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Earlier this year, I went through an experience that severely disrupted my mind-body connection. The relationship I had with myself would change completely as I slowly lost control over my physical body due to chronic stress and seasonal depression.
What originally began as a minor eye twitch had spiraled into muscle spasms, constant tension, perpetual stomach issues, and exhaustion.
One night, I woke up drenched in sweat while my heart was racing. It was my first panic attack – a fully conscious nightmare filled with painful nausea, chills, and a paralyzing sense of helplessness. It lasted hours. Each night after that, it felt like I would have a panic attack as soon as my head hit the pillow. This cycle would torment me for weeks.
I had never known my body to be capable of acting this way against my will. Those instances left me feeling entirely severed from my physicality, as though my mind and body lost their neural pathways entirely.
Desperate to regain control, I threw myself into activities like yoga and running. But the thing that truly ‘fixed’ it was indoor rock climbing. A friend had invited me to try it, and I quickly became addicted.
Climbing demands your full attention. Every move is deliberate, and there’s no room to think about anything else when you’re balancing on small holds, trying not to fall. In those moments of fear and focus, I began to feel like myself again.
The Power of Setting Small, Achievable Goals:
Indoor bouldering is a form of rock climbing done without ropes that focuses on solving challenging routes using strength, technique, and strategy.
It’s unique in that every route, or “problem,” offers a specific challenge. The idea is to break it down into manageable steps – maybe today you just work on improving your grip or mastering the first half of the climb like muscle memory.
Each small success builds on the last, and over time, what once seemed physically impossible starts to feel within reach.
As a student, it can often feel exhausting to maintain the mental, physical, and financial stamina required to chip away at a lifelong dream over the span of a degree. With increasingly difficult courses and complexities of adult life, finding moments of achievement becomes essential for sustaining motivation. That is where the power of small wins comes into play; focusing on achieving small victories reinforces our capability and resolve.
Several studies have been conducted to prove that bouldering provides measurable improvements in mental health and in combating depression. One particular study used ‘bouldering psychotherapy’ to find that it significantly reduced depressive symptoms against common controls like antidepressant medications.
Building Mental Stamina
Climbing things inherently involves confronting fear.
Whether it’s the fear of falling, failing, or embarrassing yourself in front of pro climbers, each route presents an opportunity to grapple with discomfort.
When everything in your primal safety sense tells you not to put yourself at risk and keep getting higher, you keep climbing. This unique aspect of bouldering transforms it into a form of meditation where you must focus on the mental fortitude required to push through fear.
Psychology studies have shown that professional rock climbers demonstrate strong mental fortitude that allows them to stay present and perform under high-stress conditions. This suggests that climbing is not only a physical challenge, but also serves as a medium for cultivating mental resilience and mindfulness.
And when the season comes around where you’re feeling stressed out, and your mind-body connection may be slipping away, it is imperative to build that relationship with yourself again, to trust your body and abilities.
The Social Aspect of Bouldering:
One of the first things I noticed about climbing in an indoor bouldering gym was how you can shamelessly people-watch. If I’ve been working on a climb for weeks, and someone uses it as a warm-up, you better believe I’ll watch their every move!
Unlike traditional gyms where individuals are focused on their personal workouts, bouldering creates an environment where strangers can bond over shared challenges. In moments when I couldn’t crack a climb, I found that there is almost always someone nearby willing to share their insights. The collaborative nature of it not only helps us conquer those challenges, but also cultivates a culture of support.
As another study states, “climbing might enhance concentration and psychosocial aspects such as cooperation and respect, and trigger emotions such as fear, joy, or pride.” Feeling supported and maintaining friendships and social connection in the midst of stress is also a strong factor in good mental health.
Since the start of the new academic year, climbing has given me many more tools to handle the everyday stress of existing as a student. And ultimately, for me, it has been much more than just a physical activity; it’s been a journey to restore my mind-body connection, build mental resilience, and produce meaningful connections with people.
So, if you’re looking for a new hobby, hoping to make new friends (or like me, seeking to resolve your stress-induced tummy issues and find peace in your restless mind), why not consider going for a climb?
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