How do you take care of sea monkeys?

How can I get over my phobia of the sea?

• I have always been scared of going in the sea. I have been trying to overcome my fear for ages. Basically for some reason I think that I am going to get bitten by an animal in the sea. I know deep down that it is unlikely I will. However for some reason when I am in the sea I just feel I will get attacked. Sometimes I think I will get attacked by a shark. Once I saw some object in the water which was flat and long and i panicked and thought it was a sting ray so I sprinted out of the water as fast as I could. And when there is a wave and the sand moves around in the water so it becomes unclear, I worry that there may be something in the water like a crab and if I stand in the wrong place it is going to bite my foot. To overcome my fear, I keep trying to go in the water. Basically I start off going into the water so that it is ankle height, then when I am comfortable with this, I move further in until it is a bit deeper. I keep trying to move further and further in but usually I think I see something, I panic and I sprint out as fast as I can. When I get into the water, I take so much care where I stand. If I see the ground is a different color (from where there is seaweed, a rock or anything else), I automatically try and stay as far away as possible from that area. Also, the fact that the water is really cold puts me off as well! I really like the beach and love looking at amazing water, however it is so annoying that I get worried when I go in the sea. I am planning on going to Thailand and visiting their beaches and I'm worried that the same thing will happen. Luckily the sea is clear there and there are not many waves (so I can see through the water more clearly), but there are many sea snakes in the water and other animals which may really scare the pants out of me. So can anyone help? I am not a little kid by the way as it may sound like I am. I'm 17 and this phobia has occurred throughout my life!

• Answer:

  Have you tried swimming or wading in a pool? I had a similar phobia of the sea but it has to do with the fact that I don't know how to swim and I get freaked out if my feet can't touch the sand. I usually stay about waist deep and don't go in any further. I started taking swimming classes and it made me a lot more comfortable in the water. The instructors were really patient and took their time with me. I'm not sure if that would help your situation but you could give it a try! I still have a long way to go but it's a start.