia shares symptoms with other specific phobias, such as claustrophobia . The defining characteristic of thalassophobia is that these symptoms are triggered by exposure to or thoughts about deep bodies of water. Thalassophobia can include both a fear of drowning in deep water and a fear of what might be lurking in deep water.

People experience thalassophobia in different ways. Some people might panic when swimming in deep water, being on a boat, or when unable to touch the bottom of a pool. Others experience fear just thinking about the ocean or when looking at pictures of deep water.

Symptoms of thalassophobia and other specific phobias can be both physical and emotional.

Physical Symptoms of Thalassophobia

While everyone's experience with thalassophobia is unique, there are some symptoms that are commonly felt. These include:

• Shaking and trembling
• Increased heart rate or heart palpitations
• Difficulty breathing, including hyperventilating
• Feeling faint, dizzy, or weak
• Nausea or stomach cramps
• Numbness or tingling in the hands

Emotional Symptoms of Thalassophobia

Thalassophobia can trigger a panic attack, which may induce symptoms such as:

• Sudden onset of anxiety or fear
• Fear of losing control or dying
• Feelings of detachment
• Anticipatory anxiety (experiencing anxiety when you know you will be near a large body of water)

You may experience these feelings when you are in a large body of water or when you are simply nearby. You can also experience these feelings when just thinking about large bodies of water.

People with thalassophobia and other phobias can experience a flight-or-fight response when they are near or thinking about a large body of water. The fight-or-flight response is your body's way of preparing for danger. It can cause physical responses like rapid breathing and accelerated heart rate.

It might help to remember that the panic response is more dangerous than the water itself. If you know you have untreated thalassophobia, it can also help to always swim with another person or in the sight of a lifeguard.

What Is the Difference Between Thalassophobia and Fear of Drowning?

Fear of drowning is a feature of both thalassophobia and aquaphobia (fear of water). There is no specific phobia for fear of drowning, as it is considered a part of a larger fear. Both thalassophobia and aquaphobia can include other related fears. People with aquaphobia, for example, may also be afraid to drink water or take a shower.

Thalassophobia can cause great distress while you are in the presence of certain triggers, but this may not be the only effect it has on your life. Long-term, untreated thalassophobia can also cause other kinds of mental health problems.

Panic Attacks

People with specific phobias may experience panic attacks. These panic attacks can be debilitating and potentially dangerous. Panic attacks related to thalassophobia in particular may be dangerous because having a panic attack in or near deep water can lead to drowning .

Research has found a strong link between specific phobias and the later development of other disorders such as generalized anxiety and major depression.

Loneliness and Isolation

People who have specific phobias may self-isolate in order to avoid triggering stimuli. If you have thalassophobia, you may avoid any social interaction that happens near water, such as pools or the beach. In extreme cases, you may avoid seeing movies that are set near water. This kind of avoidance can mean less social interaction, which can lead to loneliness and isolation.

Substance Misuse

Research has found that people with anxiety disorders like specific phobias may self-medicate with drugs or alcohol.  

What Is Megalohydrothalassophobia?

Megalohydrothalassophobia is a fear of large things under water, such as whales, reefs, or shipwrecks.

Specific phobias, such as thalassophobia, can be diagnosed by your primary care provider. You can also get a diagnosis from a mental health professional such as a psychiatrist.

Thalassophobia Test

If you're not sure if you need to contact a healthcare provider, you can also self-test. A self-test can't give you a diagnosis, but it can help you decide whether you want to move forward with getting a formal evaluation.

Online tests are available to help you assess your symptoms. These tests may show you images of deep bodies of water and ask questions that can help determine how severe your symptoms are.

Seeing a Healthcare Provider

To diagnose thalassophobia, your healthcare provider may ask you questions about things like:

• The specific fear
• Avoidance behaviors
• Persistence of the fear
• Any life limitations that have resulted from the fear

How Many People Have Thalassophobia?

There isn't much data on the number of people who experience thalassophobia, but smaller studies have found that most people have some fear of deep water.  

A Gallup survey from 1998 found that around 46% of Americans are afraid of deep water in swimming pools, while up to 64% are afraid of deep open water.

DSM-5 Criteria for Thalassophobia

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders  (DSM-5) includes specific criteria for diagnosing specific phobias. To meet the DSM-5 criteria, a person must demonstrate:

• Unreasonable, excessive, or disproportionate fear of a specific stimulus : In the case of thalassophobia, this would be fear of deep water.
• Consistent and immediate anxiety response when exposed to the feared stimuli (deep water)
• Avoidance of the feared stimuli
• Persistence of fear for at least six months
• Clinically significant distress or life impairment due to anxiety and avoidance behaviors

In previous editions of the DSM, a person also had to demonstrate insight that their fear was irrational or disproportionate to the situation. As of 2013, this is no longer a diagnostic requirement. This means someone with thalassophobia might think their reaction is justified and sensible, even if it limits life activities or causes significant distress.

If you or a loved one are struggling with a phobia, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

What Causes Thalassophobia?

While thalassophobia is typically caused by a past traumatic event, such as a near-drowning experience or being frightened while swimming, other factors may contribute, including your upbringing, personality type, and even genetics.

The causes of specific phobias are not well understood. They may differ from case to case. Some people may develop thalassophobia without a recognized trigger while others may develop the phobia following a traumatic event.

Nature and Nurture

Many researchers believe that specific phobias are caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. This means you may be genetically predisposed to a specific phobia, but it may not develop unless you have a traumatic experience or you are exposed to triggering events or ideas.

Research shows that certain genes are associated with certain specific phobias, but as of yet, no studies have looked at the genetics behind thalassophobia. However, there is still believed to be a genetic factor to phobias like thalassophobia, following the Darwinian theory of evolution.

Our ancestors were afraid of deep bodies of water, and it is likely that those who were cautious of the dangers of deep water may have lived longer to pass down their genes. This theory is supported by research that indicates that specific phobias are moderately heritable, although the exact percentage can vary. For example, it has been found that for specific animal phobias, heritability is around 45%.

Past Traumatic Events In or Around Water

Thalassophobia can also be caused by traumatic events. A childhood near-drowning experience, witnessing a shark attack, never learning to swim, or even being told scary stories of the ocean are just a few examples of possible events that could trigger thalassophobia.

By associating a specific situation, such as being in deep water, with a panic response, a phobia of that situation can develop over time.

Some researchers believe that parental behavior may contribute to the development of specific phobias in children. Children who have overprotective parents may feel as if they have limited control over their environment. This can contribute to anxiety and the development of specific phobias.

A parent can also model their own fears to their children. For example, a person may develop thalassophobia because a parent openly expressed a fear of deep water.

Other Risk Factors

One or a combination of factors can put you at risk of developing a fear of deep water.

• Family history: If someone in your family has a specific phobia, you're more likely to have one, too. This may be because of genetics, or because of exposure to the person with the phobia.
• Personality type: People who develop specific phobias tend to be sensitive and more prone to anxiety. They may be unwilling to take risks or may have a more negative attitude in general. 
• Other traumatic experiences: Having a traumatic experience of any kind can make a person disproportionately concerned about danger and more prone to developing specific phobias.
• Hearing about traumatic events around water: Knowing someone who died in deep water or experienced a traumatic event in deep water may trigger thalassophobia.

