How Did Douglas Overcome His Fear of Water?

Douglas's fear of water began with two traumatic incidents:

1. At age 3-4, his father held him in the surf at the California coast, and waves knocked him over, filling his mouth and lungs with water.
2. At Yakima Pool (age 10-11), a bully threw him into the deep end of the pool. As he sank, he was overcome by total terror. He attempted to push off the bottom three times but kept sinking. He nearly drowned and lost consciousness. Though he eventually survived, the experience left him with a crippling phobia.

Douglas hired a swimming instructor who taught him systematically, piece by piece:

1. Leg exercises: The instructor used a rope/belt to support Douglas and spent weeks teaching him to kick his legs properly.
2. Breathing exercises: He was taught the correct breathing rhythm.
3. Arm and body coordination: Swimming strokes were practiced methodically.

After months of instruction, Douglas could swim. But residual terror still remained. He then practiced alone, forcing himself to swim lap after lap. Each time a wave of fear came, he challenged it — diving into the pool, swimming across Lake Wentworth, and eventually swimming across the Warm Lake.

With each small victory, the old, paralyzing terror slowly shrank until it was completely gone. Douglas concluded that 'in death there is nothing to fear but fear itself' — echoing the famous words of Franklin D. Roosevelt.