This past weekend, I was wearing a full face mask (Ocean Reef Neptune) while doing some training as a Public Safety Diver with our local dive team, and I started having anxiety while wearing the mask. After this, my breathing rate accellerated, and I had to work hard, mentally, to get it back under control. When I was called upon to perform a task, and submerged, the anxiety came back even stronger, and I ended up surfacing and called the dive. Not a "panic" situation, but definitely not a comfortable feeling.
I surfaced, signalled okay to my tender, but told them I needed to come out. No, I didn't rip the mask off, or freak out. I just knew that i wanted to NOT be in the full face mask any longer than I had to. Once another backup diver was in the water, then I managed to exit and everything was fine. Well, everything except for me feeling like I had let my team down when they were depending on me. At least this was a training scenario. My LDS is going to have a pool session for anyone on our team that desires more time on the FFM, and will be running through drills, and I will definitely be there.
About one month ago, we had an actual rescue call for a missing swimmer that jumped from a lighthouse pier. When I went in to search for the missing swimmer, I had the exact same feelings and rapid breathing. I pushed through the anxiety due to the nature of why I was there, and managed to complete my search patterns, although I used more air than I normally would have.
Background:
Our dive team has always recommended the use of FFMs, but in the past we could use a 2nd stage and mask. Since we're all volunteer, it was never pressed, but now that we have received some grants and gear for our dive team, we're enforcing the use of FFMs on all operations. I haven't had a lot of time with the FFM, but I was comfortable with it in the pool when I first got it. It's been a couple of years since I dove with the FFM, as I was away from the team due to injuries from a motorcycle wreck.
I have no issues with ZERO visability and working in blackout conditions, but for some reason the FFM starts the anxiety. Similar to the feelings I got when I had to have an MRI done on my neck/shoulder area. Maybe it's a mild form of claustrophobia.
Questions:
1. What are ways to learn how to deal with the anxiety/claustophobia associated with a FFM?
2. How can I be perfectly fine in blackout conditions where my only reference is by feel, but the FFM creates anxiety?
Thanks in advance,
Jim
I surfaced, signalled okay to my tender, but told them I needed to come out. No, I didn't rip the mask off, or freak out. I just knew that i wanted to NOT be in the full face mask any longer than I had to. Once another backup diver was in the water, then I managed to exit and everything was fine. Well, everything except for me feeling like I had let my team down when they were depending on me. At least this was a training scenario. My LDS is going to have a pool session for anyone on our team that desires more time on the FFM, and will be running through drills, and I will definitely be there.
About one month ago, we had an actual rescue call for a missing swimmer that jumped from a lighthouse pier. When I went in to search for the missing swimmer, I had the exact same feelings and rapid breathing. I pushed through the anxiety due to the nature of why I was there, and managed to complete my search patterns, although I used more air than I normally would have.
Background:
Our dive team has always recommended the use of FFMs, but in the past we could use a 2nd stage and mask. Since we're all volunteer, it was never pressed, but now that we have received some grants and gear for our dive team, we're enforcing the use of FFMs on all operations. I haven't had a lot of time with the FFM, but I was comfortable with it in the pool when I first got it. It's been a couple of years since I dove with the FFM, as I was away from the team due to injuries from a motorcycle wreck.
I have no issues with ZERO visability and working in blackout conditions, but for some reason the FFM starts the anxiety. Similar to the feelings I got when I had to have an MRI done on my neck/shoulder area. Maybe it's a mild form of claustrophobia.
Questions:
1. What are ways to learn how to deal with the anxiety/claustophobia associated with a FFM?
2. How can I be perfectly fine in blackout conditions where my only reference is by feel, but the FFM creates anxiety?
Thanks in advance,
Jim