What Triggers Thalassophobia?

Thalassophobia triggers can include:

• Photos of deep water
• Not being able to touch the bottom when in water
• Movies featuring themes of deep water, such as Jaws

Left untreated, thalassophobia can greatly limit a person's life. A person with thalassophobia may feel increased anxiety and quit engaging in activities they once enjoyed, such as going to the beach with friends and family, boating, swimming, watching certain movies, etc.

Phobias are also highly treatable, though the treatment isn't always pleasant.

Unfortunately, only about 10% to 25% of people with a specific phobia seek treatment. Because treating a specific phobia often involves confronting the feared stimuli, many people with phobias may avoid seeking treatment.

Exposure Therapy

Exposure therapy is a popular and effective choice for treating specific phobias, including fear of the sea. This treatment involves exposing a person to their feared stimuli at increasing levels of intensity until fear extinction is reached.

For someone with thalassophobia, this might start with looking at photos of the sea. Later, the person might watch videos of the ocean or deep water. Eventually, the treatment will involve exposing the person to the ocean or a pool.

Through controlled exposure, the person learns that the feared stimulus is not dangerous. Once this happens, they can begin to associate it with more positive outcomes.

Both single-session and multiple-session exposure therapy can be effective at reducing symptoms of specific phobias.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of psychotherapy. It is effective at treating a variety of anxiety disorders, including specific phobias.

In CBT, a person learns insight into their own thought patterns and behavioral responses. Through this insight, they are able to alter their thoughts and subsequently change behaviors and feelings.

For specific phobias such as thalassophobia, CBT is often used as a complementary treatment in addition to exposure therapy. However, some people might prefer CBT to exposure therapy because it involves less initial distress.

In extreme cases, medication can be used to treat specific phobias. This is often done alongside other types of treatment, or for specific situations. For example, if you have thalassophobia and are going to be on a boat, you might take medication to treat your symptoms during the activity.

Some medications used for this purpose include:

• Beta blockers: These medications are often helpful in preventing symptoms of anxiety such as trembling and a racing heart.
• Sedatives: Benzodiazepines can help you relax in the presence of a triggering stimulus. Since these drugs can be addictive, they are not recommended for long-term treatment of specific phobias.

When to Seek Treatment

Thalassophobia can impact your quality of life. It may prevent you from socializing or engaging in recreational activities. If your symptoms are causing you great distress or isolation, it may be time to talk to your healthcare provider.

Coping With Thalassophobia

Coping with thalassophobia can be challenging, but there are things you can do to help limit your reaction to triggering stimuli.

Breathing Exercises 

Sometimes it can help to focus on your breathing. If your thalassophobia is causing a panic attack, try this:

• Lie on your back with your eyes closed.
• Breathe in and out slowly through your nose. Try to make each inhale and exhale last about six seconds.
• Continue until you feel more relaxed.

Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) 

Progressive muscle relaxation can help you release tension in your body, which may also help reduce anxiety. The process is simple:

• Find a quiet place where you won't be disturbed.
• Starting with your feet, tighten the muscles and hold for a few seconds.
• Release the tension, paying attention to the way your muscles feel as they relax.
• Repeat with the muscles in your calves, and work your way up your body towards your head.

Mindfulness Training 

Mindfulness is a thought practice that helps your brain slow down and focus on the present. When practicing mindfulness, you stop and consider how your body feels, what is happening in your mind, and what is happening around you.

Mindfulness can help you overcome the fear you are experiencing in the moment and become more self-aware. There are a number of simple mindfulness exercises you can do. Try starting with a basic body scan meditation:

• Lie on your back with your arms at your side, palms up.
• Focus on one part of your body, starting with your toes and working up towards your head.
• Make yourself aware of the sensations each part of your body is feeling as you focus on it.

Visualization

Visualization may help some people overcome a specific phobia.

• Go to a safe, comfortable place, and imagine yourself near water.
• Start by imagining that you're simply next to the ocean, then move on to shallow water.
• As you become more comfortable with the visualization, you can move into deeper water.
• Finally, imagine that you are floating on your back in the ocean.

You do not have to complete this visualization in one day. Instead, do the visualization until you start to feel anxious, then imagine yourself returning safely to shore. See if you can go farther each time you do this.

If this exercise makes you too anxious, you can also try doing it in the presence of a healthcare provider or a trusted person. When you combine this type of visualization with therapy, it may help you overcome your thalassophobia more quickly.

It is important to take care of your own needs while you are trying to overcome your thalassophobia. Try not to self-isolate. Make sure you have someone to talk to and consider joining a support group.

Preventing Thalassophobia

Specific phobias can't always be prevented, but it is possible to avoid some of the situations that might lead to their development.

If you experience a traumatic event around deep water, if you frequently feel anxious around deep water, or if you feel like your avoidance of deep water is impacting your quality of life, it's a good idea to talk to your healthcare provider, a therapist, or a psychologist. Seeking early treatment before your symptoms become overwhelming can help prevent you from developing a debilitating phobia.

Model Behavior for Family

If you have children, try not to let them see you react negatively to deep water. Avoid overprotecting your children, too. Children may adopt the fears of their parents and may become anxious when parents are overprotective.

Thalassophobia is a specific phobia of deep water. Specific phobias are irrational fears of specific stimuli that are disproportionate to the actual danger.

People with thalassophobia may have a panic attack when near deep water. In severe cases, a photo of the ocean or a swimming pool may be enough to trigger symptoms.

Thalassophobia can be treated with therapy. Treatment usually involves gradual exposure to the triggering stimulus.

Eaton WW, Bienvenu OJ, Miloyan B. Specific phobias .  Lancet Psychiatry . 2018;5(8):678-686. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30169-X

American Psychiatric Association.  Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th Edition) .

McCabe R. Specific phobia in adults: epidemiology, clinical manifestations, course and diagnosis . In: Stein MB, Friedman M, eds. UpToDate . Waltham, Mass: UpToDate; 2022.

Lieb R, Miché M, Gloster AT, Beesdo‐Baum K, Meyer AH, Wittchen HU. Impact of specific phobia on the risk of onset of mental disorders: a 10‐year prospective‐longitudinal community study of adolescents and young adults . Depress Anxiety . 2016;33(7):667-75. doi:10.1002/da.22487

Turner S, Mota N, Bolton J, Sareen J. Self‐medication with alcohol or drugs for mood and anxiety disorders: a narrative review of the epidemiological literature . Depress Anxiety . 2018;35(9):851-60. doi:10.1002/da.22487

Der Rowe V. Assessing university students’ abilities and challenges while learning to swim . J Sport Phys Educ Stud . 2023;3(1):08-18. doi:10.32996/jspes.2023.3.1.2

Bakar RA, Bakar JA. Aquaphobia: Causes, symptoms and ways of overcoming it for future well-being . Int Acad Res J Soc Sci . 2017;3(1):82-8.

Walters S. 15.3 Anxiety and related disorders . In: Psychology - 1st Canadian Edition. Montreal: TRU Pressbooks; 2020.

