The Healing Madness of Sea Swimming Short Film Review
Dr. Mark Harper is a passionate cold-water swimmer. Dr. Harper got started swimming in the cold waters of the sea (Brighton (UK)) by accident after his local pool closed. A friend recommended that he try swimming in the sea, and 13 years later, he’s not only still swimming, he’s encouraging others to join him and diving deep into the benefits that come with swimming in the cold sea.
Dr. Harper is leading research that suggests that allowing the body to adapt to cold water helps people in several ways, including battling depression, mental health challenges, and more. “Depression and inflammation are linked...cold water adaptation reduces inflammation,” explains Dr. Harper in a Head Talks mini documentary, The Healing Madness of Sea Swimming.
While cold water swimming can be experienced in a pool, Dr. Harper recommends open water swimming. “Open water swimming is probably better than cold water swimming because you want to do it outside in nature, and there are advantages of that as well,” says Dr. Harper.
Getting Started in the Cold Water
Jumping into a cold body of water shocks your system. Dr. Harper explains the body’s reaction to it similar to a panic attack. “(It’s) hard to control your breathing when it’s cold,” says Dr. Harper, who also states that the goal of a first dip into the cold water should be to get breathing under control. After around six swims, according to Dr. Harper, the body will adapt to cold water and breathing will be easier.
“One of the things I think we’re going to find with cold water swimming and its use for mental health, is that it affects a wide variety of areas,” says Dr. Harper. Dr. Harper believes that adapting to cold water helps decrease the impact that a surge of stress has on someone, which can impact those with depression, anxiety, OCD, and other conditions.
Dr. Harper is part of a community of swimmers who regularly jump into the sea in Brighton. He states that the community aspect of swimming helps first-timers and others stick with it.
Are you looking for an open water swimming community? Odyssey Open Water Swimming is a community of athletes and swimmers who go on adventures together in the East Bay. Whether in San Francisco or Berkeley, Odyssey has events throughout the year, from Alcatraz swims to weekly Berkeley swims, to the Splash & Dash duathlon.