Help - covid anxiety and swimming

[cowardhelp]

I'm autistic and have ocd, and I've been fighting my phobias a lot lately, bit by bit. I've been going into places and not avoiding people on pavements, that kind of thing. Honestly I'm miles on from last year.

One of the things I really miss from pre covid times is swimming. I'm trying to make myself go again but despite looking forward to it so much, I couldn't physically make myself walk through the door this morning.

I suddenly thought there's no way it can be safe, can it, even if the chlorine kills it off in the water, it could be hovering in the air or changing rooms, and what is it, one in thirteen people have it right now?

I am hoping that someone can digitally slap some sense into me or share how they've done it!

(Or alternatively, wondering if maybe for now I should leave this one alone and try again later in the year?)

Barring when the pools were closed I swim 3 times a week and spend around 4.5-5hrs in the pool.

The swimming pool is not where I caught covid.

Also swimming is one of the best forms of exercise you can do to strengthen your lungs

Ive been in the gym and swimming at least 5 times a week since they reopened. Sweating in a boiling spin studio with people on bikes either side of me, sitting in the steam room/ sauna with other people, running next to people on treadmills and doing hiit training in full classes, I have never had covid. The benefit I get from exercise both physically and mentally massively outweighs any risk from covid. I have never been in the slightest bit concerned about catching it. Go swimming the first time you go will be hard but once you have done it you will wonder what you were so worried about.

I get it. My ds is also autistic and it's really when he gets an idea in his head to change it.

However he's also a swimmer. There's an excellent report which you're obviously aware of about chlorine and covid. But also remember pools have excellent ventilation systems.

He's been back swimming for a year now and competing for months and months. We've been very lucky that no training session or gala has been the source of an outbreak. And lately there's been no requirement for a LFT.

The truth is no one can say there's no risk or you won't catch it. But IME leisure centres seem to be a very low source of infection. The ONS has excellent data on things like this if you find statistics help you when anxious.

How about an open air pool? Are there any lidos near you where you might feel a bit safer until you get used to it?

After lockdown 1 my pool restricted lanes to 6 at a max to distance but also you could hire your own lane. I used to just because I could and it was bliss. I wish they would do that again!

I've been swimming, sometimes every day, whenever pools were open since March 2020. Nearly always indoors, but also in lidos. I was also also teacher in school without a mask the whole time. I caught covid from my 70 year old father in law when he came to stay at our house.

So a very late update, but I thought I'd come back and update in case it helps encourage anyone else. This morning I finally managed it! It was surprisingly normal and nice

I know most people wouldn't understand how hard it was but I'm proud of myself at least. I'm going to try and go again soon and get back in the habit.

I’m really glad you went. Well done.
i will think of this thread when I’m trying to convince my daughter to do something-it’s taken you 4 months but you’ve done it on your own terms so you’ll be more likely to do it again. I feel stupid saying this as we don’t know each other but I’m really proud of you.

Wooo hoooo! Well done!

I go swimming weekly and have done whenever it was allowed during the pandemic.
As far as I know I've never had covid.

I hope that reassures you a bit.

And well done for going!