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[racjen]

I've been reading  a lot about the proven benefits of cold water swimming for your mental health, and as I live in Devon very close to the River Dart I do swim frequently in the summer, and always find it helps my mood and particularly blasts the anxiety out of my system for a while. BUT I've never swum at this time of year, I'm pretty thin (5'6" and 8 stone) and I really don't want to wear a wetsuit, hate them. However, just to get some relief I took the plunge last Sunday and this Sunday and WOW, it has an amazing effect. Last Sunday at around 10 am it was bearable, in fact I'd go so far as to say pleasant once I'd got used to it. This morning it was much much colder and my fingers and toes were numb by the time I got out - it's taken me 2 hours, a hot shower and a plate of fried eggs and potatoes to get anywhere near warm! So I think it's safe to say I won't be doing that regularly. So frustrating though, because it really does help. My daughter suggests I just keep a bucket of cold water in the garden and immerse my head in that every morning, as it's supposed to be the effect on the brain that's beneficial. Might just try it....

[sheila99]

Try the sea? Sometimes it can feel warmer than river water - not that I make a habit of trying either in winter!

[CLKD]

Get in touch with your local wild swimming group?  One should never go swimming alone because cramp in the lower limbs and gut can take one under water really fast.  [see news about a kangaroo in Oz  ]

I still hanker after a warm pool off our bedroom - difficult though, as we don't live in a bungalow 

Swimming releases endorphins.  I swam a lot until I was in my 20s.

[JaneL]

I'd guess that the flow of the water and the cooling effect of the land would make river swimming as cold as you'll get! Bracing for sure. There are some gorgeous spots on the Dart too.

The sea temperature in October is still fairly high, so on a calm day that might be relatively more bearable.

Well done for getting out there in any capacity, maybe some walks on the Moor might be therapeutic too....

[CLKD]

Bog snorkelling anyone?  Happens in Wales, annually.  Me, I was spoilt for swimming in the UK after being in Lugano ....... 

[Gangan]

My daughter goes wild swimming on the moor it restores her. Not sure that she goes this time of year though.

Gangan

[Ladybt28]

The TV doctor made a program about that.. he was trying to help a lady with really bad depression and anxiety and he sent her swimming in the river but she had to join a swimming club that did that sort of thing because it meant that someone came and got her for a while so that she got into the swing of things cos when we feel like that it is so much easier to duck out than face it....  isn't it! She did get into the habit though and it did seem to help mind you.  He followed up after 6 months but I wonder how she got on after then?

We have bog snorkelling??  sorry but what is that all about?   Mud and cold water - that's motivation enough for me to do something else...anything else....(oh except skydiving or caving??..) I would even go voluntarily no complaints if you threatened me with that!

Warm water is my soother...hot baths or... sea swimming but only as long as the outside temperature is 30 degrees +!

You can swim in wet suit racjen in this type of weather so maybe it would be ok, especially if you swim here in the summer.  Unfortunately,  I wont swim in the UK in the summer as it's not hot enough for me - cold water phobic me... !

[CLKD]

 .


Bog snorkelling is a sporting event in which competitors complete, in the shortest time possible, two consecutive lengths of a water-filled trench cut through a peat bog. Competitors must wear snorkels and flippers and complete the course without using conventional swimming strokes, relying on flipper power alone.

Wikipedia

Team members: Single competitors
Venue: Water-filled trench cut through a peat bog

First played: 1976, Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales, United Kingdom

Equipment: Snorkel and flippers

I'm with you, anything; though the above would be preferable to skydiving etc.. 

[racjen]

Oh I do lots of walking on the moor and that's therapeutic too, just not in the same extreme way as plunging into ice cold water! I really don't want the hassle of a wet suit - it turns a 10 minute dip into half an hour of wrestling. I am wondering whether wetsuit gloves and shoes might be the way to go though, it was definitely my hands and feet that suffered worst, I literally couldn;t feel them when I first got out.

I'd much rather swim in the sea at this time of year, I agree it'd be significantly warmer, but my nearest beach is 40 mins away whereas the river is 10 mins so to try and do it regularly isn't practicable. I have started doing Zumba and Kundalini yoga classes first thing in the morning though, and they seem to help. Never thought I'd see myself at a Zumba class - I always HATED PE at school!

[CLKD]

How about nephrite [?] gloves and socks and a hat is important to keep heat in ;-)

'Photos ? 

[racjen]

Will look into that (not sure what it is  ). Hat no though, because the research shows that the crucial factor in the therapeutic effect is immersing your head in the water.

[Taz2]

Immersing yourself in a cold bath each day is one of the treatments recommended for fibro and M.E.

Taz x ⛄❄️

[CLKD]

Why  ........

Look on a good site that sells cycling kit i.e. gloves and socks.

[AgathaC]

Racjen - I'm impressed.
You sound a little bit....better.
So I'm not just impressed. I'm delighted too.
Off to walk in Northumberland tomorrow. And to write articles in the evenings.
That's my equivalent of the river swimming.
Much love to you, Racjen xx

[BlueButterfly]

It's been quite a long while since I took a "polar bear plunge". This is a good reason to go for it again, thanks!