Ongoing Study Initially Finds Benefits of Cold Swimming in Mental Health and Menopause

A group of sea swimmers has recently taken part in research that looks into the benefits of dipping into the ocean to improve their mental health.

In this research, BBC News reported, "doctors and psychiatrists will be analyzing" the reactions of swimmers from the Chill group at Croyde in Devon.

The results, the said online news outlet said, are expected to come out in the next six months and study authors said, it could result in more GPs socially recommending swimming in cold water.

According to Michael Morris, Chill Swimming Therapy, what they wanted to do was to "get people with anxiety and depression" into the cold water, for them to feel better.

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Two-Theory Research on Sea-Swimming

The researchers, said Morris, is carrying out the study on sea swimmers, with two theories. One theory, he elaborated, is that "We adapt to cold water."

The first theory, Morris explained, shows that cold water reduces one's reduction to stress. He elaborated that cold water "is stress and overtime, doing it on repeated occasions" makes an individual less tress "by that stress."

Meanwhile, the other theory, according to researchers, is that cold water is anti-inflammatory. According to Morris, when one gets into the water and specifically when he puts his face into the water, "you get a really strong anti-inflammatory effect."

Therefore, this particular theory indicates that over time, swimming in the sea will reduce one's level of inflammation. And by that way, cold swimming, said Morris, improves one's mental and physical health.

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Initial Findings

The team of researchers said their initial findings of the study are promising. Say, one had a drug and showed such a result, "they say you're making it up," Morris said.

Furthermore, when one is getting all the benefits of an efficient therapy for mental health, it then costs the National Health Service to nothing.

Coldwater simmer, Sandra Simons said, "Immersing yourself in naturally-cold water eliminates all your stress." She added, it also takes away all of the stress and worries and, "It's amazing."

Simons shared she has been going through the menopause and she has found that the anxiety that she's going through brings, has indeed, been, bad for her.

Also according to this cold swimmer, it gives her that real feeling of waking up in the morning on certain days when she feels dreadful that something bad is going to happen. There are days too, she added, when she feels she did not want to do anything.

Simons also described the feeling, when the immersion of the body in "cold, saltwater" is like "you're at one with nature" and she said it just feels amazing.

Meanwhile, Sarah Lewis, another cold-water swimmer, shared she's had four breakdowns. She's suffered from depression and anxiety and even got a panic attack.

Because of her experience, she said, "I would never think to come to the beach." However, she added, something like the cold swimming and meeting new people while doing so, has been a tremendous experience for her.

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