SUP For Your Mind’s Health: Aqua Therapy for Depression
This is a particularly touching story I’d like to share with you, a topic near and dear to my heart. Currently I am running a contest that asks people to share with me “how SUP has changed your life.” When I received this entry, I couldn’t help to get choked up. Typing back to her through my own tears, I asked her if we could gently open this door:
Today, a lovely woman has bravely shared with me how she used to suffer from the throes and handcuffs of depression. She has requested to remain anonymous and first I’d like to thank her for being so open and talking about her challenge that plagued her for over 10 years of her adult life.
She strongly believes that by recently embracing the sport of SUP, she has a stronger connection to her body and is convinced that stand up paddling has helped her become antidepressant free and has had profound healing affects to her overall well-being.
All I can say, is how courageous and congratulations to you my friend. Words cannot describe how I feel for you and how happy I am for you!
If you’re reading this you probably are a SUP enthusiast yourself or maybe found this story through another related link. There seems to be thousands of us around the globe, who’ve discovered this sport as a way to flip on the feel good hormones naturally to high.
Without sounding too hippie dippy, (and I can say that now living in Paia and once in Berkeley); the water seems to have a healing quality even in the most extreme conditions. I think one would agree and I often hear the comment of how it’s “my church” or “my aqua therapy”. Touché.
On a more serious note, mental illness afflicts millions of people and probably someone you know. Luckily today, there are more support groups and outreach programs educating the community that it’s okay to ask for help.
Mental illness can rob you or the ones close to you of precious hours, days and even years. My mother is schizophrenic and sadly has been afflicted with this terrible disease of the brain since I was 6 years old. She is my little girl and I love her dearly. She used to be a model, dental assistant and remembers the good days when she was well. She still battles with severe depression and is often delusional and paranoid. I wish I could take her suffering.
It takes someone real brave to come forth and share her story on how SUP has brought her back from some dark days of depression. As a personal trainer, I take this topic to heart for this is the “personal” part I hear from many. We all have good days and bad and taking up a new sport is probably the best thing or at least a step in the right direction to be well.
An organization that has helped me help my mother is NAMI, or the National Alliance of the Mentally Ill. If you or someone you know is suffering from stress or depression, please offer them help or introduce them to a sport they can own. Stand up paddling is a great start, anyone can do it and it puts smiles on all the faces I know!
Please don’t ever give up. Grab a friend and grab your board, stand up!
In good health, Suzie Cooney, CPT
Suzie Cooney can be reached at https://suzietrainsmaui.com
