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You get more comfortable underwater with practice. I did swimming in college, and the first few times, I could't swim a full length because I always started cou

by ovi256 16y ago

You get more comfortable underwater with practice. I did swimming in college, and the first few times, I could't swim a full length because I always started coughing, taking water through my nose (very unpleasant), in my ears. Soon enough, you stop doing that - you just learn reflexively how to avoid it - and you get used to what you cannot avoid. And you start asking yourself what the big deal is when the beginners go though the same ordeal. I'm not sure this was your type of comfort problem, but I hope it helps.

nickpinkston 16y ago
You nailed it. I actually had an incident when I was in swim class when I was very young where I sucked in a lot of water through my nose. It left an deep impression as I often flashback to this when I smell pool chlorine. I like to think I'm over it, but I haven't been in a pool since. Soon enough though.
- giardini 16y ago
  You've heard of "water-boarding" perhaps? That's what you experienced, except with water-boarding you don't get to come to the surface. Back to swimming: one never overcomes the sensations, one merely learn that it will happen, that it's unpleasant, and that, when it occurs, to control one's response. Here's what you want to learn to do when you get a snootful of H20: 1. stop inhaling immediately: close the throat and back of the nose, 2. exhale sharply through the nose, no matter how little breath your lungs are holding. Use your belly muscles to force the cough, 3. get to the surface and _slowly_ breathe in a full breath, 4. then sharply exhale through mouth and nose to clear the airways. Repeat as required. You can practice this on dry land. I guess what makes this really difficult is that one must learn to suppress the feeling that "I'm gonna die!".
giardini 16y ago
I don't get the ear thing but I don't think it's uncommon. I met a young lady last week who claimed she couldn't swim without earplugs. She said the feeling of water entering her ears freaked her. I told her to treat it as a phobia, since she had such a strong aversion. Water entering the ear can cause temporary disequilibrium. But once the water in the ear heats to body temperature that disappears. Of course if you have a hole in the eardrum you should see a doctor before considering swimming. To clean the ears after swimming and to prevent ear infection use a few drops of either 1. a half-and-half mixture of alcohol and vinegar or 2. wine. Put a few drops into each ear, then turn your head on the side to drain completely. The alcohol reduces the surface tension of the H20 and reduces risk of infection; the vinegar helps prevent fungal infections.

by ovi256 16y ago

nickpinkston 16y ago

You nailed it. I actually had an incident when I was in swim class when I was very young where I sucked in a lot of water through my nose. It left an deep impression as I often flashback to this when I smell pool chlorine. I like to think I'm over it, but I haven't been in a pool since. Soon enough though.

giardini 16y ago
You've heard of "water-boarding" perhaps? That's what you experienced, except with water-boarding you don't get to come to the surface. Back to swimming: one never overcomes the sensations, one merely learn that it will happen, that it's unpleasant, and that, when it occurs, to control one's response. Here's what you want to learn to do when you get a snootful of H20: 1. stop inhaling immediately: close the throat and back of the nose, 2. exhale sharply through the nose, no matter how little breath your lungs are holding. Use your belly muscles to force the cough, 3. get to the surface and _slowly_ breathe in a full breath, 4. then sharply exhale through mouth and nose to clear the airways. Repeat as required. You can practice this on dry land. I guess what makes this really difficult is that one must learn to suppress the feeling that "I'm gonna die!".

giardini 16y ago

I don't get the ear thing but I don't think it's uncommon. I met a young lady last week who claimed she couldn't swim without earplugs. She said the feeling of water entering her ears freaked her. I told her to treat it as a phobia, since she had such a strong aversion. Water entering the ear can cause temporary disequilibrium. But once the water in the ear heats to body temperature that disappears. Of course if you have a hole in the eardrum you should see a doctor before considering swimming. To clean the ears after swimming and to prevent ear infection use a few drops of either 1. a half-and-half mixture of alcohol and vinegar or 2. wine. Put a few drops into each ear, then turn your head on the side to drain completely. The alcohol reduces the surface tension of the H20 and reduces risk of infection; the vinegar helps prevent fungal infections.