why ice baths are the latest cult

[@answerinprogress]

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[@rapid___]

A lot of movement towards cold baths came from the fitness community, to try to increase recovery and muscle hypertrophy (gains), but it should be noted that research has shown that - • Cold water immersion attenuated (reduced) long term gains in muscle mass and strength. It also blunted the activation of key proteins and satellite cells in skeletal muscle up to 2 days after strength exercise.

[@nikolettkovacs2884]

What does it mean that the deodorant have "clean" ingredients? Do they wash them before making it?

[@LiftPizzas]

Notice that all the claimed benefits of cold baths are just a list of "what the placebo effect can do."

[@DesiSaran]

Why don’t you link and reference the “scientific study” instead of your Native ad? How many studies did you actually read?

[@matrixfull]

It's much better if you have bath at home. It's much cheaper while still being relatively comfy. You just need blender that crushes ice cubes and maybe wait a bit before going in. Soooooo much cheaper.

[@Sojoez]

Of all the weird fads people do, at least ice baths are benign. No poisoning or starving yourself with weird diets or exposure to dangerous chemicals that are so called healthy.

[@dibsdibs3495]

I mean the hypothermia risk probably ain’t that great but it’s not that high I guess

[@laurakemp5979]

Unless you have heart issues

[@bruh10246]

Shock is a thing, but generally yeah. It's quite tame

[@mikki_s1100]

This can cause shock and hypothermia, not without risk, but also not the riskiest thing humans do

[@Spo8]

Yeah, it's like massage or acupuncture. As long as you aren't foregoing a science-based treatment for something serious like cancer, knock yourself out.

[@unqualifiedforyoutube4383]

"Turns out it's expensive to put a human body in a garbage can." - Melissa, 2023

[@fabianp.2986]

CONTEXT XD

[@5skdm]

answer in progress getting more suspicious every few videos

[@SmallBlogV8]

It's expensive to put a _live_ human body into a _nice_ garbage can.

[@calicatsocks]

THAT is now my yearbook quote

[@thecoolbird13]

@@SmallBlogV8_with their consent_

[@Lorgoth1812]

It's a shame that there isn't some common appliance that could fit a person while holding ice and water for an ice bath, to avoid the whole human size garbage can. Something like a tub. An Ice... Bathtub

[@bloodleader5]

If only we had some way to make ice in the home... and some kind of apparatus to keep it frozen. Like, an ice "maker", and a freezing machine to store it in.

[@nightspicer]

@@bloodleader5 there's a decent chance that the cold water from tap is gonna be just about cold enough

[@moshadj]

Must be nice having a tub

[@seemssafe2995]

absolutely.. it wouldnt take much ice at all with cold tap water. seriously over complicating things here @@nightspicer

[@Avendesora]

itt: people who don't know how cold most tap water actually is, how much ice it actually takes to bring it down to 4°, how much space that amount of ice takes up in a normal freezer, or how fuckin long it would take to make all that ice while not being able to use your freezer for food Edit: before you @ me, I am begging you, please, *please* read the comments above mine and reply to one of the people actually making a point related to whatever you're trying to tell me. I'm not the one sitting here with weird ideas about how appliances work.

[@Arthutstut641]

I used to take ice baths for pain relief (i do martial arts). I didn't know they also gave me better circulation, better metabolism, cure cancer, give nightvision, increase my iq, tone my skin and made me a telepath. That is awesome!

[@DrZaius3141]

I knew you were going to post that because ice baths gave me psychic abilities!

[@keerthan7558]

isn't hot water bath better for pain relief , unless you have a sprain or something like that ?

[@MysidianRydia]

​@@keerthan7558 Actually both cold and hot therapy are good for pain relief depending on the use case: cold reduces inflammation / stops blood flow and hot increases blood flow and promotes healing / is analgesic. From what I understood, in general, cold is best for an acute recent injury (like right after strenuous exercise where you've potentially strained muscles) and hot is best for an older, more persistent pain (like old shoulder / trapezius injury from a few years ago).

[@mirror1643]

@@keerthan7558 they are both good

[@user-dc5ti1is1s]

Yeah, I feel like for immediate things they can be helpful. I have chronic pain and fatigue and it can lessen the pain.

