How Cold-Water Swimming Helped Me Cope with My Mother's Death and Depression

After struggling to come to terms with her mother's death, journalist Helen Ochyra found unexpected healing through open-water swimming. Her mother, a keen swimmer who lived with depression, may have found the same respite in the water that Ochyra now experiences. During a 5km swim off the coast of Kaş, Turkey, Ochyra felt a profound shift: the fog lifted, her throat unknotted, and she found calm. This personal story highlights the growing evidence that cold-water swimming can improve mental health, offering a natural way to manage grief and low mood. With rising interest in wild swimming, Ochyra's experience underscores why connecting with water matters for emotional wellbeing. The sea, she suggests, can be a place of connection and healing.