Blue therapy: Part 2
When I set up a course of sea swimming for staff at Royal Cornwall Hospital in partnership with Chill UK – it was absolutely a case of do as I say not as I do. I had read extensively about the benefit of cold water exposure for helping with stress, anxiety, depression and menopausal symptoms. For an organisation with a substantial sickness absence problem related to all of these issues and an 80% female workforce – this had the potential to help a lot of staff. I arranged for 80 staff to participate in an 8 week course learning about how to safely swim in the open water of Cornwall. In order to measure the impact, all participants are also enrolled on a research study with Portsmouth University under Dr Heather Massey.
What I didn’t anticipate was just quite how much it was going to help me.
As compelling as the evidence was – I didn’t ever consider doing it myself. Despite being a very proud Cornish woman, a cold water mermaid I was not! Over the years I have only ever reluctantly entered Cornish water with the aid of a neoprene wrapping.
ChillUK founder, Mike Morris was the one who persuaded (forced) me to be a participant, arguing that I wouldn’t be able to explain the benefits unless I felt them for myself. I had to concede. It was a very good point.
I was so anxious about my first session, it was on my mind for weeks. In preparation, I eventually went in with a wetsuit, then took it off and went back in.
I suppose one of the most surprising things was that for me the worst part was always when the water hits your more sensitive regions and it turns out this is equally bracing with or without a wetsuit and the quicker you can get that done – the quicker you acclimatise, and you really do. I used to think people who said that were just being very stoic and essentially lying !
I have grown to love the feel of immersion in the cold water and the way it envelopes you. On a day when the sun is also shining on your face, the experience is one of the most uplifting I could ever recommend. If you get your head under it’s the greatest relief for tension headaches, hangovers and general feelings of overwhelm.
For me the simplicity of putting on my swimming costume and taking a dip is just priceless. I am very fortunate to live in Cornwall and can take my pick of some stunning beaches – I am just pleased I have finally found proper enjoyment in my environment.
Overcoming a fear in this way has been very powerful for me, it has expanded my sense of identity and helped me to overcome other fears such as cycling on the road again after falling off my bike a few years ago.
I genuinely believe that I am living more as a result of discovering sea swimming this year and very excited as to what else this journey may lead to.