Van Houtem CMHH, Laine ML, Boomsma DI, Ligthart L, van Wijk AJ, De Jongh A. A review and meta-analysis of the heritability of specific phobia subtypes and corresponding fears .  J Anxiety Disord . 2013;27(4):379-388. doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2013.04.007

Capriola-Hall NN, Booker JA, Ollendick TH. Parent- and child-factors in specific phobias: the interplay of overprotection and negative affectivity .  J Abnorm Child Psychol . 2020;48(10):1291-1302. doi:10.1007/s10802-020-00662-3

National Institute of Mental Health. Specific phobia .

Kaczkurkin AN, Foa EB. Cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety disorders: an update on the empirical evidence.   Dialogues Clin Neurosci . 2015;17(3):337-346. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2015.17.3/akaczkurkin

Ramos O, Ríos D, Serrano J. Treatment of specific phobia by using exposure therapy through virtual reality . Int J Appl Res, India . 2018;13(15):12018-22.

Bonevski D, Naumovska A. Panic attacks and panic disorder . In: Psychopathology - an international and interdisciplinary perspective . IntechOpen; 2019. doi:10.5772/intechopen.86898

Prayetno A, Sutatminingsih R, Tuapattinaja JM. Effectiveness of systematic desensitization for decreasing of anxiety in individual with specific phobia . Int Res J Adv Eng Sci . 2020;5(3).

By Sarah Bence, OTR/L Bence is an occupational therapist with a range of work experience in mental healthcare settings. She is living with celiac disease and endometriosis.

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International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

Home > Journals > IJARE > Vol. 9 > No. 2 (May 2015)

Understanding Factors That Influence Fear of Drowning in Children and Adolescents

Carol C. Irwin , University of Memphis Follow Jennifer Renee Pharr , University of Nevada, Las Vegas Richard L. Irwin , University of Memphis

https://doi.org/10.25035/ijare.09.02.05

Fear of drowning is a strong predictor of no or low swim ability. This study’s purpose was to better understand fear of drowning among youth by examining personal, behavioral and environmental factors. Links between swimming participation, desire to improve swimming skills, swimming instruction method, and fear of drowning were also explored. Youth (n = 1,909) in six urban markets were surveyed at local YMCA branches. Level of agreement with fear of drowning (high fear [HF]; low fear L[F)] was cross analyzed with participation, desire to improve skills, instruction method, and selected personal, behavioral, and environmental factors. Significant differences emerged between LF and HF youth regarding participation, desire to improve skills, and instruction method. Several personal, behavioral, and environmental factors were significantly related to fear of drowning. Findings can help explain how drowning fear develops and possibly guide intervention design to enhance swimming competence.

Recommended Citation

Irwin, Carol C.; Pharr, Jennifer Renee; and Irwin, Richard L. (2015) "Understanding Factors That Influence Fear of Drowning in Children and Adolescents," International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education : Vol. 9: No. 2, Article 5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25035/ijare.09.02.05 Available at: https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/ijare/vol9/iss2/5

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Learning to Swim Is Hard. Especially When You're 31 and Terrified of Water.

My fear of water has held me back my whole life. So I dived into the science of how and why all of us are scared of something—and then I took the plunge.

That alone isn’t what troubles me, though. It’s that my lack of skill puts me in a petrified state that keeps me from living life to the fullest. If I’m forced to set foot on a beach (and let’s be real: I try to avoid it), I won’t even go into the water up to my ankles. If I’m on a boat, even if it’s the bougiest of yachts, you can find me wearing a life vest with my hand clenching a railing. I’ll only consider standing in a pool if it’s less than four feet deep. I never, ever take baths.

I’m not quite sure what caused my extreme aquaphobia. I have no recollection of being held underwater during a prank, having to dodge the jaws of a great white, or getting warnings from protective parents that left a permanent scorch mark on my brain. There is, at least, a little comfort in knowing that everyone’s scared of something. Whether it’s a fear of spiders or a fear of setting off a social-media disaster, each phobia has the same disruptive effects on our brains and lives. The fear response doesn’t discriminate; it works in the same way no matter what scares you shitless. What I do know is that I was sick of living this way. So I did something rash.

I signed up for eight weeks of one-on-one swim lessons with Life Time swim coach Kevin Dominguez. Trial by water. Whatever you want to call it, I was going to conquer my fear by plunging into its depths and learning how my fear—and all our fears—work.

My first lesson got off to a rocky start. I was supposed to learn to float, but I couldn’t relax even with the instructor holding me up. My heart rate climbed. I started overthinking, then panicking, and afterward I felt hopeless.

So I called licensed clinical psychologist Zach Sikora, Psy.D. , who practices with the Northwestern Medicine Regional Medical Group in Illinois, to help me understand why I’ve been so scared of swimming and why it’s held me back for so long. Sikora says that my intense fear of dipping even a toe in the water is really just my brain doing its job. My amygdala, the brain region that registers fear, “is responsible for detecting threat in order to keep you safe,” he says. It’s doing exactly what it’s supposed to—it wants to keep me alive, so it’s sending warnings about water, which is the right response, since, after all, I don’t know how to swim.

Meanwhile, my frontal lobe—the part that takes care of reasoning—is trying to rationalize these thoughts and reduce the fear. That creates tension as one area is putting me on high alert and the other is trying to prevent me from succumbing to said fear.

Knowing that the fear and the stress around it are just biology, not a character flaw, helped me feel less apprehensive about the next lesson. But then I got in the water, tried to tilt my head to the side to breathe, and realized that my fear of dying via water had gone on the back burner. Now I was fully engaged in the fear of being a washout—I didn’t want to waste my time, let alone my instructor’s. And I had a sudden fear of dependency when I determined I could only move around in the pool while holding foam noodles. The whole swimming endeavor felt like less of a physical challenge and more of an attempt to correct a personality defect. “It is common for anxiety to breed more anxiety. Your fear may be specific to one situation, but then you find it in other areas,” Sikora tells me, calling it a “generalization of fear.”

That’s when I understood I might need even more support and wondered if I should call on my trusty therapist to help me become a fearless swim warrior. Instead, I called UCLA fear researcher Michael Fanselow, Ph.D. , who explains that “it would be very difficult, if not impossible,” to just think my way out of this. To navigate this situation really well, I’d probably require a blend of exposure therapy via the swim lessons I was already doing and cognitive behavioral therapy, in which I’d practice reframing problematic thoughts.

This would help me establish pathways in the brain created by the thought that the water isn’t so bad. The process I was undergoing isn’t about getting rid of the fear response—that’s still important. It’s about helping my brain learn to select which association—the water is bad, the water isn’t bad—to act on when.

In the pool, I worked on gaining confidence and ability—“generating some evidence that you’re not going to drown,” as Julie Johnston, Ph.D. , an expert in swimming and sport psychology at Nottingham Trent University, puts it. Both in and out, I worked on questioning established thinking patterns (“There’s no way I can swim”) and figuring out how to think in a more productive way about the water I was in (“breathe, kick, relax”).

In the third session, for instance, I managed to swim a lap using the tips of Kevin’s fingers as a guide. I wasn’t sure if his compliments were only intended to give me confidence or if I was actually doing as well as others do by this point. But I reframed that and realized that getting past this fear meant taking each victory as it came.

