Can wild swimming help with depression?

That time I went wild swimming in the depths of winter with my friend Jo. There's some interesting research going on at the moment looking at whether cold water can help treat depression. There's a good article about all this on The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/science/blog/2018/sep/13/could-cold-water-swimming-help-treat-depression It sounds like the jury is out, but it's true that a chilly dip is a great way to feel stupendously revitalised. CAUTION! Be extra careful if you try wild swimming: • Do it with a companion • Don't get too cold for too long (avoid hypothermia) • If you're not a strong swimmer avoid open water • Never walk on ice or swim underneath it • Get warm as soon as you're out. The Outdoor Swimming Society have some good advice on taking a dip in icy water: https://www.outdoorswimmingsociety.com/take-your-first-dip-in-ice/ If you haven't read it, Amy Liptrot's The Outrun is a fantastic book about recovery from alcoholism, in which she talks a lot about how wild swimming helped her. https://www.foyles.co.uk/witem/biography/the-outrun,amy-liptrot-9781782115489 Be wild, but be safe #depression #wildswimming #coldwaterswimming