Swim, swim and swim again…

Swimming is one of my essential most enjoyed parts of my day, somthing I love doing and ensure it is high up on my list of things to do to help me weather the storm of depression.

It’s a routine thing I guess, not totally strict on times or days, but usually manage at least 5 times a week, depending on my work load (eBay) and the pool timetable. I only go when they section part of the pool of for lane use, find it hard to get into the flow if I am having to dodge kids and parents.

No matter how awful I feel, no matter what stresses or challenges are
going on, once I emerse myself in the water, here I feel safe and
secure, and can feel some of the stress literally seep out of me,

Usually manage 30-40mins each sesssion, but I don’t commit to any time.
I may only feel like 15mins, or I may manage 45mins, not anything to
with my fitness, just how I feel inside. And how keen I am to get to
Café Nero.

Swimming is part of my daily routine as I previously mentioned and it
does help to have something, some thing to look forward to, something
that is good for mind, soul and body. Swimming is right up there. I
make it a treat, after a swim I park near town then armed with my books
and iPod, visit the coffee shop and treat myself to a Pain au Rasion
and a Café Mocha. These individual things I have made into something I
really look forward too. I am not so much compulsive over it, sometimes
I may go a week without swimming in preference to just some time off or
maybe running or walking instead.

I started regularly swimming when shortly after my Breakdown when I was
diagnosed with Bipolar whilst I was in The Priory. Even getting out of
bed, or washing, putting clothes on was a massive effort, but after a
afew weeks at the hospital I felt a little better and decided to brave
the outside world and try and achieve one small thing a day, this time
it happened to be a swim. Never looked back.

When you are depressed, severely so you know what we all talk about
when the smallest things seem like the tallest mountain. Even if you do
climb that mountain, you only get to the top to find a horizon filled
with tall mountains. This to me sums up depression, its ongoing and
feeds you doubt and robs you of motivation.

But when you are at a point where you feel that the weather is
improving, that the outlook is more promising then I would urge you to
consideer swimming, I know it has helped me tremendously, and because
of that I continue to do so, now as a means to keep fit, look ‘ok’
physically and feel generally, better about yourself.

I never tire of my mocha and cake, and always look forward to it as it
allows me to just sit somewhere and watch people, other people doing
people things whilst I am plugged in but not so plugged out of the
social scene that I become a recluse. I like to see people, dont always
want to interact but am happy to just sit and watch and listen, if Im
lucky enough to get a comfy sofa chair by the window of Starbuck’s,
Costa’s or Café Nero then all the better. I could just sit there and
gaze for hours as people go about there business.

People sounds however can over stimulate me, when Im too close to
notice and hustle and bustle then I get very uncomfortable and feel my
coping levels dropping, this is where my iPod comes into its own. Not
always even able to listen to music, just any sound is overload for me
but I will just plug in my Sound Isolating Eearphones (Westone UM2’s)
and I am in a muted environment, feel happier and more content.

This is why swimming appeals to me, there is very little outside interference.

Pleae do consider it. I travel 20mins to get to my favourite pool,
there are more local ones but I like this particular one, has a nice
feel and its in a historic town and of course it has the healthy supply
of coffee shops.