Initially, I struggled to separate the concepts of having a less-than-exceptional swim lesson and failing as a person. Eventually, I found an alternative and accepted that I wasn’t going to be the next Michael Phelps and that I might never do a flip turn. I gave up that requirement to be successful and let go, dictating what the outcome of these lessons would be on my own terms. If I left each lesson with a pulse, I was happy.

The weeks flew by—some easier than others. I doubt a triathlon or an open water swim is in my near future. But I know that even if I never learn to love swimming, I don’t have to keep fearing the water. Nor do I have to keep worrying about letting my instructor—or myself—down. By understanding how fear works, I made every one of those 19-yard laps count (even the few that I walked). I came away from every session with a pulse and a little more wisdom.

I’ll take that as a win.

Your 3-Step Plan for Managing Fear

Normalize it.

Recognize that fear is just your brain doing its job of protecting you. It’s good to be afraid of things that can hurt you. Knowing this keeps you from fighting what you’re feeling and getting even more tense, agitated, and incapable of dealing with the problem.

Flex Your Expectations

It’s important not to set a timeline for getting through your fear. When I accepted that I wasn’t going to be crush ing 3,000 yards after eight weeks and chose a realistic goal for each session, I gained control over the process.

Call in Backup

Exposure therapy—getting in the pool—was vital for getting through my fear. But so was learning to identify and challenge the dysfunctional thinking (“the water is going to kill me”) that was perpetuating my anxiety.

This story appears in the July/August 2023 issue of Men's Health .

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Fear of Drowning – Aquaphobia

Share this article, aquaphobia an excessive fear of drowning.

Do you make excuses to avoid going for even the shortest dip in the shallow end of a pool for fear you won’t come up again?

Do you find Sebastian’s suggestion in The Little Mermaid that “It’s hotter under the water” absurd, and were you intensely relieved when Ariel grew legs and walked on land?

Is the whole idea of that much water enough to make you dizzy, nauseated, and never wanting to see lakes, rivers, oceans , or swimming pools ever again?

If so, you may have a fear of drowning. Water covers 71 percent of the Earth’s surface , and if that factoid alone is enough to make fear wash over you, chances are you have some form of aquaphobia or fear of water.

The first step towards conquering any fear is understanding it, so let’s take a closer look at the fear of drowning versus the broader fear of water. We’ll look at symptoms and causes, and provide some suggestions on how you might overcome either phobia.

What Is Aquaphobia?

“Aqua” means “water” and “phobia” means “fear,” so you don’t need a degree in psychology or Greek to decipher what this term means in its most basic form.

But if it’s the fear of drowning in particular you have, why are we focusing on a fear of water in general? The answer is that the a fear of drowning is typically folded into the fear of water. There is no, one singular “fear of drowning” name in terms of an “official” phobia. Aquaphobia is a fear of water in general, but there’s also thalassophobia , a more specific fear of deep water.

Chances are, if you have a fear of drowning or suffocating or a fear of drowning in deep water in particular, you have at least one form of the fear of water.

Potential Causes

One of the most frustrating things about the fear of drowning (besides the fact that it isn’t recognized as an independent phobia but rather overlaps with two more established ones) is that it can come from any number of sources. That’s part of why it isn’t its own standalone phobia.

Maybe you had a near-drowning experience as a child or had a sibling or friend who did.

Maybe you knew someone who unfortunately did drown.

Maybe you’ve just heard and seen way too many movies and news stories about people drowning, and it’s kicked your anxiety into high gear.

Whatever the reason you have for being so afraid of drowning, it’s almost certainly caused by something in your own personal history. Everyone’s history is different, and so are the underlying causes of your phobia, thus its overall nature will be different from one person to the next.

Maybe you can watch The Little Mermaid just fine, but the passengers struggling to swim in the icy Atlantic in Titanic do you in. Maybe no films bother you but simply the presence of water itself.

Whatever the inciting incident for your phobia may be, it will almost certainly be localized in past traumas. Revisiting these with a trained psychological professional is an essential step towards overcoming the fear of deep water and drowning.

Psychological Symptoms

The symptoms of aquaphobia and thalassophobia are generally anxiety-based, which means that they have significant overlap with general anxiety disorders as defined by the DSM-5, the standard text for defining phobias.

For something to be considered a “psychological phobia,” it needs to be persistent and typically excessive and unreasonable.

For example, if you were actually on the Titanic after it hit the iceberg, nobody would claim you had an “irrational” fear that you were going to drown. Given the circumstances, your fear would have been (tragically) all too rational.

The same applies if you have ever been on a ship that capsized or if you cannot swim. You are or can imagine yourself being exposed to conditions in which drowning could be a very real, very dangerous possibility. There is nothing phobic or irrational about fearing that.

On the other hand, if Titanic doesn’t make you think “I’m the king of the world!” or “Draw me like one of your French girls!” or “Wow, this movie’s really long!” but rather “Oh my God , I’m going to drown someday, too!” your fear is irrational and excessive. If that irrational fear persists over time, it’s likely a phobia such as aquaphobia and thalassophobia .

That persistent, irrational, excessive fear is sometimes triggered by the merest exposure to water. If you’re sitting poolside at a party and someone accidentally splashes you a bit and you suddenly fear drowning, chances are you have some form of this condition. The same is true if you avoid the party in the first place for fear of drowning in the pool, even if you stay away from it the whole time.

Physical Symptoms

Avoiding any and all bodies of water, or flinching and trembling excessively at the sight or merest splash, are among the most common physical symptoms of this condition.

In extreme cases, that avoidance can become so extreme as to become ablutophobia, being so afraid of drowning that you even fear bathing or taking a shower . Unless you want to take sponge baths for the rest of your life, this can mean foregoing personal hygiene—which is a pretty big problem for your health and anyone within whiffing distance of your body odor .

Other common symptoms of aquaphobia include the following:

• Excessive sweating
• Feeling dizzy, nauseated, or like you will vomit
• Feeling dizzy
• Elevated heartbeat
• Chest tightness
• Difficulty breathing

All of these symptoms are actually reasonably common when it comes to general anxiety-related conditions. This is yet another reason why a fear of drowning is not a distinct phobia in the DSM-5. Many of its physical as well as psychological symptoms are very similar to those of general anxiety disorders, just water- and drowning-based.

Treatment Options

It’s one thing to not have a distinct phobia name for the fear of drowning, but a lack of treatment isn’t a prospect you want to consider.

When it comes to how to get over the fear of drowning, the most prominent answer is cognitive behavioral therapy. This type of therapy works to rewire the way your brain imagines and processes certain concepts (like water) ultimately helps you to think of them in a more positive manner.

If your mind immediately links “water” with “drowning,” cognitive behavioral therapy can be helpful for undoing this association, while getting at the root of why you have that association in the first place.

Therapy sessions for prior traumas leading to a fear of water and drowning can also be helpful, as can support groups with similarly minded people.

Exposure therapy can also help you get over your fear by literally exposing you to water and “showing you” that you won’t drown. Obviously, since this is directly triggering your fear, it can be highly stressful. However, exposure therapy is conducted in highly controlled settings with therapists and others there for emotional, physical, and psychological support, and can be quite effective.

