I can completely relate. Several years ago I was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and had to have an MRI of my head. It was a traumatizing experience -- I've never been so close to a panic attack. For days afterwards I would feel that same claustrophobic sensation, even while lying in bed at night or being in the back of a car. Tunnels were especially challenging. I was actually very concerned that i was permanently damaged from the experience. I've had to have two more scans of my head since. With the second, I forced myself to do it. I was truly anxious, but I kept my eyes closed shut and thought about the most peaceful things I know. If my heart started to pound, I forced myself back into these thoughts. For some reason, it was really comforting to think of figure skating, of all things. I was brutally honest with myself, saying, "You are being ridiculous. Nothing is happening to you. Just lie still." But I think what really worked was understanding the root of my anxiety -- duh -- cancer. But, more specifically, one night I was trying to fall asleep and couldn't get the experience out of my mind, and I suddenly imagined the lid of a coffin coming down over my face. Yes, the MRI is like a coffin, and I was afraid of dying. I feel like I've gotten a handle on this fear now, and even writing about it now makes me think it was ridiculous a year or so ago. But it was real and troubling. I feel like I did a bit of successful therapy on myself. :) My guess is that there is some stressor in your life causing this fear. And I think you have to figure out this stressor and face the water head-on, all the while reminding yourself that your thoughts are irrational. If it gets worse, and it is a true phobia, it can be very successfully treated with specific types of therapy. Sorry for the novel. Good luck to you.
Sudden development of a phobia
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