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| 'I was prescribed surfing to help my depression' | 'I was prescribed surfing to help my depression' |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Laura Truelove said surfing felt like a male-dominated sport when she took it up 10 years ago | Laura Truelove said surfing felt like a male-dominated sport when she took it up 10 years ago |
| In the depths of winter most of us want to curl up in the warm, but not Laura Truelove. | In the depths of winter most of us want to curl up in the warm, but not Laura Truelove. |
| You will find her pulling on her wetsuit, gloves and boots getting ready to surf - a sport typically associated with the summer months. | You will find her pulling on her wetsuit, gloves and boots getting ready to surf - a sport typically associated with the summer months. |
| Ms Truelove, who shares her passion through a magazine and podcast called Daughters of the Sea, said surfing helped her "wash away" her depression and anxiety 10 years ago. | Ms Truelove, who shares her passion through a magazine and podcast called Daughters of the Sea, said surfing helped her "wash away" her depression and anxiety 10 years ago. |
| She has also witnessed an increase in the number of female surfers in the last decade, adding that female surf clubs were important in helping women find a sense of community. | She has also witnessed an increase in the number of female surfers in the last decade, adding that female surf clubs were important in helping women find a sense of community. |
| "I don't think people really realise the waves are actually better in the winter, that's why we surf throughout," said Ms Truelove, 30, from Gower, Swansea. | "I don't think people really realise the waves are actually better in the winter, that's why we surf throughout," said Ms Truelove, 30, from Gower, Swansea. |
| "You'll often go down to the beach in the summer and the water will be flat - we just don't get those sort of pressure systems and swells in the summer." | "You'll often go down to the beach in the summer and the water will be flat - we just don't get those sort of pressure systems and swells in the summer." |
| She added that, because she is pregnant, people had commented that she would not miss surfing because it is the winter. | She added that, because she is pregnant, people had commented that she would not miss surfing because it is the winter. |
| "I'm like, 'It's the best time of year'." | "I'm like, 'It's the best time of year'." |
| She also thinks the coast is at its "most thrilling" in winter, with the "roaring waves and the rugged weather". | She also thinks the coast is at its "most thrilling" in winter, with the "roaring waves and the rugged weather". |
| "We absolutely love it when we're in wetsuits and boots and gloves, it doesn't feel cold to us. We're pretty well equipped to deal with those temperatures," she said. | "We absolutely love it when we're in wetsuits and boots and gloves, it doesn't feel cold to us. We're pretty well equipped to deal with those temperatures," she said. |
| Women surfers have seen a huge change in the last decade, with lots more of them in the water | |
| Ms Truelove said that when she started surfing a decade ago it felt like "there were very few women in the water". | Ms Truelove said that when she started surfing a decade ago it felt like "there were very few women in the water". |
| "A lot of line-ups can have quite a lot of masculine energy, be very territorial and unfriendly - but I think that does depend where you go." | "A lot of line-ups can have quite a lot of masculine energy, be very territorial and unfriendly - but I think that does depend where you go." |
| However, she said she has seen a "huge change" in the last decade with more women taking up surfing, adding that it is important to have safe spaces like surf clubs that let women find community. | However, she said she has seen a "huge change" in the last decade with more women taking up surfing, adding that it is important to have safe spaces like surf clubs that let women find community. |
| Ms Truelove began Daughters of the Sea - the name which comes from the Welsh myth about three daughters who were stolen by the god of the sea - in 2018 after attending a talk by the Institute for Women Surfers. | Ms Truelove began Daughters of the Sea - the name which comes from the Welsh myth about three daughters who were stolen by the god of the sea - in 2018 after attending a talk by the Institute for Women Surfers. |
| It was here she discovered other female surfers felt the same as her, frustrated that women's surf magazines always pictured "women surfing in bikinis and in warm climates". | It was here she discovered other female surfers felt the same as her, frustrated that women's surf magazines always pictured "women surfing in bikinis and in warm climates". |
| "I just felt like they didn't represent me and my friends who surf all year round in the cold water in wetsuits." | "I just felt like they didn't represent me and my friends who surf all year round in the cold water in wetsuits." |
| Ms Truelove said it has been great to see women's surf groups form over the years | Ms Truelove said it has been great to see women's surf groups form over the years |
| After experiencing depression and anxiety while at university in Aberystwyth, Ms Truelove said she went to see a doctor, telling them she thought she was "broken". | After experiencing depression and anxiety while at university in Aberystwyth, Ms Truelove said she went to see a doctor, telling them she thought she was "broken". |
| She said the doctor asked her what she enjoyed, and she said she had recently joined a surf club and liked being around water. | She said the doctor asked her what she enjoyed, and she said she had recently joined a surf club and liked being around water. |
| "The doctor basically prescribed surfing," she said, adding that she was urged to surf every day before she went on medication. | "The doctor basically prescribed surfing," she said, adding that she was urged to surf every day before she went on medication. |
| "It certainly helped, I never went down the road of medication," she said. "I know now if I've got that feeling of anxiety, I just need to go for a swim or a surf and wash it all away." | "It certainly helped, I never went down the road of medication," she said. "I know now if I've got that feeling of anxiety, I just need to go for a swim or a surf and wash it all away." |
| Ms Truelove added that everyone has "their own story to tell" when it comes to loving the ocean. | Ms Truelove added that everyone has "their own story to tell" when it comes to loving the ocean. |
| "The feeling of catching a wave is an addictive feeling, but even just being around the water draws us back time and time again." | "The feeling of catching a wave is an addictive feeling, but even just being around the water draws us back time and time again." |