Cold Therapy- Curing my anxiety.

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COLD THERAPY – HOW THE COOL OCEAN WATERS HEALED MY ANXIETY

In early June, one of my best friends invited me to a gathering where, under the full moon, a small group of women set their intentions and dunked into the ocean.
 
I was pretty apprehensive because it was only June 9th so the ocean was still freezing! But I decided to live in the moment and just go for it. 
 
The water WAS freezing but once I got out, I was totally exhilarated from a huge rush of adrenaline, plus I was really proud of myself. When I told my husband about it later I got quite giddy.
 
So many things had just felt so right. The ritual of cleansing away the stress of the day, the shock of the cold water against my skin which forced you into the present moment, the connection to the ocean and something much greater than me, the warm rush of adrenaline once I get out, and the elevation I felt for hours afterwards. 
 

GET HOOKED

 
After hearing me rave about it, my husband came with me the next night, and that’s how we started our tradition of cool dipping. Almost every night we have been going down to the beach and plunging in. During the heat of summer we enjoyed the cool swim after a hot day, but the weather keeps getting colder and we are still going! 
My goal was to go keep dunking until my birthday. I made it that far but I just can’t seem to stop, so I’m going to keep it up until it no longer feels good. Maybe I’ll make it to the next full moon on October 4!
 

MY EXPERIENCE 

 
Yes the water’s getting colder, but I don’t feel the cold as much as I did when I started. I can now stay in for up to 5 minutes without shivering or panicking and during the day I find myself craving the cleansing feeling of the cold salty water as a stress reliever. 
I’ve done some research into how this works and I’ve learned that you can train your sympathetic nervous system to keep you calm during the stress of plunging into the freezing water. Your initial reaction is to get the fuck out, but with practice, you can use your breath to relax and your parasympathetic nervous system (which conserves energy) will slow your heart rate and keep you calm. How powerful is that! 
 
I’ve always hated cold water and if I did work up the nerve to go in, I would get panicky, shriek, and rush out of the water. Now, I swim around a little and then I stay still, breath slowly and feel my anxiety float away. I am amazed at how quickly my mind and body have adapted to this cold therapy. 
 
These nighttime swims have helped my anxiety more than anything else I’ve tried. Since June, I haven’t had any anxiety attacks, my sleep has improved, my meditation sessions are more grounded and focused, and I feel healthier and more energized.
 

THERE’S SCIENCE BEHIND IT

 
Here are a few of the things I’ve learned about Cold Therapy (sometimes referred to as Hydrotherapy):
 
“The underlying premise of cold water therapy is that briefly and somewhat regularly exposing the body to certain kinds of natural stresses (like cold water) can enhance health.” 
—Mark Sission
 
“The cold is your warm friend and one of the three pillars of the Wim Hof method. Proper exposure to the cold starts a cascade of health benefits, including the buildup of brown adipose tissue and resultant fat loss, reduced inflammation that facilitates a fortified immune system, balanced hormone levels, improved sleep quality, and the production of endorphins— the feel-good chemicals in the brain that naturally elevate your mood.”
—Wim Hof
 
  • Improves vasoconstriction which improves your circulation. Also when you get into the cold water, it moves all of your blood to your organs giving them a little extra burst of nutrients. 
  • Relieves depression and anxiety. I link a few articles on this below but I can say from experience that I haven’t had any anxiety since I started and my outlook on life has increased. There is a lot of research out there on cold showers for anxiety relief as well.
  • Strengthens immunity. The cold water increases your white blood cells with the increased metabolic rate.
  • Increases energy and well-being. I always feel invigorated after a cool dip and I buzz with high vibing energy.
  • Reduces inflammation. Well, we know this. We’ve seen it on The Biggest Loser where the contestants get into a bath of ice to help bring down the swelling in their joints and muscles. Probably another reason why I am so hooked! I work out all day so this really helps keep the soreness down and speeds up recovery time.
Resources
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/cold-water-therapy/
http://www.artofmanliness.com/2016/06/06/podcast-207-primal-endurance-how-to-become-a-fat-burning-beast/
https://www.wimhofmethod.com
http://www.natural-pain-relief-guide.com/water-therapy.html
 
FALL IS HERE
Fall is a beautiful time of year and even though it’s not officially a new year, most of us consider it a time for fresh starts and new projects. This season I want to make sure my passions shine brighter than my fears and I plan to dive deeper into my spirituality. What are your intentions for this new season?