What is the common feeling you experienced when you swim, take a bath, row, surf, walk in the rain, walk on the beach, have a shower, sail, or even just splash your face with water? Euphoric, calm, refreshed, renewed, relaxed. Why does water make us feel so great, empowered even?
Water has a unique and profound effect on our minds and bodies, evoking a range of emotions and sensations. The transformative power of water is undeniable. But what is it about water that makes us feel so great, so empowered? Let's explore the science and psychology behind our deep connection with water.
Water Lowers Heart Rate and Blood Pressure
When you come in contact with water, whether it's immersing ourselves in a pool or simply feeling the rain on our skin, our bodies respond in a remarkable way. Your heart rate and blood pressure lower, certain blood vessels constrict, a sense of relaxation washes over us, and your digestion is stimulated. Blood is redistributed from the limbs to the brain, heart, and other central organs. This happens because water triggers a powerful physiological effect on human body associated with rest-and-digest state, known as the parasympathetic nervous system and vagal tone activity, responsible for the body's rest and digest response. This system helps our bodies conserve energy and promotes a sense of calm and well-being.
These physiological shifts are known collectively as the human "dive response" or "dove reflex", where our natural survival mechanism will be to conserve oxygen while underwater. ER doctors have used the dive reflex technique to treat certain types of heart arrhythmias, including the type occurs during panic attacks, and other conditions ranging from anxiety to stroke. They trigger this reflex by water interventions of asking patients to hold their breath and dunk their face in cold water for 15 seconds. The dive reflex showcases the incredible connection between water and our bodies' innate ability to find equilibrium and relaxation.
Blue Health
Swimming underwater feels so zen, but why? It has something to do with our "fight-or-flight" response that decreases catecholamines, the hormone produced by your adrenal glands when you are physically or emotionally stressed, causing an increase of breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate. Water is essentially the antibody of catecholamines, hormones produced by the adrenal glands in response to physical or emotional stress. These hormones typically lead to increased breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate—the classic symptoms of the "fight-or-flight" response.
Water, it seems, acts as a counter-agent to catecholamines. When you are immersed underwater, your body sends the signals to change catecholamines balance to the level similar to when you are meditating or relaxing. We can say swimming equates to underwater meditation, creating a profound sense of tranquility and well-being.
Furthermore, engaging in water sports or activities like sailing, rowing, or even just playing in the rain can trigger a positive chemical reaction within our bodies. This reaction leads to the rush of endorphins, the burst of dopamine, and a healthy injection of serotonin (three of four of the happy hormones). These chemicals flood our brains and bodies with feelings of pleasure and contentment, reinforcing our positive association with water.
All Senses Experience Water
When you are in water, you have no choice but going into a total immersive multi-sensory experience that touches all five senses. When you're in the water, you're enveloped in a total sensory immersion. You naturally hear the gentle, soothing "pink noise", even if you are just swirling a glass of water in your hand. Pink noise is an ongoing nondescript sound that combines all sound frequencies audible by human ear. This unique sound reduces brain wave activity and helps you sleep better, much more effective than traditional white noise. Additionally, the sound of water, whether it's the gentle lapping of waves or the rhythmic splashes of an oar, has a calming and almost hypnotic effect on our minds. When you are breaking the waves or threading water with your oar, the sound of your body or an object hitting the water is a quiet and muffled splash, unlike a rough noise of a glass breaking when it hits the floor.
The sensation of water on our skin is another crucial aspect of our water-related experiences. Water feels cool and refreshing on our skin. When it drips, trickles, or ripples as we move through it, it creates the sensation of a gentle massage, soothing and relaxing our bodies.
Moreover, the visual aspect of water is captivating. Watching water move—whether it's the waves crashing on the shore, the ripples on a tranquil lake, or the mesmerizing patterns formed when rain hits a surface—has a hypnotic quality. Soothing is the right narrative for the experience. The constancy and repetition in water's movement provide a sense of assurance and comfort, while its reckless abandon and untamed nature add an element of thrill and excitement to the experience.
There is always duality in experiencing water. You can taste a salty tang in the air when you are near the ocean, and you can smell the scent of seaweed and the sand, adding to the sensory richness of the experience
In conclusion, our deep connection with water is a complex interplay of physiology, psychology, and sensory perception. Water has the remarkable ability to induce relaxation, reduce stress, and evoke a sense of well-being. It engages all five of our senses, creating a multi-sensory experience that envelops us in a world of calm, rejuvenation, and euphoria. So the next time you find yourself in the presence of water, whether it's taking a leisurely swim or simply enjoying the rain, remember that this powerful element has the magical ability to make us feel great and empowered, as if we're being enveloped and embraced by a big, warm bear hug from nature itself.