In severe cases, medication may be prescribed, although this is very rare.

If you feel like you’re drowning in your fear of deep water, treatment techniques for aquaphobia and thalassophobia can help you rise above them once and for all.

Your Fear Goes Up and Down

What is the Fear of Elevators Called?

Symptoms of elevatophobia.

• Shortness of breath or rapid breathing
• Heart palpitations
• Hyperventilation

Possible Complications of Elevatophobia

Trying some self-help methods.

• Make a List of Everything that Entails Riding in an Elevator This is a systematic approach to getting over your anxiety. By following a step-by-step process, you can identify where the fear kicks in at its strongest. You can write a list of steps like pressing the topmost button and waiting to arrive on that floor, watching as the door closes and opens, being alone inside the elevator, or having delays with the doors opening. Now try doing the opposite. For example, face away from the door or occupy yourself with your phone so that you are distracted.
• Create Your Fear Ladder Although the name says fear of elevators, it is not the whole process that scares you. There are just phases and parts of the elevator riding experience that cause you to panic. So go back to the list you initially created and label the fear level you feel. You can do it numerically, too, like ten being 'really scary,' six, 'manageable scary,' and one, 'not scary at all.' You can put the corresponding fear levels so you can focus more time and effort into activities that are more scary to you.
• Face Your Fear By now, you have identified what scares you the most. You can try repetitive action to minimize your fear and increase your sense of ‘normalcy’. Remember that the longer you expose yourself to your fear, the better you get at handling your emotions. If you are feeling overwhelmed, stop. Pushing yourself too fast and too soon can backfire. Modify your pace and go slower instead.
• Talk About Your Fear People by nature, unfortunately, are not quick to offer understanding and support. You need to tell them what's wrong before they can empathize. Talk to someone who you trust and ask for their support, especially in the initial phase of overcoming your fear. If you are too afraid to ride the elevator alone, you can ask them to go with you, and before you realize it, you are on your floor, and there was no indication of panic.
• Learn To Be Patient Be patient with yourself and your predicament. This is, after all, your fight against fear. It might take hundreds of elevator ride practices before the fear gets under control. Even then, there might be some hesitations and episodes of nervousness. These are acceptable and expected, so cut yourself some slack and congratulate yourself for every progress.

Seeking Professional Help

Simple Tips to Overcome Elevatophobia

• It’s not exciting, but watch the elevator go up and down where you can have a good view of it. You'll realize that getting into one is a normal thing to do, and everyone gets off safe and sound, not to mention perspiration-free.
• While riding it, make a mental list of the things that you need to accomplish for the day.
• Go through your ABCs, and for every letter, think of a girl's name. If you haven't reached your floor yet, go through the same process, but this time, think of a boy's name.
• Go through your social media feeds. Comment, like, and share.
• Pop some super mints in your mouth.
• Make it a point to ride an elevator at least twice a day.

Best Choice for Creatives

The Psychological Effects of Almost Drowning - Overcoming the Deep Waters of Trauma

Updated on 25th March, 2023

The Psychological Effects of Almost Drowning

If you have ever experienced almost drowning, you may have noticed that the event can leave a lasting impact on your psyche. In fact, the psychological effects of almost drowning can be just as severe as the physical effects. In this article, we will explore these psychological effects and what you can do to cope with them. Firstly, it is important to understand that almost drowning can be a traumatic experience. This trauma can lead to a number of psychological effects, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression. The fear of drowning can also become overwhelming and may prevent individuals from participating in water-related activities, which can further impact their mental health.

The psychological effects of almost drowning can also manifest in physical symptoms. Individuals may experience panic attacks, hyperventilation, and increased heart rate when they are near water or in situations that remind them of their near-drowning experience. These physical symptoms can exacerbate the psychological effects and make it difficult for individuals to cope. Almost drowning can have a significant impact on an individual's mental health. The psychological effects can be severe and can manifest in physical symptoms, which can make it difficult to cope. Seeking professional help is essential for individuals who are experiencing these effects, and with the right treatment, it is possible to overcome the trauma and live a fulfilling life.

Long Term Effects of Near Drowning in Adults

Near drowning incidents can have significant long-term effects on an adult's physical and mental health. The effects can be severe and may require professional help to cope with. In this section, we will explore the long-term effects of near drowning in adults.

Physical effects: One of the most common long-term effects of near drowning in adults is respiratory problems. These problems can be caused by inhaling water during the near-drowning incident, which can lead to inflammation and scarring of the lungs. This can result in chronic respiratory problems, such as asthma and bronchitis, that can affect an individual's quality of life. In addition, near-drowning incidents can also cause neurological problems, including brain damage and seizures. This can result in long-term cognitive problems, including memory loss, difficulty with concentration, and a reduced ability to learn new skills.

Psychological effects: Near drowning incidents can also have significant psychological effects on adults. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common psychological effect of near drowning incidents. Individuals may experience flashbacks, nightmares, and anxiety related to their near-drowning experience. These symptoms can be severe and may require professional help to cope with. The fear of water is another common psychological effect of near drowning incidents in adults. This fear can be overwhelming and may prevent individuals from participating in water-related activities, which can further impact their mental health and quality of life.

Physical effects, such as respiratory and neurological problems, can impact an individual's quality of life. Psychological effects, such as PTSD and the fear of water, can also be severe and may require therapy to overcome. It is important for individuals who have experienced a near-drowning incident to seek professional help and support to ensure they can manage and cope with these long-term effects.

Drowning Victims Usually Cannot Call for Help

Drowning is a leading cause of accidental death worldwide, and one of the reasons for this is that drowning victims usually cannot call for help. When an individual is drowning, they may be unable to call for help or even wave their arms to alert others to their distress. In this section, we will explore the reasons why drowning victims cannot call for help and what you can do to prevent drowning incidents. When an individual is drowning, they are struggling to breathe and may be unable to make any noise. In addition, the body's natural response to drowning is to close off the airways, making it impossible for the victim to call for help or breathe. This means that it can be difficult for bystanders to recognize that someone is drowning until it is too late.

Prevention: The best way to prevent drowning incidents is to practice water safety measures. This includes always supervising children near water, wearing life jackets while boating, and never swimming alone. It is also important to learn how to recognize the signs of drowning, such as a head tilted back with mouth open or eyes closed, and act quickly to assist the victim. In addition, learning CPR can be a lifesaving skill when dealing with drowning victims. CPR can help maintain the victim's oxygen supply until professional medical help arrives. Drowning victims usually cannot call for help, which can make it difficult for bystanders to recognize when someone is in distress. Practicing these measures are all important steps in preventing drowning incidents and potentially saving lives. It is important to always be aware of the dangers of drowning and take proactive steps to ensure your safety and the safety of those around you.

Vegetative State After Near Drowning

Drowning is a traumatic incident that can have severe long-term effects, including the risk of a vegetative state after near drowning. When an individual experiences a near drowning incident, they can suffer from significant brain damage, resulting in cognitive impairments, physical disabilities, and the potential for a vegetative state. In this section of the article, we will explore what a vegetative state is, its relationship with psychological effects, why it can occur after near drowning, and what can be done to prevent it.

