My father’s reaction to a childhood trauma is haunting me

DEAR DEIDRE: Memories of nearly drowning as a child still haunt me to this day.

I can still feel the water filling my nose, mouth and ears, and the sensation of sinking to the bottom of the swimming pool – and the dread fear. I frequently have nightmares about it.

I’m a 42-year-old man now, and the incident happened when I was six.

I was on holiday with my family when I got into trouble in the hotel pool. My rubber ring deflated, and I was saved by a man, who dragged me out of the pool.