The Ocean Cure

Content warning: linked article mentions suicidal thoughts

For years I’ve known that a swim in the sea can reduce my PTSD symptoms. I’ve particularly felt the benefits from colder waters.

The most effective results I felt came from the Baltic sea in winter.

Some readers might find this unbelievable. But trust me, a cold plunge into the inky waters of Helsinki harbour with chunks of ice floating around me left me feeling more restored than I had been in ages. The adjacent sauna helped!

If you, like me, think that proximity to water benefits your wellbeing then this article by the Guardian might be of interest.

There’s growing evidence, research and credible opinion describing this well-being effect as something they call ‘blue space theory’. The increase in research is confirming what many people have known for years, but it’s validating nonetheless.

The cold sea works for me, but other people find solace at the beach, in the lake, by the pond or sailing on the waves.

Growing Globally

With increased institutional awareness of the benefits of water, our societies might be able to create easier pathways for people to gain access to the curative powers of H2O.

Designing access to bodies of water might be seen by some people as a nice-to-have, but if it benefits societal wellbeing and reduces all sorts of harm (and let’s be honest, the associated costs of that harm) then it’s likely to create a net benefit overall. There would be a return on investment.

H2Offworld

Societies of the future might even see access to blue space as a human right.

Indeed I wonder if one day there might be serious thought put into the blue space deficit of pioneering human societies on Mars and the Moon.

Maybe even now the scientists are workshopping it.