Eep. Never heard that about gum. Yikes.
Alex- did you ever come close to drowning or choking? Just curious, as your fears seem to revolve around that theme.
In general, I'm not afraid of anything in particular. But for whatever reason, I absolutely can't stand having people hug me, tackle me, anything like that in water I can't stand up in. You know, like when you're a kid and you're in the deep end, and people hug you or dunk you for fun? Yeah, I go totally nuts and my rational brain shuts down. I start hitting the person as if my life depended on it.
It is a completely instinctive action and I kind of blank out until I am free. I also hate swimming in the ocean with waves for the same reason. In So Cal when I was a kid, the waves were really strong at the beach and it was tough to get past the point between the calm deep water and the shore. I did it once or twice and determined it freaked me out and I'd avoid it. The waves were really strong with a motion of pulling you under and back out- it's easy to get tired in that kind of current- the water is deep and cold.
I have no problems with swimming otherwise; always loved swimming underwater and I find it very peaceful down there. I've done snorkeling at various locations and swam with huge sting rays in the Caymen Islands. Everything is good except strong waves and people dunking me.
No idea why, as I've never come close to drowning or anything.