#it’s called submechanophobia I guess technically. sounds so stupid. Just hate stuff near me in water

[nelfs]

I don’t use the word Phobia lightly because I think not all fears can be classed as phobias, but I do think I have some kind of water-related phobia…. I LOVE swimming but as long as I can remember I’ve had a persistent and irrational fear of what’s beneath me underwater. I remember being terrified of buoys as a child because of the mooring rope leading down to the lakebottom, docks have always scared me, even today when I went swimming I had moments of panic because I’d hit a cold spot and imagine what might be under me. it’s not even a fear of wildlife/sharks, it’s like, what if there’s a shipwreck or a piece of wood or a totally innocuous metal bar down there in the dark? it’s totally irrational. it’s frustrating because I love swimming but I get really anxious when I can’t see the bottom. i am even too scared to open toilet tanks sometimes. can anyone relate??