Helping to Overcome Water Phobia

One of the most interesting ways to help a person with successfully overcoming his or her problem with being extremely fearful of water is to first try and re-introduce that person to water very slowly. Start by filling up a 12 ounce glass with water and then set the water down in front of the person who is afraid of the liquid.

Next, try and talk very calmly and smoothly to the person who is afraid of the water. Try and carefully explain to the person how the water is their friend and not their mortal enemy. Explain how water is a perfectly natural and good source of nutritional requirement for the long-term successful sustainability of human life.

The third step is to try and encourage the person who is afraid of the water to actually dip their right index finger into the glass of water and feel the cold liquid touch the skin of the finger.

Then, if the person is brave enough, try and have the person place his or her right index finger into their mouth so they can taste the water. Hopefully, this will not produce a "panic attack" kind of reaction to the water.

If the person does not seem to have a "panic attack" to the taste of the water from his index finger in his mouth, try and encourage the person to take a small sip of water from the glass.

If this is successfully accomplished, then the next safe course of action would be to carefully lead the frightened person over to the kitchen sink and turn on the cold water faucet very slowly. Allow the water to run slowly out of the faucet while keeping a close eye on the person who is afraid of the water. Make sure there are no warning signs of an immediate "panic attack" from the sudden sight of the running water from the faucet.

Now you will want to attempt to encourage the person to try and place his right hand under the faucet of running cold water. This will hopefully allow the person who is afraid of the water to understand that the water will not harm him or her, even if it is very cold.

If necessary, and if permitted by the person who is afraid, gently take the person's right hand and slowly guide the hand towards the running cold water very carefully. Make sure that the person who is afraid of the water is staying calm and is not frightened. It would help to continually reassure the person who is afraid that the water is okay and that the water is a good friend that water can not do any harm.

If you are successful in helping the person who is afraid with placing his right hand completely under the running cold water from the faucet, make sure you allow the person to choose how long he or she wants to keep the hand under the running water. Do not force the person with keeping his or her hand under the running water for longer then what feels comfortable to them.

Once you have completed the task of helping the person who is afraid with placing his or her hand under the cold running water for a few moments, allow the person to sit down in a chair and take a few slow and deep breaths. Allow the person to try and calm down and relax into a very positive frame of thinking. This is very important so that the person who is afraid of the water does not suddenly produce a "panic attack".

After the person who is afraid has successfully calmed down and their breathing has returned to normal, see if the person would like to stand up, walk back to the kitchen sink and try sticking his or her hand under the cold running water again a second time.

If the person who is afraid does not want to try sticking his or her hand back under the cold running water in the kitchen sink, then do not try and force them to do it. Allow the person to make his or her own choice in the situation and then act accordingly.

By following these few simple and easy steps, you can help anybody with slowly and gradually overcoming their fear or phobia of water. You can also become a good friend and even a hero if you are truly successful with helping another person learn about the joys, the safety and the natural wonders of common water.