Answer

So, about the incident that happened to me during the filming of my morning video.

After waking up, I went to the river for a swim as usual. Nothing was bothering me, and I was relaxed as always. My dog Bilok was with me, as he always is.

I entered the river, which was 2-3 meters deep in that area with a strong current, and after diving, I swam away from the shore.

When I surfaced, I immediately looked for my dog. I always keep an eye on him, worried he might fall into the water after me. I quickly spotted Bilok making his way through the bushes along the riverbank, following me as I planned to swim downstream to an easier spot to exit the water about 50 meters ahead.

Suddenly, Bilok scared a large snake, over a meter long, which had been lying in his path. The snake fell into the water right in front of me and swiftly moved toward me.

I am terrified of snakes. I’m so afraid that I turn off the TV when they’re shown, avoid pictures, and can’t even think about them without panic – I have a real snake phobia.

This event triggered my first-ever intense panic attack. I had never experienced anything like it before.

I’m physically fit for a woman, I swim and dive well, and I’ve always felt comfortable in the water.

But at that moment, I was overwhelmed by panic and fear. I lost the strength to fight the current. My mind kept imagining snakes all around me in the water, and the worst part was that I couldn’t see where the big one had gone.

I realized this might be the end. I couldn’t feel the muscles in my arms or legs, and I couldn’t handle the current. I was about to sink, surrounded by these “monsters.”

The only way back was upstream, where I had entered the river, but I didn’t have the strength.

I thought it was the end. I was drowning.

My little dog was waiting for me on the shore, not understanding what was happening.

I lost control over my movements, couldn’t get enough oxygen, and my body was slowly sinking into a vertical position in the deep water, with my legs like lead pulling me down.

This lasted for about 5-10 minutes, and somehow, I regained enough awareness and muscle memory to get through it.

I made it to the shore, but my arms and legs were almost useless, and my breathing was nearly blocked. I was dizzy and barely conscious. I don’t know how long it took me to pull myself out, but I managed to grab a branch on the riverbank.

After that, the stress, shaking, cold, and nausea set in. It took me a long time to recover from that state.

My face probably looked like something out of a horror movie, and my mind kept reminding me how close I’d come to death.

Despite the shock, I tried to keep filming, but it was pointless.

My body was trembling, and my facial expressions showed fear and stress. My brain couldn’t organize my actions logically. I stopped filming, packed up, and went home.

It took me a long time to recover, and even today, the fear hasn’t fully passed.

Of course, these are now just memories, but I’m still terribly afraid of forest rivers and even the woods themselves to some extent.

I will overcome this, I hope.

I’ll find a way to keep snakes away, maybe I’ll buy some device.

I would be grateful for any advice on what really works to scare off snakes.

What should I get to keep snakes away from my camp?

Maybe someone knows.

That’s my story, and that’s why you, my dear followers, never got to see the second part of video #9.

So please, don’t judge too harshly the small episode I plan to show you soon.

I tried my best, but I couldn’t do what I had originally planned.

I’m sorry.