[@MedlifeCrisis]

Thanks for involving me (and expertly editing out all my umms and errs), loved the video! Really enjoyed hearing everyone’s experiences. Soon after we recorded I went to a festival deep in an English forest and enjoyed an ice bath out in the middle of nature, double feel good hit! Should’ve brought a book though…

[@laralu510]

So wonderful to see you in this video :) Love your videos!

[@mrdeanvincent]

Would be incredible to have a (hot) bath on day three of a bush doof 😂 Edit: Translation: forest rave?

[@georgiigvindzhiliia9361]

Hey! A small comment on your comparison of ice baths and ice cream, in the context that the latter also causes the release of dopamine. Aren't these two different things, since regular consumption of ice cream can have long-term negative health effects, as opposed to cold exposure, which for a healthy person has no potential health risks (at least not currently known)? It seems to me that the whole point is to increase dopamine with a simple action performed in a short time without significant side effects. In any case, thank you for your comment presented in the video, I really appreciate people who do not go to extremes and are restrained in their assessments.

[@Sythemn]

Worked as a camp counselor for a summer. Each week there was a friendly competition night, and one week my kids won and for whatever reason chose the reward of "Jump in the lagoon before breakfast." I wasn't happy, but it was my job to go along with it. Hitting that cold water before my brain had turned on for the day was a surprisingly wonderful shock. I haven't done it since. But I see the appeal.

[@CainXVII]

That's just what I do at my summer house. I don't have a shower

[@kishanvisram]

We did the same thing before breakfast at the camp I worked at in USA.

[@Zinii]

Woke up after a date in an ice-bath with a huge scar on my abdomen, don't know how you guys feel awake from this cause I just felt reaaaaally tired.

[@lohphat]

Are any of your organs missing? 👽🛸

[@fishofgold6553]

🤣🤣🤣

[@johnnyboi966]

Did you go to Candy Mountain?

[@ji604]

​@@johnnyboi966Charlie been real quiet the last 15+ years

[@no-vj5yl]

​@@johnnyboi966CANDY MOUNTAIN! 🦄

[@rge9992]

I don’t understand going in Ice Baths without going into a Sauna first - but I recently learned that Americans don’t have the same sauna culture as Europe…

[@nicestpancake]

It's something weird that I've noticed is that (me, us) Americans view Saunas/Hot tubs/etc as a very big luxury whilst most of the rest of the world see it as like, the bare minimum to relax and destress. Which is strange???????? Because I don’t know what could have caused that aside from America's general _oddity._

[@mateoferretto2175]

@@nicestpancake you are wildly assuming "the rest of the world" there. South America has NO culture of saunas. There may be some of them, but they aren't really a thing. And for sure are not part of relaxation culture. The bare minimum would probably be massages, or a hot tub/shower (talking inexpensive, doable in your home)

[@DeathnoteBB]

@@nicestpancakeHot tubs are incredibly common, you just have to be middle-class and have room. The thing is people are increasingly just too poor or living in an apartment complex.

[@CiCodiCadno]

I assume it's dependent on the temperature of the country and its access to geothermal springs. The US is enormous, so if a spa culture exists in one area, it doesn't seem US Americans consider it to reflect on the rest of the US. And large swathes of it are pretty warm year-round. Also, many people (this isn't unique to US Americans) engage in a fallacy where they see their own country as fairly distinct, where different areas have unique mini-climates of culture, but any other country that has X Thing must means the ENTIRE POPULATION of X country must have X Thing. X country is homogenous from top to bottom, but YOUR country is culturally diverse. After all: Russia 'has a spa culture', and it's far bigger than the US. Because Russia is 'foreign', it seems homogenous to the outsider. And from a quick Google, it seems some communities of Native Americans are culturally linked to hot springs. It may be that the culture was destroyed/beaten down by colonisation. Countries like Japan are prime real estate for geothermal springs, so easily locally accessed. Countries like Finland are 'small' by US standards, so sauna culture seems more ubiquitous to an entire country when looking from the outside in. As an example of a hot spring culture that died out: The UK can get very cold (obviously 'very cold' is subjective) but while its hot spring culture has died out, its spa towns (Bath, Leamington Spa, etc) have often remained quite affluent. The hot/warm springs brought populations to it, where industry then grew, until eventually the hot spring culture faded but the population and industry remained. We still have hot springs, and they're popular, but the culture no longer exists.

[@thefactspherefromportal2740]

@@nicestpancake It's crazy, too. AC is also normal here while it's not common in most other countries. There'll be a sauna once in a blue moon at a hotel or gym but they're hard to find unless you're somewhere colder or mountainous, then they're more common.

