Today, I want to tell you how cold water therapy helps me with my ADHD. It reduces my stress levels, clears my brain fog and shocks me out of a depressive state when it hits. There is no one cure for mental health issues and you have to find ways to help yourself. Cold water therapy has been a game changer for me and hopefully it can become a useful tool for you in dealing with your mental health.
Unfortunately, there is no definitive scientific research to support it. However, current research studies are really encouraging, the Wim Hof method has become widely accepted and therapists are increasingly recommending it to deal with depression and anxiety.
HOW IT WORKS:
This is my understanding, through extensive research of how cold water therapy can help your mental health:
Releases stress hormones like noradrenaline, which clears brain fog and helps you to focus.
Increases dopamine levels, which improve your mood instantly.
Releases Endorphins which reduce stress and make you feel happier.
Reduces inflammation, which is linked to depression.
HOW DO YOU DO IT?
Cold water therapy can range from sitting in your bath with cold water in to wild water swimming in freezing lakes. However, my preferred methods are taking a cold shower, or just immersing myself in a cold bath.
At the end of your morning shower, slowly turn the water to the maximum cold setting and try and stay under the water jets for a couple of minutes while moving around constantly.
What I have found works best for myself is getting the water to a point where when my head is under the shower, my breathing becomes sharp and quick. I like the temperature to be at a level which is shocking my body, but not unbearable that I need to get out quickly.
Alternatively, run a bath full of cold water and try and sit in it for 2 to 3 minutes. There are also many full immersion ice baths for sale online if you want to be more serious about it.
Try and make this part of your daily routine, if not incorporate it slowly into what you do and build up your resistance to the cold water.
WHAT IT CAN DO FOR YOUR MENTAL HEALTH:
I have found that cold water immersion has four key benefits for me personally:
Has a calming affect that reduces my stress levels which can last for hours.
Clears my ADHD brain fog and helps me to focus.
Helps to shock me out of a depressive/stressed out state.
It increases my resistance to stress in day to day life.
Cold water therapy has become a very important weapon in my fight against ADHD and Anxiety, I hope it proves valuable for you too.