Cold Showers Working Wonders

[heyheyhey]

Hello!

For the past few days I've been blasting myself with cold water for 10-30 seconds during my shower and it provides immediate relief from dissociation, anxiety and depression (especially depression). After doing it, I feel very safe, happy and content and far less stressed and anxious (and f*cking freezing ;)!). The other day I also had some quite intense shakes from it, not from the cold but fear release shakes - though I'm not sure if this was more connected to the somatic experience techniques and EFT that I did earlier, though it happened very intensely post shower and I felt like I'd really released so much fear and was far, far less anxious (maybe it was a combo?).

Right after doing it, I get a comforting feeling of safety, it's an odd feeling to describe, I get it when I meditate - it's like a direct perception of my safety and comfort here in the present moment....normally I just feel a fog of fear and depression and hyper vigilance, but right after showering and during meditation, that fog leaves and I can see that I'm safe.

I also found an official study that said it's great for depression :).

They generally recommend you decrease the temp gradually and only do it in a warm room :).

 

[Neverthesame]

I don't know anything about how this could affect depression, one way or the other. As in, I don't know. Not calling you wrong, I have just never heard that before.

Though I seem to remember that cold water hitting the face, causing the mammalian dive reflex to trigger. This would cause bradycardia and vasoconstriction. Slowing the heart rate, lessening the need to breathe.

Interesting, the way the body works. :tup:

 

[Friday]

Right on. :) Glad you found something that works for you!

I hate, loathe, despise cold showers... And have pretty much the opposite reaction you do to them. But different things work for different people.

 

[heyheyhey]

I don't know anything about how this could affect depression, one way or the other. As in, I don't...

Don't think it will work for everyone but just wanted to share as it's helping me :)!

Can't post a link but the study showing its benefits for depression is:
Adapted cold shower as a potential treatment for depression

 

[Neverthesame]

I'll check it out, cheers. Though I am with Friday on not being fond of freezing temperatures in the morning.

Why the hell I moved to Canada? I don't know... lol

 

[Saria]

I do the same thing! @heyheyhey I've actually read the article and it seems interesting. Here's the link to the abstract http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17993252 They actually compare it to ECT and explains how a cold shower could work as a mild electroshock applied to the sensory cortex. And increase noradrenaline and beta-endorphin. Not a peer-reviwed journal, but the hypothesis is very interesting nonetheless, so it would be great if more studies were conducted. Swimming in the ocean or taking cold showers is the best emotion regulation technique that I've found to work for me so far, so you're not alone :) I'm sure there's some market potential here.... The Mr Freeze guide to cure all ills? :D

 

[ladee]

This is very interesting! Thank you for sharing this as one more way to help on our journey. I personally have not done the shower but have put ice packs on my throat. That was very grounding and did help. Thanks for sharing and very happy to hear how well it works for you!

 

[joeylittle]

Though I seem to remember that cold water hitting the face, causing the mammalian dive reflex to trigger. This would cause bradycardia and vasoconstriction. Slowing the heart rate, lessening the need to breathe.

I believe that's the best-understood part of why it can work for quick relief. It was a brutal form of therapy practiced in early mental health asylums (still practiced, a little less brutally).
Hydrotherapy in state mental hospitals in the mid-twentieth century. - PubMed - NCBI