Hi there!
So last week I talked bout
How you don't have to justify your mental illness and disorder
and I thought I could do a video about my experience
as a scuba diver that has mental disorder
So, a quick disclaimer first
I am NOT a doctor
I am a divemaster and I have been
diving for about more than 10 years
and I have been struggling with mental disorder and anxiety
and depression for some time
since I was... I want to say 13
Sooo, more than 10 years again
So the first thing I want to say is that I never been put on medication
I have been advised to, and I refused, just for the reson I wanted to keep diving
because, umh
medication, especially this kind
eumh, can work on your blod flow
and that can create and increase the risk of diving accidents
So the first thing I would advise you to do
is to talk to a specialist
Not just your doctor or the one who prescribed you the medication
but a scuba diving specialist
Or DAN
wich is a (scubadiving) insurance specialist company
not sponsored by the way but they are great guys
they can direct you to a specialist near you
so that could be a good idea for you if you are stuggling and HAVE to take your medication
if you don't have to take your medication you can
go off your medication for the time of your vacation
emh, maybe a day or two prior to the first dive
you might want to tell your instructor, your divemaster AND your buddy
that you are having anxiety issues or whatever you are going throught
just so they know how to react if you have a panic attack or something
In the PADI medication assessment they say that
Untreated panic disorder, mental disorder and claustophobia
are hight risk of diving accidents
But I was struggling with panic disorders and still am
but I can dive
I think the most important thing is that people know how to react if something happens
and that you know how to detect when a panic attac is coming
I have had one panic attac and
not rly a panic attac but a dive where I wasn't
okay at all
and finally I passed out during this dive
So i am really happy that my instructor knew how to react to that
At that time Iwasn't diagnose with anxiety
So I did not knew it was that but looking backwards I know that's what happened
I would also recommend you to be very carefull towards nitrogen narcosis
that happens below 40 m (approx. 130 ft)
That happends with everybody, the nitrogen reacts with your blod flow
and everybody reacts differently
So I know that I kinda feel akward
under the 40m mark
Some people feel great and want to keep diving
some people remove their regulator
but you need to be aware that it is gonna happends
something is gonna happend
and if you have panic attacs, that could affect the way you dive
so if you don't feel comfortable diving under 40 m
just let your instructor know
and let them know why
you don't have to tell them in front of everybody you can just
take the instructor appart and say
'hey, btw I stuggle with that'
Some instructors and divemaster might not know
what mental disorders are
Just if you say to someone 'I have anxiety' an they go
'Yeah you are just stressed it is ok'
umh, it might be uncomfortable
that's why I realy like to dive with my buddy
that is Nico
because He know what it is like and how I am when I have a panic attac
that could be a little bit tricky
if you don't feel like diving, call out the dive
if your divemaster of the instructor you are diving with
is not comprehensive eumh
just find another dive center
I am sorry, there is people who don't understand mental disorders
that would never will
It could be very difficult to deal with them
but put your health first
I know that diving is a beautiful therapy
I kept diving and I felt
better that I have ever been
underwater
but some sittuations have to be adressed
you can't control your blod flow or things like that
even if you are not under anti depressent medication
it could be if you just have ear issues
you just have to say 'I can't dive, I just need to stop the dive
and I think it is very important for the divemaster and you to put your health first
I hope this video helped you to iddentify what you can and can't do
with mental disorders and scuba diving
I don't have all the knowledge, I just have my personnal experience
and 10 years of diving
being a divemaster and seeing a lot of things so
I just can tell you where I have been and what I have experienced
If you have experienced anything else, please let me know in the comment section
I am sure it can help a lot of people
and if you have any other question, any other subject that you would like me to cover
please let me know
I am doing a scuba diving themed video regarding a special topic every month
so you can subscribe to get notify every time I upload a video
about scuba diving or my travels
and I hope to see you next time, bye!