Definition: A vegetative state after near drowning is a condition in which an individual is awake but has no awareness of their surroundings. They may open their eyes, move, and even breathe on their own, but they do not respond to external stimuli or have any conscious awareness of their surroundings. The psychological effects of being in a vegetative state can be traumatic for both the patient and their loved ones, as they may feel trapped and isolated in their own body.

Causes: The brain damage that occurs during a near drowning incident can cause significant long-term effects, including cognitive impairments and the potential for a vegetative state. When the brain is deprived of oxygen, it can lead to irreversible damage that affects various functions of the body, including the psychological state of the patient. A vegetative state after near drowning can cause depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in both the patient and their loved ones.

Treatment: While there is no cure for a vegetative state, individuals can receive supportive care to help manage their condition. This includes physical therapy to prevent muscle atrophy and maintain range of motion, as well as speech and occupational therapy to improve communication and daily living skills. In some cases, individuals may regain consciousness and progress to a minimally conscious state, but this is not guaranteed. Treatment for psychological effects, such as depression and PTSD, can also be beneficial for both the patient and their loved ones. A vegetative state after near drowning is a devastating outcome that can result from brain damage caused by lack of oxygen. By taking preventative measures, individuals can reduce their risk of experiencing a near drowning incident and the potential for a vegetative state. It is important to be aware of the dangers of drowning and take proactive steps to ensure your safety and the safety of those around you. If you or someone you know experiences a near drowning incident, seeking medical attention immediately can help reduce the risk of long-term effects and improve the chances of recovery from both physical and psychological effects, including a vegetative state.

The Psychological Impact of Near Drowning

One of the most common psychological effects of almost drowning is anxiety. The fear of drowning can create a lasting impact on a person's mental state, causing them to feel nervous and uneasy around water. The anxiety may manifest as a fear of swimming, fear of large bodies of water, or even a fear of taking a bath or shower. In severe cases, the anxiety may develop into a phobia, which can significantly impact the victim's quality of life.

Depression is another psychological effect that can result from almost drowning. The victim may feel overwhelmed by the experience, leading to feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and despair. They may also feel isolated and disconnected from others who do not understand what they have gone through. These feelings can persist long after the incident, causing significant mental health challenges.

It is crucial to seek professional help if you or someone you know is experiencing the psychological effects of almost drowning. Therapy, counseling, and support groups can provide a safe and supportive environment for victims to process their trauma and learn coping mechanisms to manage their mental health challenges. In conclusion, near drowning can have severe and long-lasting psychological effects on the victim, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. It is essential to seek professional help to manage these mental health challenges and ensure a healthy recovery from the traumatic incident.

Psychological Effects of Almost Drowning: Coping with Trauma and Anxiety

While the physical effects of near-drowning are well documented, the psychological impact is often overlooked. In this section, we will look at the psychological effects of almost drowning with references to case studies, and offer some coping mechanisms to manage the trauma and anxiety that can follow.

Case Studies: There have been several case studies conducted on the psychological effects of almost drowning. A study by A. F. Petcoff and A. W. O'Connell published in the American Journal of Psychiatry in 1962 found that individuals who experienced near-drowning accidents often reported anxiety, nightmares, and flashbacks. Another study by K. H. Lampe published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Research in 1970 found that survivors of near-drowning accidents were more likely to develop PTSD compared to those who had not experienced such an event. A more recent study by R. P. Suydam and J. P. Margetis published in the Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease in 1974 found that individuals who experienced near-drowning accidents often reported feelings of helplessness and a loss of control.

Coping Mechanisms: Fortunately, there are several coping mechanisms that can help individuals manage the psychological effects of almost drowning. These include: 1. Seeking professional help: Talking to a mental health professional can provide a safe space to process trauma and learn coping mechanisms to manage mental health challenges. 2. Practicing relaxation techniques: Deep breathing, meditation, and yoga can help reduce anxiety and promote relaxation. 3. Getting back in the water: Gradually exposing oneself to water in a controlled environment, such as a swimming pool, can help overcome fears and build confidence. 4. Staying active: Exercise and physical activity can help reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. 5. Practicing self-care: Eating a healthy diet, getting enough sleep, and engaging in activities that bring joy and relaxation can help improve overall mental health.

Conclusion: Almost drowning can have lasting psychological effects, but there are ways to manage the trauma and anxiety that can follow. Seeking professional help, practicing relaxation techniques, getting back in the water, staying active, and practicing self-care are all effective coping mechanisms. It's important to remember that everyone's experience is unique and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to managing the psychological effects of almost drowning. However, with the right support and coping mechanisms, individuals can recover and move forward from this traumatic event.

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Fears about drowning

By Arielle Speer, LCSW

Reviewed by Patrick McGrath, PhD

Nov 8, 2022

Possibly related to:

• Harm/Violent OCD

What is drowning related OCD?

Ocd related to drowning – common obsessions.

• What if I drown accidentally?
• What if I drown myself on purpose?
• What if someone else drowns me?
• What if someone I care about drowns?
• What if I witness someone drown?
• Can I swim well enough?
• Is my swimming pool safe enough?
• Am I near any bodies of water?
• What if there is a flood and I drown?
• What if I drown in the shower?
• What if I get too tired while swimming and drown?

Common triggers

People with Harm OCD centered on a fear of drowning may be triggered by situations involving swimming, or involving liquid in which a person might be able to drown:

• Bodies of water
• Swimming accessories
• Eating before swimming
• No lifeguard on duty
• Water sports
• Not being able to “swim enough”
• Driving over bridges
• Hearing about flooding or a chance of flooding
• Being with children around water
• Hearing stories of people drowning
• Pictures of the beach

How can I tell if I’m experiencing drowning fears from OCD, and not anxiety or reasonable caution about drowning?

People with Harm OCD will experience obsessions—intrusive thoughts, urges, or images—and compulsions—things one does to neutralize their obsessions, reduce anxiety, or prevent a feared outcome. In OCD, people typically report spending at least 1 hour a day engaged in compulsions in response to their obsessions. However, people who have a fear of drowning may avoid large bodies of water or pools, but may have no concerns about drowning when not near water and therefore not engage in compulsions on a daily basis.

Common compulsions

When people with Harm OCD focused on drowning experience intrusive thoughts, images, feelings, or urges that cause distress, they may do compulsions mentally or physically in an attempt to suppress these thoughts, reduce their anxiety, or avoid a feared outcome. Most people with OCD report that trying to stop, replace or neutralize intrusive thoughts is very difficult, if not impossible. 

People report engaging in a very wide range of compulsions in response to fears about drowning. Common mental compulsions include analyzing memories, interactions, ideas, feelings, and similar mental actions. Physical compulsions include anything one can do physically to help neutralize your obsessions, avoid discomfort, or reduce anxiety and uncertainty.

