Depression Left My Body

[life360d_on_me]

Hey guys, I have had gut wrenching depression all day. I was like well I gotta do something it was eating me alive. I did an ice bath. I am one hour post ice bath and that depression feeling is 100% gone.

I know that I have to stay consistent with it and have done it on and off for awhile now. Just sharing this for all with depression and next time you feel it, get into the cold water (5 minutes). Wait until you feel your heaters kick in and your body starts to circulate itself. I cannot explain it, just try it and you'll feel it. Just thought I'd share for all of us on this brutal feeling.

 

[Regen]

Thank you for sharing your experience! I am happy it works for you! At the moment I can't imagine to do that. But I believe it can help.

 

[MyTimeIsUp]

I hate to break it to you, but putting your body under ridiculous amounts of stress that could literally kill you, will not cure depression. There is no cure for depression.

Please don't tell others to do silly things like this. It is incredibly dangerous.

Doing daily things for yourself will help, but will not cure you. There is no cure for mental illness. It is important to still do daily things for yourself, albeit extremely hard, but even if you do something and then go back to bed- you have done something, and you could do a little something each day/week. Even if it's filling the sink with soap and water and having a strip wash - that is something, which is 10x better than nothing. Splashing your face with cold water is helpful (not putting ice all over your face).

Ice baths is stupid. That would be like suggesting having a SCOLDING hot bath. Absolutely stupid!

Perhaps you do not like my bluntness, but you are really putting yourself and others at serious risk here. Others because you are recommending it. A NORMAL temperature bath would help - why not try that than going to an extreme? Little by little will eventually help, even if it's short lived. You're still trying, but going to extremes isn't good for your body. Do you not realise you could go into shock and die?

There's plenty of self help ideas online too.

 

[Hvergelmir]

There is no cure for mental illness.

I'd argue that there often is, though I agree with your skepticism towards ice baths.

Perhaps you do not like my bluntness, but you are really putting yourself and others at serious risk here.

I don't agree with your risk assessment. I'd estimate the risk to a physically healthy adult to be negligible. It's not an unheard of practice. Compared to your example with a scolding hot baths, ice does not usually cause tissue damage and seem to (not widely accepted as fact) have potential health benefits.

The recommendation mentions 5 minutes, which isn't extreme in any way.
I think there's some merit to this. While I highly doubt that it's a cure for "mental illness", it could very well put some people into a state better suited to deal with them.

I think your concerns are warranted and deserves to be mentioned, but I think your risk assessment is very inflated and your bluntness and accusations unwarranted.
I could only find a single death related to the practice - a woman with a presumed heart condition.

I'm not endorsing the practice. It also goes without saying that it is lethal, if pushed too far. But so is fasting, alcohol consumption, long distance running, and whole bunch of other widespread practices.

 

[LittleJem]

Ice baths are good for the brave enough! Check out Winn Hof's astounding videos where he swims bare-skinned in icy water.

 

[Silverstars]

Cold Plunging! It has its own niche market now (it's still expensive but getting to more accessible pricing). Placing your body in a controlled stress environment, which includes a sauna or hot tub, releases dopamine and noradrenaline, which gives you a mood boost and reduces stress. You can also do this standing in the shower, but it takes longer to chill your core. Any temp between 35f and 59f for 1-10 mins 2-3 times a week will be effective. It has helped me in the past, and I am waiting for my doctor's post-op clearance to start it again.

Mud/Wtr has a good brief explanation of its benefits " https://mudwtr.com/blogs/trends-with-benefits/cold-plunging-101-introduction-jesse-coomer-wim-hof ".

 

[lilah]

thanks for sharing, i'm glad you found something that makes you feel a little better.

depression keeps us in our mind so this is a great way to access the present moment and be more grounded. Scandinavians have been doing this for thousands of years!