[@brekkoh]

For any medical based claims, Rohin is always the first guy you should turn to see if something ducks like a quack

[@MedlifeCrisis]

🦆

[@TrentR42]

I generally check SGU and SBM for the same. I'll add Rohin to the roster!

[@mazocco]

​@@TrentR42 I'm so happy I know what you are talking about

[@giggabiite4417]

who?@@TrentR42

[@mjlim6610]

​@@giggabiite4417SBM is Science-Based Medicine, a blog run by a few doctors (mainly one but he has a few guest authors).

[@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721]

I like how Sabrina just died after hearing how much Melissa had spent on ice baths. She just couldn't bear it.

[@Christopher-me3nf]

Based on what information I found when I looked into it: Cold water will trigger a mild adrenaline rush. 'Shocks your system'. The hormones norepinephrine, epinephrine are released. Now when adrenaline is released, it also releases a fair bit of dopamine (AKA the 'happy' hormone - though in reality it's responsible for much more than just making you happy). Which is why it can feel so good. Usually this adrenal response is a response to danger or urgency or stress. We often call it the "Fight or flight" response. And if you've ever triggered your fight or flight response you may notice that after the danger/threat/urgency subsides you can be left with that feeling of excitement and happiness from the surge of dopamine. This is often what motivates adrenaline junkies, to put themselves in danger for the sake of that adrenaline & dopamine rush. With an ice bath, especially one at a spa or other comfortable relaxing place where you feel safe, you're getting that adrenal response WITHOUT having to experience the danger/urgency/threat. So while your body reacts with adrenaline because it knows too much cold can be dangerous for it, and it's trying to protect you... your conscious mind knows that you're not in any danger since you can leave at any time and there are people to make sure you're not in there too long etc. So you get the benefit of the massive dopamine surge without having to jump off a mountain or whatever it is adrenaline junkies do these days. And the adrenaline and other hormones mentioned also help make you more alert and focused.

[@DeathnoteBB]

Y’all are getting dopamine with your stress?? I gotta take medicine for any dopamine

[@Christopher-me3nf]

​@@DeathnoteBB There are different types of stress. Assuming you have ADHD (which, same) then you still get dopamine from stress. It's part of the reason why people with ADHD can get into hyperfocus mode when a deadline is looming. That's not to say all stress triggers dopamine. It depends on what's causing the stress. Specifically it's stress that will trigger fight or flight - in other words, stressors that you have some level of agency over. A looming deadline. A fire breaking out that you can run from or try to extinguish. etc. Stress caused by things you have very little to no control over, or stress from long-term problems generally don't come with fight or flight. Just elevated levels of anxiety and cortisol. So things like worrying about global warming when you're just a random citizen, knowing that your one vote and personal carbon footprint is utterly irrelevant if other people aren't doing their part as well. And knowing you can't convince other people to do their part because people are stubborn and don't like change. Worrying about stuff like that is very stressful, but its not fight or flight. So no dopamine, just anxiety and stress and sadness and OH GOD MAKE IT STOP.

[@Sumble]

This was the explanation I was looking for, thank you

[@skiney]

not just a "fair bit" you get up to 250% increase in dopamine, in a sustained gradual way that remains for about 3 - 4 hours

[@giggabiite4417]

From a psychological side, the shock to your system works as a "little danger" which when you overcome (which is automatic cause there's no danger) makes it feel like you have overcome an obstacle. This boosts your confidence, making you more secure, more self confident, ect.

[@cvayta]

This is something people do now? I feel disconnected. There were always people swimming in winter in lakes and rivers saying it makes them healthy, while I think only healthy people can swim in winter.

[@ayoCC]

makes sense Healthy people doing something only healthy people can do, making all participants healthy, but then with the wrong conclusion that the action makes you healthy rather than being healthy being a requirement.

[@atriyakoller136]

In my country there's a religious holiday on the 19th of January, and there's a tradition to bathe in a frozen river. However, anyone with any health condition is heavily discouraged from participation, there are both church workers and medics in designated locations and places to warm up in after the dunk, and while many people who do it say it is good for them, most people are wary and don't do it. I am one of the wary people, with a lot of health problems (even as I'm writing it, I'm in a period of fatigue where I barely worked for 3 days, getting to work disoriented, worked for 3-4 90-minute classes and went home, and now it's my second day of just staying home doing nothing and I still feel shattered - I have a GP appointment tomorrow, at least, I hope they try to do at least something) and I share your sentiment that it's nit something that really contributes to their health

[@DeathnoteBB]

I never thought of that lmao. I was just like “Maybe it helps a small population of people… good for them I guess?” All I know is my one not even that cold shower was _freezing_ and it sucked. Only thing I learned is that cold water on my scalp feels good and helps my hair be less greasy over the next week after I wash it.

