Woman swears swimming in cold water helps treat her depression

By Amy Reast via SWNS

A woman who was "prescribed" cold water swimming to treat her depression says the activity has "saved her life."

Helen Downham, 37, went through a string of traumatic events between 2019 and 2022 - including leaving a relationship, losing her job, and breaking her leg.

The single mom-of-one already suffered with mental health issues but said the events, exacerbated by the pandemic, left her contemplating taking her own life.

Helen, from Warmley, Bristol, was prescribed medication for depression and anxiety, which she said didn't help.

Then, in January, her doctor suggested signing her up for a NHS initiative called 'social prescribing' - which connects people to activities, groups, and services in their community.

She was referred to a six-week course with a local women's cold-water swimming group - and decided to give it a go.

After just one session, Helen was amazed to notice the physical and mental impact it had on her - and she was instantly hooked.

She now goes at least twice a week, has made loads of new friends - and for the first time in years, she no longer "dreads getting up in the morning."

Helen, who is currently unemployed, said: "When my mental health was at its worst, I hated everything, and I didn't want to be here anymore.

"Doctors upped my meds and told me to exercise but the pills numbed everything and I couldn't leave the house.

"But when cold water swimming was mentioned, a little spark went off in my head.

"The cold took my breath away at first - but I loved it and never looked back.

"It's absolutely bliss - after I swim, my head feels so much clearer, calmer and I feel so happy.

"I used to isolate myself and never want to leave the house - now I get so excited to go and swim with my friends that I can't sleep the night before.

"It has completely changed my life - it has saved my life."

Helen - who has a 14-year-old daughter - said she went through a difficult break up in December 2019.

She had already suffered with anxiety and depression but claims it worsened after leaving her partner, as she found herself in limbo.

In October 2020, she was then dismissed from her beloved job as a senior support worker.

She said: "Losing my job was the worst thing that happened to me. My work was my life."

After enrolling to claim Universal Credit, she experienced a number of issues with her social housing in 2021.

She thought things couldn't get any worse until she broke her right leg while walking her dog in March 2022.

Helen said: "That was the straw that broke the camel's back.

"I couldn't leave the house for weeks and developed severe agoraphobia.

"It got to the point where my mental health was so bad, that I just didn't want to be here any more.

"I thought if anything else happened, that would be it - I would end my life."

Her medications were upped and she said she was advised by her doctor to "exercise more" - but she said it had no effect.

Eventually her doctor signed her up to the 'social prescribing' initiative - suggesting she might benefit from an activity in her community.

Helen was unconvinced, but her ears pricked up at the suggestion of cold water swimming as a friend had previously recommended it.

In January this year, she went to her first session with the women-only group, based in Bradley Stoke, Bristol, and loved it.

Helen said: "When I first went, I didn't know what to expect. It was a shock, it took my breath away because it was so cold.

"Every single part of my body was cold, but it acclimatized really quickly.

"When I got home, I felt tired but I noticed I felt much clearer, headspace-wise, and I was so calm."

Since then she has continued with her original group, and also joined another - and goes cold water swimming at least twice a week.

She has been able to make lots of new friends as well as improve her health and mental wellbeing - and said it's changed her life.

She said: "I think it's a combination of the cold water and the social aspect of seeing your friends in the group.

"It relaxes you and reduces your stress levels. It just does wonders - it's changed my life."

Helen now advocates for the NHS social prescribing program, and wants to make more people aware of the good it can do.

She said: "Most people I speak to have never even heard of social prescribing but it's such a wonderful concept.

"I still have mental health problems that I struggle with but I don't dread getting up in the morning, and I look forward to whenever I can next swim.

"I couldn't advocate for it more - it has completely changed my life - and it has saved me."