Learning to swim as an adult is terrifying, embarrassing and wonderful | Alexandra Hansen
Briefly

The fear of water had been with me as long as I could remember, an innate anxiety rather than a learned one. I recall moments from childhood, like watching the bath fill, fearing it would flood the house. Despite swimming lessons in primary school, I refused to submerge my face and head, preferring to stay in the shallow end. This avoidance led me to mask my inability to swim, a challenge that became more pressing as I became a parent.
As a new parent, intrusive thoughts of potential dangers swirled in my mind—what if my baby stops breathing or drowns? I knew I needed to confront my fear of water, especially now that I was responsible for another life. Yet, I hesitated to go to the local pool for beginner swimming lessons as an adult, feeling embarrassed about my fear and the logistics of finding appropriate swimwear after childbirth.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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