[@DavidNorthUK]

Don't know if it makes you healthy but the effect on mood is more than worth it

[@JoshinDallas]

Can someone explain to me how everyone is so rich apparently? I'm over here waiting for my paycheck in order to buy groceries, and people are spending $1100 in 6 months sitting in ice. What am I doing wrong w my life????

[@captsow]

You are not sitting in ice!

[@okay_bro88]

Spending 1100 dollars to sit in ice is borderline insulting to the poor

[@lohphat]

I think psychologically, forcing yourself to do something uncomfortable has its merits by boosting confidence. As an old dancer with creaky joints, it does help them feel better. I also have hypersensitivity issues too and the cold showers have helped dampen my tactile sensitivities as well. The dopamine hit doesn't hurt either.

[@Chickaqee]

yeah there's a feeling of "hell yeah I just did that" after you're done. wonder why it's only cold water though, hot water is equally or even more uncomfortable yet doesn't give me that feeling

[@DeathnoteBB]

Yeah because cold helps inflamation. That’s not a benefit to an ice bath that’s just the benefit of cold/icing your joints _at all_

[@tempejkl]

@@ChickaqeeHot water increases inflammation, and plus hot water has no evidence of being good for you

[@hotakatsu7637]

@Chickaqee I assume it’s at least in part because people (whoever we evolved from) that felt that the water was too warm (but not warm enough to cause immediate damage/burns) weren’t at risk of dying due to having been submerged. Those who accidentally fell in a very cold lake on the other hand, may have been screwed simply because there was no way to get their body efficiently heated up again afterwards. Their bodies would be unable to regain their heat and they’d (eventually) die because of organ failure. So i guess it’s like the body saying “I know it doesn’t technically Hurt but this will Kill you later if you don’t get out now!!” which just didn’t need to exist for hot water. Cuz hot water that could kill you hurts real bad. I’m no expert though so take my musings with a grain of salt skhsnsjsbs

[@Chickaqee]

@@hotakatsu7637 hmm, I think you are onto something. cold water doesn't really cause injury unless submerged for a while, so it's just moderately uncomfortable. while hot water causes immediate injury/burns, so it's extremely uncomfortable and painful. interesting stuff to ponder!

[@Jason_Bryant]

I love the ending. "Ice baths were really about the friends we made along the way. No, seriously."

[@tw8464]

Exactly the social boost is far more likely to be the actual benefit, not ice bath. Can get social boost using many other activities.

[@benizjammmin]

@@tw8464the cold is the real benefit

[@CantoMando]

Loved the vid! Thanks for having me in the vid! Was a lot of fun

[@seanscott9767]

Love CantoMando ❤!!!!! !!!!!

[@ArtichokeHunter]

I'm a little confused because we got from the garbage can test that for Melissa, it's not being in cold water that's the point, but it seems like we didn't compare to what she paid for to find out what is? All these other people are talking about it waking them up or dopamine release, which seems like it would still happen with the garbage can. So I'm a little lost between these two things and what we're actually concluding; it feels good, but only in a fancy tub you pay to use? I would have liked to see the garbage can experiment inside a calm space.

[@RobinClower]

Yeah, if her friend had taken her to a mud bath instead of an ice bath the first day, would this same video have been made? A nice, relaxing spa experience can be good for mental health, regardless of what part of the spa treatment you do. Just being forced to disconnect from your day to day life and technology is a treat. It feels like she got to that conclusion at the end, but are there differences between starting your day with a run outside, an ice bath, a sauna, yoga, or many other options that all raise your dopamine levels and cause you to feel good and wake up?

[@tw8464]

Good point.

[@johnlastname8752]

I've been doing ice baths for a while, but I honestly do not understand why people would go to a specific place and pay money for it. If you have a bathtub at home, do it there for free.

[@DeathnoteBB]

Because doing it yourself requires a lot of work and still costs money, as shown in the video

[@sarahmanalapan8443]

Big people to im rather large and simply dont fit in my tub.

