Mental health is, thankfully, a topic that we focus on far more today as a society. Once seen as a ‘taboo’ topic, society today is far more tolerant and open about discussing our health. With that in mind, you are probably more aware of your mental well-being and stress levels than ever. The question is, what are you doing to reduce stress levels and improve your mental health?
We all have hobbies and activities to help us unwind and to de-stress. And while having these hobbies is great for improving your mood, some proven ways exist to help reduce stress and improve mental well-being. For example, have you seen anything about using cold water?
Today, cold water is one of the most commonly used methods to help reduce stress. How does this work to your benefit? Let’s take a look.
How Cold Water Helps To Reduce Stress
When we hop into a cold plunge, the first thing we do is release essential stress hormones. This includes cortisol. You will immediately feel more awake and alert by hopping into cold water. It also helps to improve issues such as your dopamine levels, helping to improve your mood. Many people describe a “high” feeling after a cold plunge.
Cold water treatments can also help to improve blood circulation in the body, which can play a role in reducing blood pressure. People who feel anxious and stressed can suffer from increased blood pressure, so this water therapy can help balance this back out.
Another aspect of cold water treatment, though, is the mindfulness aspect. By focusing purely on the coldness of the water and the experience you are having, you can take your mind off the troublesome issues that made you feel stressed.
That mental break from thinking about the issues can also lead to clarity on solutions. Those solutions might not have arrived if you still felt excessively stressed out.
Cold water therapy, too, can help you to become more focused. It has been linked with improving sleep quality and efficiency. The better you sleep at night, the more prepared you are for the rigors of the day.
Another aspect of cold water treatment that has become popular is the fact it needs no specialist equipment. You can use a bathtub or a nearby, clean body of water to benefit from the same effect. This reduces the feeling that you must pay hard-earned money to receive treatment. Instead, you can do it at home with nothing more than a bathtub and some time to fill!
What About Physical Injuries?
It is not only mental stress, either! Using cold water treatments can be great for improving your physical recovery. If you have suffered an injury recently, cold water therapy could be something to investigate. It is also believed that cold water can play a big role in helping to reduce inflammation.
Reducing inflammation can be a great way to reduce physical injury and discomfort. Athletes have used cold treatments for years to help mitigate post-match inflammation and to help promote quicker healing.
Ready For A Cold Plunge?
As you can see, there are various benefits to entertaining ice baths and cold plunge therapy. For many, these treatments can benefit everything from mental health to injury recovery. Whatever the reason you might consider undertaking such an experience, you can do so easily.
At AquaVita Labs, we help people from all lifestyle backgrounds benefit from the mental and physical recovery that a cold plunge can bring. Whether you go to a professional facility or hop into an ice bath at home, try it out. The benefits that it can provide are pretty remarkable!