Discover the benefits of cold water therapy
I’m no stranger to cold water. Whenever I holiday on the Isle of Wight or visit a friend who lives near the coast, no matter what month it is or the temperature outside, I will always go for a freezing swim in the sea. It never occurred to me that I could reap the benefits of what experts call “cold water therapy” at home, so I decided I would swap warm showers for cold every morning for a month.
What are the psychological benefits of cold water therapy?
“Plunging into an icy winter lake is not exactly pleasurable. Our bodies sense it as a shock and prepare us to escape away from it,” says Dr Mateusz Pucek, GP and founder of 360 Health Clinic, which is why your heart starts racing and your breathing quickens. But by taking deep breaths and allowing your body to adjust, you can learn to tolerate the sensation.
“[It] can have positive effects on anxiety, depression and myriad stress-related conditions,” he adds. “There are medical conditions that could make cold water exposure contraindicated. These are primarily cardiovascular and peripheral vascular disease. If you suffer from these or other severe chronic medical conditions, consult your GP before plunging in.”
Here’s what I learned ...
It really wakes you up
Just like with wild swimming, when I stepped under the showerhead for the first time it was a huge shock to the system. I found myself panting and almost dancing around in a bid to make it more bearable. One thing’s for sure, it’s extremely invigorating, especially first thing in the morning.
The endorphins are amazing
Not only did I feel energised, I felt a rush of clear-headed euphoria following my bracing shower. On top of the hot, sweaty HIIT workouts I do every morning, the double dose of endorphins felt amazing. Once I’d worked my way up to the full three minutes, the mood-boosting effects were even greater.
You can’t wash your hair
Well, at least I can’t bear the thought of washing my hair with cold water. Instead, I wear a towelling-lined shower cap to keep my hair dry (and my head warm).
Some days are harder than others
Sometimes during that first month, particularly after a really hard workout, I was raring to get in the shower and cool down. On other days, I was dreading it, and had to really psych myself up.
You get used to it
I actually continued with cold showers beyond my initial month-long experiment – that’s how much I benefited from them. Now there’s never any hesitation before I step under the water, because I know that in three minutes’ time, I’ll be buzzing.
It’s a great time-saver
Previously, I would dawdle for about 20 minutes in a steamy shower, daydreaming and listening to music while I lathered up at a leisurely pace. Putting a three-minute time limit on my bathing means I can now get ready for work much faster than before.
It’s addictive
I never thought I would say this, but I now really look forward to my cold showers and I’ve continued to have them almost every morning since. It’s not the shower itself that’s enjoyable, but the mental health boost that I get is so valuable, it’s totally worth it.