Wild swimming and grief
Increasing numbers of studies are connecting the power of nature to wellbeing, pain management and peace at end of life. At Part of Life, we understand that nature can be a solace for mental suffering, be it anxiety, depression or grief.
There are many ways to connect with nature to access its mental health benefits. One popular method to immerse oneself in nature is wild swimming.
What is wild swimming?
To put it simply, wild swimming is swimming in a body of open water. That could be in a river, pond, lake, reservoir or the sea. People swim for all sorts of reasons; exercise, connection to nature, community or a personal challenge. The activity saw a boom during the pandemic; with daily permitted exercise allowing swimmers to get outside and enjoy nature while almost all other past times had been paused. Wild swimming has continued to soar in popularity since then.
Wild swimming and mental health
Wild swimming has been proven to offer many benefits for those struggling with their mental health. Here are just a few:
Distraction from difficult thoughts and stresses.
A sense of smallness of the self in the vastness of nature, providing perspective.
Joining a wild swimming group can provide a sense of community and companionship.
Better sleep due to a natural increase in the levels of a hormone called prolactin.
Boosted dopamine levels and increased release of endorphins leading to improved mood.
Boosted immune system through reduction in potential over-production of certain hormones that can contribute to impaired immunity.
Reducing symptoms of anxiety – overcoming the resistance to entering cold water can help us to build mental resilience. Over time this helps us to become more confident and boost self-esteem.
Top tips for wild swimming
Andy MacKenzie, who runs Dare2Become, spoke to us about his experience as a wild swimmer, the Wim Hof method and the positive effects it can elicit for participants:
Nature connectedness – reaping the benefits of the natural world
Contact with nature is not the same as connection with nature. While contact with nature is important for our general health, connection plays a much more important role in our sense of wellbeing.
In the early 2000s, researchers at the University of Derby began seeking to understand this relationship – the level of closeness, or ‘connectedness’ to nature in more detail. In the years that have followed, this concept has been developed with a view to understanding how we can improve levels of connectedness. The result of these studies was the theory of the ‘Five Pathways’: a framework to help bring about a closer relationship with nature.
Sensory contact with the natural world: actively engaging with nature through the senses, for example listening to birdsong, smelling flowers or watching the breeze in the trees.
Finding an emotional bond with, and love for, nature: this could be taking a moment to feel calm while wild swimming.
Taking time to appreciate the beauty of nature: this could be watching the sunrise.
Thinking about the meaning and signs of nature: honouring and celebrating the cycles and signs of nature you see every day in the natural world.
Showing compassion and care for nature: looking after nature as you would look after yourself, taking actions that are good for nature.
Wild swimming and grief
There are many accounts of how wild swimming has helped people in their grief, most recently, The Tidal Year: A Memoir on Grief, Swimming and Sisterhood, written by Freya Bromley. Four years after her brother died and looking for a distraction, Freya decides to swim every tidal pool in Britain in a year with her friend Miri. It is a journey of self-discovery that offers insight for anyone interested in the solace wild swimming can offer.
Another valuable read is The Green Hill by Sophie Pierce, which explores the relationship between wild swimming and grief in a series of letters to her son Felix, who died of epilepsy at the age of 20. It includes beautiful passages of nature writing and examines the connection between nature and grief.