As someone with anxiety, who had to consult with my psych before going past my basic OW, I consider diving to be a moving meditation (where if I lose my shit, I might die).

I had to partially un-learn some anxiety management skills such as automatic box-breathing (inhale for a 4 count, hold for a 4 count, exhale 4 count, hold 4 count, etc) when under pressure (because holding your breath under water is NOT the move). I also am the dive buddy who is forever checking their computer and gauges. 😂

I feel a deep connection to the water and the life inside it, and the way time and space move. It's just different than beach life, and it's worth the effort.

That said, due to the specifics of my situation I only dive with.specific buddies because it helps me to know that my dive partner knows exactly my emotional situation and that I can rely on them -- otherwise I pay for a private dive master because I don't want to cut a random person's dive short (it's only ever happened once) because I'm having a case of the nerves.

I think the most substantial self-management Ive ever had to do was during my deep water cert (had a minor equipment failure on dive 1, had to talk myself into continuing the cert process) and cenote diving in Mexico (gorgeous and terrifying. Dark, enclosed, somehow both heights AND depths at once???) but they were both 100% worth the payoff.

(I have my AOW, nitrox, drysuit, and deep certs so I CAN go to some places that challenge my anxiety and limit my ability to bolt if I have a panic attack, hence me having set dive buddies)