There are many ways in which swimming can boost your mental health and improve your life.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), swimming is a proven method for promoting good mental health and decreasing issues such as depression and anxiety. It’s considered an effective way to boost your mood and maintain social ties that stave off loneliness. This amazing, low-impact exercise doesn’t just support a healthy body, it also supports positive mental health.
Feel-Good Chemical Boost
Swimming releases the well-known feel-good chemicals in your brain. Endorphins, which have an analgesic effect, and others suck as serotonin and dopamine—brain chemicals that provide a significant boost to mood and lower a depressive state. These chemicals help you feel better in both body and mind, helping you to beat back mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety.
In fact, a case study was published in British Medical Journal Case Reports with open water swimming being used to replace medications for severe depressive disorder coupled with anxiety for one such patient. In the report, it was noted that the patient’s symptoms improved significantly, and they were continuing their swimming treatment without medication a year later.
As time goes on, swimming continues to prove itself a powerhouse in battling mental health issues and healing people both physically and mentally.
Social Swimming
For many, swimming is a social activity. Humans are naturally social creatures, and it can be very beneficial to enjoy time in the water with friends and family. Having fun while you play pool games with people you love can be a huge boon to your mental state and help you combat loneliness or feelings of isolation.
If you’re using swimming to replace medication, or hoping to do so, joining a swim club that will hold you accountable can also keep you on track and create a community where you feel like you belong. The camaraderie can make swimming even more enjoyable and help your mental state improve.
Better Sleep
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, exercise can help you achieve better sleep. For many people, stress and anxiety keep them up and make it difficult to get the recommended seven to nine hours of rest a night. Swimming is an excellent low-impact method of exercise that helps calm the mind and lower stress and anxiety levels, making it even easier for you to fall asleep and stay asleep more readily. Being well-rested is known to be very good for both the body and mind, making better sleep an important aspect of mental health.
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If you still have questions about how to build a brand new swimming pool, Sunrise Premiere Pool Builders LLC is here to help you. At Sunrise Pools, we can build and install your pool, spa, or hot tub and provide you with pool chemicals, services, and more. If you have questions, feel free to give us a call at 410-349-3852. To see more from us and for tips and tricks, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.