Phobias: things that scare you

[DoubleONothing000]

Yeah but see, unless you're in amazing shape and a great, not just gooood swimmer, it's no good in the waters here. We have the highest and roughest tides in the world (Bay of Fundy). Not just anyone could get back to shore from those. The ocean fascinates and scares the heck out of me at the same time. I always find myself going back, though.

[Rider rules]

You should learn. If a boat sinks... If it does a trick is to take your trousers off and tie up the legs. Then the water will go in through the waist hole and you can use them to float.

[scorpiash]

Okay the natural waters are too dangerous but haven't you tried an indoor swimming pool? I mean the worse it could be is cold, right? I'd be surprised if there wasn't at least one safe place to swim in your area.

[DoubleONothing000]

The whole point was I'm scared of large water I'm not scared to swim in a swimming pool! I do that. But knowing how to swim won't help me survive if I ever fall into the ocean waters around here.

[scorpiash]

Sorry I missunderstood, I thought you meant that you couldn't swim much at all, not that just you couldn't swim in those conditions.

[DoubleONothing000]

Well, I still can't swim very well. Only enough to be in a pool or something.
I don't know if I'm more scared of the water, or what's in it

[TiggsRulz:)]

I can swim ok, but I am really scared of swimming in the ocean at the beach, because of the unknown I'm sure to be sharing the water with. Australia's a deadly place, and the venom doesn't stop at the ocean!!! That's why I'm terrified of jellyfish and that sort of thing!

[DoubleONothing000]

I wouldn't be so much scared of the venom on land. Most venom has anti venom so no worries. But some don't have a cure yet. But in the ocean, if you get poisoned and your muscles cramp you drown 

[TiggsRulz:)]

Yeah, but for me, it's just the thought of what might be swimming with me that spooks me - whether it's necessarily harmless or not! I know that at the 'baths' (a mini beach near me), the jellyfish are harmless, but that doesn't stop me screaming whenever I see one, or feel a bunch of seaweed brush my leg...
My dad told me the water was safe, but I was wearing my goggles the last time I went there so that I could see the fish around me to make myself feel better, but It didn't help, especially when I saw a Blue - Ringed octopus under my foot!
I haven't been since...

[DoubleONothing000]

Those things are scary. And tiny. But it seems everything that's poison is tiny these days!

[TiggsRulz:)]

I know, which makes them harder to see, and me more paranoid!!!
I'm scared of the things I see because they LOOK deadly, and I'm scared of the things I can't see because they ARE deadly!!

[Pedro-ologist]

It is all about your mindset. I swim all the time, and when I was doing a competitive open-water swim a while ago, I almost had a panic attack. I knew that if I saw a bit of seaweed or even the anchor holding the boys in place, I would be really scared and would just get the IRB to rescue me (I almost did...but I could not suffer the same of getting taken in by a boat...). So I just closed my eyes when I put my head underwater, and hardly ever took peeks (it was lucky it was murky water and I couldn't see the bottom, because there is often seaweed around there...).

Tiggsrulz: Don't you live in Sydney? They have nets galore! I get so sick of the nets at their beaches when I am there! In Perth we have no nets...if a shark comes...we better be out of the water...

Blue ringed Octopus...you know there is an anti venom for that? I don't think it gets used much because they kill you in 5 minutes. I would loved to have seen one in the wild...they are so cute!

Why don't you go to a different set of baths. The ones at Balmoral rule (I am assuming you live in Sydney...)

You can't see stone fish...they are deadly...but not in baths...

Rocket: You should learn to swim. It is really fun...I bet turkey was boring if you couldn't swim too well!

[DoubleONothing000]

Stonefish aren't the most poison but they are arguably the most painful pain you can feel. I don't know this from experience but I researched it once. It takes a little bit to prepare the anti venom, and most people are begging to have their arm/leg AMPUTATED instead of waiting. I shudder to imagine.

[TiggsRulz:)]

It is all about your mindset.
I know, but I can't help it!!

Don't you live in Sydney? They have nets galore! I get so sick of the nets at their beaches when I am there! In Perth we have no nets...if a shark comes...we better be out of the water...
Why don't you go to a different set of baths. The ones at Balmoral rule (I am assuming you live in Sydney...)

Yeah, I live in sydney, but the nets aren't really a comfort to me, It's just my paranoid psychology... Balmoral's a bit far from me, so I'll have to settle for the pool...

[Pedro-ologist]

I think you should get over your fear. Go to a patrolled beach or something. Ever been to Bondi? It is quite nice on a calm day...

Pools are nice...but the beach is really fun. You guys in NSW may have heaps of sharks, but they are little tidly ones...you hardly ever get Great Whites (although there is quite a lot of research that has come out saying they really don't like eating humans...)...and there is only 3500 left in the oceans...so sad. Look at the picture...: http://au.sports.yahoo.com/banzai/ocean/feature/-/9137846/shark-expert-paddles-within-feet-of-great-white/