I overcame my anxiety at the public swimming pool

I started going to the swimming pool a year ago now. I was looking for a solitary, soothing physical activity, and water calms me down. But putting on a swimsuit in a public, crowded, and noisy pool was a terrifying step. But I did it.

The first few times, I felt judged, especially since the last time I had swum was back in high school. The noise, the smell of the pool, the other swimmers going in every direction or crammed into a single lane—it was all anxiety-inducing.

So, I bought some water-friendly earplugs, put on a pair of goggles, and focused on my movements and my breathing. I did that every time, blocking out everything else. And eventually, by repeatedly exposing myself to everything I normally can't stand, I was surprised to find myself feeling comfortable, confident, taking ownership of the space, and ignoring the other swimmers. And it was liberating, in addition to the purely beneficial effects of a good workout on my morale.

It might seem counterintuitive to recommend swimming to someone suffering from social anxiety, but it allows you to be exposed in public without having to engage in any exchanges.

I may also have a biased experience because I’ve also been occasionally taking CBD/THC gummies for 2/3 months, which relax me and give me a pleasant sensation of disinhibition. That certainly plays a big part too... In any case, I know that the more I expose myself to outside situations that usually make me uncomfortable, the more I improve my ease and reinforce my positive experience !