Can't Handle the Pressure

[arthenadent]

So Patrick and I have been learning to scuba dive! We figured it'd be cheapest to get certified here in Wisconsin, and the certification is for life, so we can go dive all over the place afterwards. After five weeks of watching videos and practicing skills in the diving well at the university pool, we were supposed to meet the rest of our class

Comments

[wetdryvac]

*shrugs*

I want the slow beginners working with me when it comes to safety. They tend to be the ones who remember to check everything in detail, and the ones who, years down the road, don't get themselves killed doing stupid speed-step-skipping stuff.

If needed? Dive another day. You'll at least know that out there somewhere a wetdryvac is cheering for safety precautions.

[arthenadent]

I did end up rescheduling the second dive, and I'm glad I did! Much better to be safe. I'm also thinking an equipment upgrade might help. Why put a delicate bodily system under so much pressure when there's a simple alternative?

[slashkilter]

Mely, this should be fun, not misery! I don't see the point in rushing through this, isn't it more important to do it slowly and make sure you do it properly and he sees you can do it properly? Big hugs to you and I hope your poor ears recover, it's nasty having that feeling in your head.

[arthenadent]

Yeah, it's been a week and my ears are mostly OK, so hooray for no lasting damage. I talked to my original instructor (not Mr. Bullypants from the first dive) and he said it was no problem at all for me to wait for another group! Mr. Bullypants tried to convince me to dive anyway, and I almost let him coerce me, but I stood my ground and am glad for it. Once I'm ready to go back in the water, I think I'll request another instructor!

[feather333]

I had a major meltdown on Sunday, when my boyfriend took me bouldering for the first time. He'd been before, though not for a long, long time, and I had never even heard of it before he brought it up

[arthenadent]

AUGH BOULDERING :-( I would have done the exact same thing you did! Spindly-arms here probably can't even do a pull-up, much less boulder! I hope you were able to recover and enjoy the concert afterwards. Also, thanks for the HSP link! It definitely resonates, and this is the first time I've seen these particular symptoms grouped, instead of spread out over various anxiety/inhibition domains. Makes me feel way less crazy, that's for sure!

[ananas2003]

I hate doing physical tasks in a group for exactly the same reasons. Is a private lesson an option? Or maybe a tropical holiday with warm water and colourful fishies to distract from the anxiety...?

[arthenadent]

We're hoping to head to Belize this winter for tropical diving funtimes :-) I just have to finish my certification here first, so I can skip the training dives and head straight for the reef!