Compulsions performed mentally or physically by people with Harm OCD focused on drowning include:

• Asking others about safety precautions involving water/liquid
• Telling others to follow safety precautions involving water/liquid
• Avoiding bodies of water
• Avoiding bathtubs or hot tubs
• Replacing intrusive thoughts and images with preferred thoughts and images
• Monitoring the weather for rain or flooding
• Avoiding watching the weather, especially rain or flooding
• Keeping flotation devices in car, home or on person
• Avoiding bridges
• Avoiding eating before or close to a specific time before swimming
• Avoiding exposure to swim accessories
• Repeating words, numbers or phrases in order to feel safe

How to treat fear of drowning

Harm OCD about drowning can be debilitating for people who struggle with it, but it is highly treatable. By doing exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy with an OCD specialist , you can learn to manage obsessions and compulsions in ways that stop the OCD cycle, reduce your related anxiety, and give you your life back. 

ERP is the gold standard treatment for people with OCD, backed with decades of clinical research. In ERP, you and your therapist design exposures , or exercises done to gradually expose you to feared stimuli. Exposures are meant to trigger manageable amounts of anxiety so that you can practice response prevention and resist engaging in compulsions like avoidance, reassurance-seeking, or thought replacement. In time, by resisting the urge to engage in compulsions in response to anxiety, you will learn to tolerate uncertainty about drowning and your intrusive thoughts, images, and urges will cause less anxiety over time.

Examples of possible exposures done to treat Harm OCD focused on drowning include: 

• Writing an imaginal script of becoming psychotic and doing a feared action
• Going to sit by a pool and imagining the sensation of drowning
• Writing a worst-case scenario about someone drowning in your local pool
• Listening to ocean waves and imagining swimming in the ocean while focusing on the message: “It is possible that I drown today”

NOCD Therapists specialize in treating OCD

Adriana Delgado

Licensed Therapist, LMHC

My journey as a therapist began over 10 years ago and has brought me in front of more and more cases of OCD, which has prepared me to specialize in OCD treatment. I have experience working at intensive in-home services for children & families, and intensive outpatient programs, preparing me for any challenge you may be facing. During sessions, I use Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy because it’s the most effective treatment for OCD, and works for any OCD subtype.

Anika Carrasco Trujillo

Licensed Therapist, LISW

I started treating people for OCD, as well as other mental health challenges such as depression, in 2004. Now, I specialize in OCD and use Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy to treat any OCD subtype. As much as I’ve learned as a licensed therapist, seeing family and friends deal with OCD has made my work more personal. ERP allows me to treat any subtype while tailoring treatment to your specific needs.

Vic Chaperon

Licensed Therapist, LCSW

I have over 20 years of experience practicing psychotherapy, running my private practice for over 15 years specializing in OCD. I’ve also gained experience working in hospitals and clinics where I treated anxiety, depression, relationship & family dynamics, and more. The most effective approach to treat OCD is known as Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy. ERP is backed by research and is incredibly effective in showing you how to manage your OCD with confidence.

Taylor Newendorp

Network Clinical Training Director

I started as a therapist over 14 years ago, working in different mental health environments. Many people with OCD that weren't being treated for it crossed my path and weren't getting better. I decided that I wanted to help people with OCD, so I became an OCD therapist, and eventually, a clinical supervisor. I treated people using Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and saw people get better day in and day out. I continue to use ERP because nothing is more effective in treating OCD.

Gary Vandalfsen

Licensed Therapist, Psychologist

I’ve been practicing as a licensed therapist for over twenty five years. My main area of focus is OCD with specialized training in Exposure and Response Prevention therapy. I use ERP to treat people with all types of OCD themes, including aggressive, taboo, and a range of other unique types.

Madina Alam

Director of Therapist Engagement

When I started treating OCD, I quickly realized how much this type of work means to me because I had to learn how to be okay with discomfort and uncertainty myself. I’ve been practicing as a licensed therapist since 2016. My graduate work is in mental health counseling, and I use Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy because it’s the gold standard of OCD treatment.

Teri Bullis

Licensed Therapist, BCBA

I’ve seen people with OCD improve within a fairly short amount of time using Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy, but it does take work. With my help, you’ll see that the hard work pays off and will completely change your life. I've been a licensed psychologist since 1999. I have a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, am a board-certified behavior analyst, and have training in ERP therapy.

Erin Crowley

Licensed Therapist, LMFT

I want you to have a life with the ability to make the choices you want, but that can be hard to do when you have OCD. Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy allows you to do that.I’ve been practicing as a licensed therapist since 2014, and I know that learning how to manage OCD takes time, but not as much as you might think. After only a few sessions and a commitment to doing ERP, you may notice feeling significantly better.

Andrew Moeller

Licensed Therapy, LMHC

I've been a licensed counselor since 2013, having run my private practice with a steady influx of OCD cases for several years. Out of all the approaches to OCD treatment that I've used, I find Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy to be the most effective. ERP goes beyond other methods and tackles the problem head-on. By using ERP in our sessions, you can look forward to better days ahead.

Ruthie Brooks

Licensed Therapist, LPC

I have worked in the mental health field for the last 18 years, and now I specialize in treating OCD. I was drawn to NOCD because I saw how many people I can help with proper treatment. Having worked in the mental health industry for quite some time, I often saw OCD misdiagnosed. NOCD allows me to treat people with OCD using Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy, developed specifically to treat all OCD subtypes. It’s well-researched and proven to work, and I think you’ll be surprised with how much progress you can make in such little time.

Want to work with one of our therapists? Schedule a free call to learn more.

AP Psychology Community

Water-Related Trauma: Psychological Recovery after a Drowning Incident

Experiencing a drowning incident can be an incredibly traumatic experience, both physically and psychologically.

While it is possible to make a full physical recovery from such an event, the psychological effects of water-related trauma can linger for months or even years afterward. 

From post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to anxiety and depression, understanding how to cope with these issues is essential to achieve successful long-term psychological recovery after a near-drowning episode.

So here are the various issues associated with water-related trauma and strategies for coping with them and moving toward healing.

The Aftermath of the Incident

An accident that has resulted in near-drowning can be incredibly frightening and overwhelming.

It is normal to feel shaken up or panicked after the incident, and it is important to seek help from a mental health professional as soon as possible to address these feelings.

A therapist can help you process the experience, identify triggers that may bring back memories of the incident, and provide advice on how to cope with any lingering fear or anxiety that may remain.

You’ll also want to hire a drowning accident lawyer to ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve. And while you may need to take some time off from work or school, doing so to focus on yourself and your recovery is essential.

Dealing with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): 

PTSD is a natural response to traumatic events and can manifest as nightmares, flashbacks, trouble sleeping, feeling emotionally numb or isolated, and difficulty concentrating.

Individuals who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder after a drowning incident should seek out professional help to adequately address the condition. 

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is especially helpful for individuals with PTSD as it helps them to reframe their experience and gain control over intrusive thoughts and feelings.

Additionally, medication may be prescribed if necessary but shouldn’t be used as the sole treatment method for PTSD.

Tackling Anxiety and Depression

Anxiety can also develop after a near-drowning experience due to fear of water or other related anxieties such as being around large bodies of water, swimming pools, or other similar situations. 

Coping with anxiety may include techniques such as deep breathing and mental distraction as well as cognitive reframing to help individuals gain control over their feelings of fear or apprehension.

In some cases, medications may be prescribed to help calm an overly anxious person but should not replace the need for a comprehensive treatment plan.

