Hi Kevin:
Having certified a few students with the same problem, let me ask you something. Do you consider yourself mildly claustrophobic? What I mean is that occasionally, do dark or tight places make you feel somewhat anxious?
Many people are somewhat claustrophobic to a degree some dont even know it and these same people generally handle it after "getting adjusted." The behavior you describe sounds like that you are "adjusting" to the limited physical space your mind has found itself in. This is usually caused by lower visibility, a wetsuit hood, masks with darker colored construction, tighter BCDs and/or straps or other stuff that constricts you and may not have been present during pool training. Have you done a "low-viz" dive yet and, if so, how did you feel? Compare this to "better" visibility dives. Any differences?
My advice on how to handle this is to first recognize that an "issue" exists and then analyze the symptoms. Visualize in your mind overcoming the issue and keep doing what you are doing - more dives. As you get "used to it," assuming you dont have a true phobia and it doesnt sound like you do your symptoms will probably go away.
Just so you know, the first time I had a "claustrophobic problem" was on a cave dive in a spring called "Little River" in Florida. I got stuck between the ceiling and muddy floor of the cave quite always back in and had to come out of my tanks to get free. I was amazed how quickly things "closed in" on me and how I became anxious. It took a few minutes to "calm down" before I could continue. Sometimes we don't know how we will react until we have an experience...
Anyway, good luck! Post questions if you have them...
Having certified a few students with the same problem, let me ask you something. Do you consider yourself mildly claustrophobic? What I mean is that occasionally, do dark or tight places make you feel somewhat anxious?
Many people are somewhat claustrophobic to a degree some dont even know it and these same people generally handle it after "getting adjusted." The behavior you describe sounds like that you are "adjusting" to the limited physical space your mind has found itself in. This is usually caused by lower visibility, a wetsuit hood, masks with darker colored construction, tighter BCDs and/or straps or other stuff that constricts you and may not have been present during pool training. Have you done a "low-viz" dive yet and, if so, how did you feel? Compare this to "better" visibility dives. Any differences?
My advice on how to handle this is to first recognize that an "issue" exists and then analyze the symptoms. Visualize in your mind overcoming the issue and keep doing what you are doing - more dives. As you get "used to it," assuming you dont have a true phobia and it doesnt sound like you do your symptoms will probably go away.
Just so you know, the first time I had a "claustrophobic problem" was on a cave dive in a spring called "Little River" in Florida. I got stuck between the ceiling and muddy floor of the cave quite always back in and had to come out of my tanks to get free. I was amazed how quickly things "closed in" on me and how I became anxious. It took a few minutes to "calm down" before I could continue. Sometimes we don't know how we will react until we have an experience...
Anyway, good luck! Post questions if you have them...