THE SECRET POWER OF SEA/OCEAN IN PSYCHOTHERAPY

“I love the ocean. I ´ve always liked the blue, so tranquil and peaceful and gliding. And the fear of it.”

-Siouxsie Sioux

No, I am definitely not your psychotherapist and I certainly do not have any aspirations to be. Just a deep wish to share my own thoughts with you, my own formula for finding eventually lost happiness or recipe for creating a new one, especially in this year, the most important year of all. 2020 will be remembered as a biggest global challenge for all of us. Not only because of pandemics and endangered public  health but because of our adaptation on the given new reality. The safety  of the plans and prediction of life schedule have been replaced with living the life at the moment, as it is, naked and raw.  We take what is served and we learn to make the best out of it.

I read that some psychologists have concerns that the terrible consequences of Covid-19 will come long after pandemic is over. This doesn’t mean that we will be physically targeted and infected but emotionally and mentally exhausted, after the final bill is paid. The stress that we deal now with is the one of a kind and can’t be easily closed again. The beast is free and wont accept to be jailed without fight. The demons of our dark minds are all over, trying to make a mess and cause the panic, darkness, lack of hope and breakdown of spirit. There is one new dimension behind Corona virus outbreaks, there is one whole new world that is on rise, bringing us mental struggles and emotional obstacles. Maybe you aren’t informed, but more people are suffering now from psychological problems than from Covid-19. Somehow, is is all related but still dangerously separated. In other words, each of us has to find own way of dealing with this 2020 and the following paragraphs are my small contribution to you and your battle to stay strong. At the end of the day, we are all together in this.

Do you know what is thalassophilia ? This is a Greek term for unconditional love of the sea or ocean. Thalassohil is a lover of the sea/ ocean. Those are special breed of people, inspired by big amount of blue water, the majestic marine biology and the calming nature of the sea or the ocean. I am one of those people and you? I believe that I recognised this  feature of my personality in the last few years since I have never been so much fascinated by oceans before. Suddenly, it was there …..it doesn’t need to be sea or ocean, for me is enough to see lake or river and to be in harmony. I wake up and I go to sleep, thinking and dreaming of oceans. In the meantime, I enjoy lakes and their capability to feed me with hope and good vibes in the universal scenario of mess.

Let’s look up what is behind the power of the sea/ocean or even our local lake. It is much more than you think you know. It is a healing. How ? Nowadays, there are many studies that try to compare life quality of people who live nearby coast and those who are far away. It must be something there that is beating up the old beliefs. The water is a game changer. The biologist Wallace J Nichols in his book “The Blue Mind” writes: “We are beginning to learn that our brains are hardwired to react positively to water and that being near it can calm and connect us, increase innovation and insight, and even heal what’s broken.” Then, there is a Dr. Heather Koldwewey, the member from the Zoological Society of London that said:”The ocean is essential in all our lives from providing half of the oxygen we breathe to all our drinking water to supporting our emotional and mental wellbeing.”

The water is a life itself. If you watch the water: lake, river, sea or ocean, you are allowing yourself to merge with immortality of those settings and to find energy you are missing due to the daily delivery of stress. One Michigan State study has confirmed that there is one crucial fact for our health and we will call it the blue space. This means that the visibility of the water increases our health potential and decreases stress.  It is interesting that so called green space doesn’t work so much for our wellbeing as blue space, according to health geography science. The people who live in properties with ocean views are much calmer and happier than people who live without.  Maybe this comes because of the magical blue collar that is in our brain connected with pure peace and tranquility. The view on the water is simply relaxing our brain and offering balance to our soul. Not to forget constant flowing and ebbing of the waves, which turn us into the mild meditative phase. What about the smell? Oh, how much I love that ocean smell and all of those negative ions in the air, around the ocean water. The final touch of the sand is blessing above all others. You feel free from all negative forces and you are allowed to live fully.

Why many people who are creative decide to live in blue space area? Because they can find their inspiration again, far away from crowded mass and urban pressure. Once they are located near the water, they learn to obtain  peace within themselves and that internal peace is a main source of authentic creation. Just the sound of the water makes us happy again, make us ready to be compassionate, to feel and to live within the beautiful world around us. The human beings consists of 70% of the water but starring in the water is  mental gift, therapy and solution for overcoming horror of stress disorders and psychological burdens. Even the water sport activity may boast us with 100% healthy energy and what is even more relevant, with 100% active and constructive positive mental approach. That is a moment of unity, between humans and nature, exposed in blue space.  It is definitely not simply for all people to have an ocean view property or even to live not far away from vitamin sea/ocean but  the therapeutic power of water is given to the lakes, rivers and waterfalls too and they are available to each of us, at least, not impossible to be seen ad experienced.

The COVID-19 has changed our daily lives and perceptions but also our mental universe. We are forced to accept the new rules that we don’t dictate but follow. Nevertheless, that is all temporary and will be past enough soon but our primary goal is to stay healthy not just physically ( free from virus or successfully cured) but also mentally strong for the period after all. Once when adrenaline of survival logic is gone, there is big gap that may become an abyss of our self-destruction. This gap must be fulfilled with hope, love, positive ideas and thoughts that could be found around water. So, if you live near the sea/ocean , make sure you have time for daily walk and small mediation on the shore. If you don’t live near the sea/ocean, I am sure you can find other source of water that will help you in this mission. Your own blue space. Do not be lazy, do a little research and find your favourite river or lake, even it is a small pond, it could be your mental saviour. The blue must be a wonderful colour and you are still enough powerful to move  your life in the optimistic direction, there where blue sky is kissing the water and gives you smile back.