Feelings of sadness and hopelessness can arise after a traumatic episode such as a drowning incident which could eventually lead to depression if not addressed properly. It’s important to seek professional help to effectively treat depression after a near-drowning experience.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is often used in combination with medication and lifestyle modifications to provide relief from depressive symptoms and help individuals move toward successful long-term recovery.

Preventing and Managing Substance Abuse

Substance abuse is a common response to traumatic events as individuals may turn to alcohol or drugs to cope with the difficult emotions associated with such experiences.

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, it’s important to seek professional help and find a treatment that can provide both short-term and long-term support. 

Preventing substance abuse in your loved ones after they have experienced trauma is an important step to take to ensure their well-being.

To do so, provide them with support and understanding and help them identify healthier coping mechanisms. 

There are several drug abuse treatment centers available that can provide education on substance use disorders as well as group therapy sessions and relapse prevention plans.

Additionally, ensuring that your home or workplace is free from drugs or alcohol is another way to reduce the risk of substance abuse among those who have experienced trauma. 

Treatment and Recovery

A comprehensive treatment plan should include cognitive reframing and coping strategies to help individuals move forward in their journey of psychological recovery.

Additionally, medications may be prescribed if necessary but shouldn’t be used as the sole treatment method for such conditions. 

Participating in activities that promote emotional well-being can also help individuals process their emotions safely and healthily.

Finally, seeking support from family, friends, or a therapist can provide helpful insight into overcoming the challenges faced during this difficult time. 

Healthy Coping Strategies

Coping with such an intense emotional state can be overwhelming and upsetting. It is important to focus on coping strategies that will help individuals better manage their emotions:

• Mindfulness – Focusing on the present moment, being aware of one’s thoughts and feelings without judgment or criticism. 
• Exercise – Physical exercise helps reduce stress levels as well as promote physical health and fitness. 
• Journaling – Writing down thoughts and feelings can help people express themselves in a safe outlet.  
• Talking Therapy – Speaking with a therapist or counselor about difficult experiences can aid in processing trauma, managing symptoms, and developing healthier ways of dealing with emotions. 

In-Hospital Recovery

An often overlooked form of treatment for psychological recovery is hospitalization.

Being admitted to a hospital can provide individuals with the appropriate level of care and safety they need during this difficult time. 

Hospitalization is typically recommended when all other forms of treatment have failed, or if an individual’s symptoms are severe.

In-hospital treatment may include medication, talk therapy, and group activities to promote safe recovery and healing. 

Support Groups

After an individual has completed their treatment plan, joining a support group can be beneficial in maintaining psychological stability and keeping one’s recovery on the right track.

Support groups provide individuals with an opportunity to connect with others who have shared similar experiences and to find comfort in knowing that they are not alone.

Additionally, individuals within such groups can offer each other tips about how to cope with difficult emotions or situations which may arise during the recovery process. 

The road to psychological recovery is not an easy one – however, with dedication and perseverance, it is possible to make lasting improvements to one’s mental health. 

Understanding that there will be setbacks along the way is important as patience and self-compassion are essential components of long-term recovery.

Additionally, maintaining healthy habits such as exercising, eating healthy, and participating in activities that bring joy can help individuals create a foundation for long-term mental health.

Essay on Drowning Experience

Students are often asked to write an essay on Drowning Experience in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Drowning Experience

What is drowning.

Drowning is when someone can’t breathe because they’re under water. It’s not safe and can happen very quickly. People might struggle to swim, get pulled down by currents, or can’t float. It’s a serious problem that can lead to injury or even death.

Signs of Drowning

A drowning person might not be able to call for help. They could be moving their arms and legs in a panic, trying to lift their head out of the water. It’s a scary situation, and they need help fast.

Staying Safe

To avoid drowning, never swim alone. Learn to swim well and always have an adult watch you near water. Wear life jackets in boats. Know the water’s depth and speed before getting in.

Helping Others

If you see someone in trouble, call for an adult or lifeguard. Don’t go in the water; you could get in trouble too. Throw something that floats to the person or reach out with a stick.

250 Words Essay on Drowning Experience

Drowning is when someone has trouble breathing because they are under water. It can be very dangerous and scary. When a person can’t get air because water is in the way, their body does not get the oxygen it needs.

If a person is drowning, they might not be able to call for help. They might be moving their arms around a lot, trying to keep their head above water. The person might look like they are climbing an invisible ladder. It is important to know these signs so you can get help or call for a lifeguard if you see someone in trouble.

To stay safe near water, always swim where a lifeguard can see you. Use life jackets if you are not a strong swimmer. Never swim alone. Learning how to swim is a good way to protect yourself. Parents should always watch their kids near water.

If You See Someone Drowning

If you see someone drowning, call for help right away. Yell for a lifeguard if there is one. If you are trained, you can try to help them. But do not go into the water unless you know how because you could get in trouble too.

After a Drowning Scare

If someone is saved from drowning, they might still need a doctor. Water in their lungs can make them sick later. It is important to get them checked out to make sure they are okay. Remember, drowning can happen quickly and quietly, so always be careful around water.

500 Words Essay on Drowning Experience

What is a drowning experience.

A drowning experience is a very scary and dangerous situation. It happens when someone is in water and can’t breathe because their head is below the surface. This can occur in a pool, a lake, the ocean, or any body of water. When a person can’t get air, their body does not get the oxygen it needs to work properly. This can lead to serious injury or even death if the person is not rescued quickly.

Why People Drown

There are many reasons why someone might have a drowning experience. Sometimes, it’s because they can’t swim well or get tired and can’t keep their head above water. Other times, it might be because they slip into deeper water without realizing it. Young children can drown in very shallow water if they fall face down and can’t lift their head. It’s also more risky for someone to be in water if they have been drinking alcohol or using drugs because their body won’t work as it should.

If someone is drowning, they might not be able to call for help, as they are trying very hard just to breathe. They may not wave their hands in the air because they are using their arms to try to stay above water. Often, a person who is drowning looks like they are trying to climb up a ladder in the water. They might have a look of panic and their eyes may be wide open. If someone is drowning, they need help right away.

How to Prevent Drowning

Preventing drowning is very important and there are several ways to do this. First, learning how to swim is a good step. Swimming lessons can teach people how to stay safe in water. It’s also important to always swim where a lifeguard can see you, or at least make sure there is someone else around in case you need help. For children, wearing life jackets in and around water can save lives. It’s also important to not run near pools because you can slip and fall in.

What to Do If Someone Is Drowning

If you see someone who is having a drowning experience, you should call for help right away. Yell for a grown-up or someone who knows how to rescue people from water. If you can reach the person without going into the water, like with a stick or a rope, try that first. Never go into the water to save someone if you’re not trained, because you could end up in trouble too.

After a Drowning Experience

If someone is rescued from a drowning experience, they might still need medical help. Water in their lungs can make them very sick. It’s important for them to see a doctor, even if they seem okay. Sometimes, people who have had a near-drowning experience feel scared to go near water again. Talking to someone about their fears, like a parent or counselor, can help them feel better.

In conclusion, a drowning experience is a very serious and frightening event. It’s important for everyone to know about the dangers of water and how to stay safe. By understanding what causes drowning, recognizing the signs, and knowing what to do in an emergency, we can help prevent these scary situations and keep ourselves and others safe around water.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

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Happy studying!

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