3 The mental health benefits of "surfing the sea"

Benefits surf for mental health

As you know, exercise has benefits for body health, including mental health. From walking leisurely to yoga can be physical therapy that can improve cognitive function and other mental health.

One type of sport that is popularly practiced as physical therapy, especially in Indonesia, is surf or surfing the sea. This is also discussed in articles published in Frontiers for Young Mind .

This article shows some of the benefits that can be obtained from surf at sea for mental health, especially those with PTSD. Patients with PTSD or post-traumatic stress disorder usually receive treatment in the form of drugs and talk therapy.

However, neither of them work for a short time and the patient needs other methods to help with mental problems. Therefore, one alternative that the therapist does is recommending surf to his patients.

Here are a few reasons why surf can be used as an alternative therapy for mental disorders.

1. Can interact with nature

One of the reasons why surf What has mental health benefits is that it allows you to interact with nature. Exercising surrounded by nature has a positive effect on your physical and mental health.

Reporting from Harvard Health, there are a number of studies showing that walking in nature can reduce stress levels and feelings of anxiety. So far it is not clear why this condition occurs. However, it is possible that this is related to brain activity.

You see, the brain is a mood regulator. For some people who spend time in nature it helps improve the function of the cortex and prefrontal area for focus. Both of these turned out to have an effect on decreasing the hormone cortisol.

Meanwhile, the effect of spending time in nature will also be greater when listening to nature's sounds and doing physical activities in the water, such as surfing. Therefore, the level of mental fatigue felt by surfers may be lower.

2. The risk is commensurate with the results

Surfing in the middle of the sea may look dangerous because it challenges the big waves that can drown you. However, another reason why surf having a mental health benefit is the risk is worth the payoff.

When a person is surfing, he needs mental and physical skills in a constantly changing environment. Surf it also requires a commitment to taking the risk of falling off a surfboard. However, once you get past the challenge you will be much happier when you 'ride' the waves.

When a person is happy, the body releases dopamine which helps him manage mental health. The reason is, this chemical substance that allows you to feel happiness, satisfaction, and enthusiasm.

This pleasant experience when surfing the sea ultimately helps reduce levels of depression and anxiety compared to the general population. Therefore, surfing can increase happiness for people who experience PTSD.

Dopamine is responsible for enabling you to feel pleasure, fulfillment, and motivation. When you feel good that you have accomplished something, it is because you have dopamine waves in the brain.

3. Requires high intensity for activity

In addition, surfing is a very physically and energetically demanding activity. Even more, surf also offers quite a variety of challenges. thus making it have mental health benefits.

Starting from carrying a surfboard, rowing to the middle of the sea while watching the waves, to maintaining balance is needed when surf . Reporting from the Mental Health Foundation, physical activity can release chemicals in the brain that make the body feel better.

In fact, exercising, such as surfing the sea, can also boost self-confidence and put you in a better mood. This is because physical activity alters activity in the amygdala and hippocampus, which is involved in responding to stress and feeling threatened.

In addition, physical activity can increase the size of the hippocampus and tell the amygdala that you are in a safe situation. These various reasons make surf provide benefits for mental health because it includes physical activity with high intensity.

Tips for safe moments surf

For those of you beginners who want to maximize the benefits surf , especially for mental health, you should first know what needs to be prepared below. This aims to reduce the risk of injury and feel safer when surfing the sea.

Make sure you're not alone on the beach or taking friends.
Wear a leg strap tied to a surfboard if you are a beginner.
Use sunscreen even when the weather is cloudy.
Wear comfortable clothing, such as wetsuits.
Warm up before getting into the water.

Surf at sea does offer good benefits for your mental health. Therefore, the researchers are very interested in conducting further research on the effects of surfing therapy on the quality of life of those with PTSD.