He was trying to 'drown his fears'. [=to get drunk so that he wouldn't be afraid]
I'm being 'drowned in' paperwork. [=I'm being overwhelmed by paperwork]
Noise from the passing airplane 'drowned out' our conversation.
(..) I think it may help you. Once, when I was little... I dropped my shoe into a river. And when I tried to get it back, I fell in. I thought I'd drown, but the water carried me to shore. It fiinally came back to me. The river's name was the Kohaku River. I think that was you, (..)2001 Spirited Away