Cold Showers
★★★★★
Cold Showers
★★★★★
Cold Showers
★★★★★
I didn't initially read about cold shower therapy for depression here, but wanted to comment on the positive benefits and why scientists think it works.
I've suffered from treatment resistant or refractory depression since the age of sixteen and am now forty-one years old. I've tried over 50 medications (MAOI's are the best in my personal and medical option), had over 70 ECT (electronvulsive or shock therapy treatments at the age of 18/19), and have tried every other known treatment for depression in the history of mankind.
Cold showers (or baths, swimming in lakes) has been a complimentary or adjunct therapy for me over the past several years. Scientist think it stimulates the blue spot or locus cerulus in the brain which is the main source of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine (noradrenaline), but it also stimulates endorphins and has other effects on the hypothalamus/pituitary like stimulating thyroid hormone, helping with hot flashes (I have them with depression) and helps normalize circadian rhythms. I believe it works wonders and am living proof.
I also want to add something else for those who suffer from depression that they might want to try. Sleep deprivation for one or two nights. You might think it would cause depression, but it stimulates most of the neurotransmitters in the brain and is useful for enhancing the antidepressant effect of medications.
Lastly, if one is not so depressed that they're bed ridden, exercise can work wonders.
Cold Showers
★★★★★
(Portland, Or)
03/06/2013
Yikes! Tell your friend to lighten up on the jokes. A true friend will totally understand.
Cold Showers
★★★★★
Cold Showers
★☆☆☆☆
WARNING!
For people who are "underweight" it may be a good idea by slowly decreasing the temp. each time you take a shower, followed by taking your temperature afterward.
Core Temp. Side Effect
95 Shivering
90 Confusion
85 Lethargic
80 Coma
78 Death
Measuring the length of the shower is important, as the longer you expose your self to cold water, the lower your body temperature will drop.
I hope this helps, and as always; if you think you may have an eating disorder, you may have one, or develop one!
(Chicago, IL)
07/26/2008
The 78 percent likelihood of death from cold showers is indeed a reality in our society today. There is a study on Cold Shower Death I read in college, and I am certain I have experienced it!
Hi Jeffy, excuse me for asking, but if you experienced death from a cold shower, please tell me whose computer you sent this message on!
(Fenwick, Ontario)
04/27/2010
Lol, Jeffy, you have a great sense of humor
(Perth, Australia)
03/11/2011
Yes, cold showers can be ever so deadly... It actually boosts your immune system im afraid... Unlikely cause of death.. Perhaps try sky diving :/
(Northern, In)
08/22/2011
I'm pretty sure she meant that if your temperature is 78 then you are dead...
(Tampa Fl)
11/23/2013
No one is going to die from a cold shower or quick dip in icy water. You can die from anything you believe in. Watch this on you tube. It is traditional to dip into an ice hole in january in Russia
Cold Showers
★★★★★
Cold Showers
★★★★★
Cold Showers
★★★★★
I've discovered a lot of useful information on this website, but what really caught my eye is the cold shower therapy. I've never taken a cold shower in my life so I tried it today. Honestly, I've never felt so great. I don't know what it did to me, but I got a terrible fit of the giggles that lasted half an hour. I feel a lot better, and motivated, which is rare for me especially in the morning. I'll keep it up and see what else happens, but I definitely recommend trying it, for whatever reason. And Thank You for this great website!
Cold Showers
★★★★★
Cold Showers
★★★★★
Cold Showers
★★★★★
Couch Exercise
★★★★★
EC: We emailed Gary for more details...
(USA)
05/09/2008
You would lie on the arm of sofa with your stomach. Legs on couch and head off. Use your arms like a pushup to help straighten your body. Your legs may want to raise up but you`ll have to secure them somehow.
In the exercise, I use my arms to help me straighten myself almost like a push up. Most people will not be able to do it without using their arms. I guess whats important is to use back muscles without straining them of course. Also, I just want to tell people with depression to go to a chiropractor,therapist or qualified trainer. This gets dismissed because they don`t have back pain. Spend $30 It could be the answer. It`s well worth it. Hope this helps.
(France)
08/21/2020
(ID)
07/31/2023
I get it! Imagine laying flat on the floor face down and then trying to raise up your torso or bend your head, shoulders and back upward and back as if you were trying to curl up backwards. Now picture how much easier that would be laying over the end of your couch with your hands touching the floor. You could just curl backwards as much as you could which might only be a little at first, but if you did it often you would gradually be able to bend further. I can see how this would strengthen back muscles, but I'm not sure how it works for depression, except to say if wiggling our toes works, hey, why not bending our backs? I've been depressed for several days, so, after reading about it on Earth Clinic, I tried just tightening my toes while I was walking around today. I'm not depressed now! :-)
(Melbourne, Australia)
11/27/2011
Is this what they call planking? lol :-)
(Kitchener On)
08/01/2023
Hi Adrienne
My good friend was going through a bad time like you. After researching everything she could, she tried high dose Vitamin B..
Three weeks later, she had very little depression left. She did not tell me the amount taken.
God Bless
Gary
(Kansas city, ks)
08/02/2023
B3 or niacinamide definitely helps with depression
Dancing
★★★★★
I had always wanted to take dance classes so in college i took a class for p.e. credit. It was extraordinary how much dancing affected me physically, mentally, and emotionally. I got into better shape while being challenged to learn steps and movement and when i danced, i felt so happy like i could fly!
Since then, I haven't had any need to see a therapist or take meds and I've now changed my major to became a movement therpist (who knew there was a whole field dedicated to what I had experienced). I hope to inspire others to make that connection with their body and mind and I will continue to pursue this awareness for the rest of my life.
Here's a tip for those of you interested in trying this. Most community colleges have beginning adult dance classes and it's usually really cheap (in california it's $20 a unit and dance classes are normally only 1 unit).
Yea and congratulations. DANCING is a whole lot more fun and safer than popping antidepressants (which I have read are mostly fuorides, which is another excitotoxin or neurotoxin). The only adverse side effect I ever heard of from dancing was, my physical therapist, telling me that one of his male patients said his knee went out on him while he was dancing - Must have been "break" dancing, huh?
Dancing
★★★★★