[@melan8ed197]

@@DeathnoteBBbut not $1100 worth of money bruh

[@aromanticfranziskavonkarma]

@@DeathnoteBB i don't think getting one of those $5 big bags of ice from a gas station and dumping it in your tub is "a lot of work" lmao, it does still cost money but 5 bucks is a lot less than 1100

[@bosstowndynamics5488]

​​​@@DeathnoteBBYou don't need to spend 100 dollars on a large plastic bin if you already have a bath though The bigger reason is what Melissa already mentioned though - you aren't *just* paying to be immersed in icy water, you're paying to do it in a nice room with nice people greeting you and fussing over you, with candlelight and nice ambiance, probably some nice perfumes in the air etc etc. You're paying for a whole experience, one that's not easy to just replicate at home. And *all* of that contributes to the happy good feeling that people get from going there. Although, in defence of your point, I'm pretty sure Melissa said she spent 1100 dollars in the multiple months of doing it, not just for one session, so the cost difference is quite a bit smaller than we're making it out to be here.

[@jochum334]

I have no problems with icebaths. I don't understand going to a special place to specifically have an icebath. I mean one spends at most like 5 minutes in the there. So surely it must be a part of a gym or something like that.

[@giovane_Diaz]

yep, for particular contexts or groups it can make sense, like, after a freaking 120 min professional soccer drill or so, but there is just not enough quality evidence for larger, more mundane groups

[@amandac.s.9452]

Ice baths do not appeal to me in the slightest. That said, getting up on Saturday morning, picking up a fresh loaf of bread from the farmer's market, and enjoying a couple slices with good butter with breakfast is a treat that I regularly find myself looking forward to. Mental health is just as important as physical health, and you dont need to justify being nice to yourself with science

[@DeathnoteBB]

Yes! I agree. I tried a cold shower ONCE and went “Omg no.” But I did learn washing my hair with cool water is delightful and keeps my hair less greasy.

[@Rithmy]

@@DeathnoteBB Personally i like going to my "limit" with a cold shower. Also the feeling afterwards is great.

[@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721]

For some people, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. And that's not something that science tells you; it's just how you feel.

[@DeathnoteBB]

@@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721 Science definitely tells you that though

[@dineshsivakumar6294]

Who?

[@KernelLeak]

0:52 I really was expecting Taha to add "blink twice if they're holding you hostage in an ice bath" somewhere in there... :D

[@taongaluo9937]

That bin costs 100 dollars, in my country(Zambia) you could pay someone's minimum wage for 2 months. Please recycle it or use it for something else😢.

[@Lafilledlapluie]

That's now K2700 ZMW

[@noeraldinkabam]

$200 a month to sit in icewater. We live in different universes.

[@seemssafe2995]

freal you could actually save money from not heating your bath water..

[@maromania7]

seriously, for that price you could just buy your own tub in no time. Idk how it is where they live, but tap water's about 4C to 6C where I am. just do it in the calming setting of your own home. I guess you can't if the place you're renting doesn't have a tub, but if you have that kind of money to drop I'm sure you could afford a place with one.

[@3possumsinatrenchcoat]

*1,100 a month it sounds like actually

[@1408Phantom]

Honestly, seems super benign for the most part. The main thing I worry about is the grift: using fake science to suck thousands of dollars out of people is never a good thing

[@tw8464]

Exactly when the grift gets going and it always does then it is very harmful and abusive

[@sam_canyon]

something i always really love about this channel is how they take tangibly mundane things like ice baths and turn them into pontifications on the joys of life and community

[@bettyreads222]

The chronic pain and inflammation I've been dealing with got worse this year and cold plunges every now and then have been pretty helpful bc of the numbing that feels good. 💜

[@icedirt9658]

“They’re expensive” Me, looking at my bathtub and freezer: If you say so 🤷‍♀️

[@yurivansteen5811]

This video taught me a lot, like how expensive a trash can actually is

[@ohiasdxfcghbljokasdjhnfvaw4ehr]

i tried looking at them recently and they are ridiculous...

[@maromania7]

yeah they're really ridiculous. They know you're not going to buy another for a very long time, so they're getting as much as they can out of the deal.

[@yurivansteen5811]

@@maromania7 Yep, that does make quite a lot of sense. But still, they could at least think about the people that just wants some ice baths lol

[@gawkthimm6030]

Here in Northern Europe its very common to go swimming in the cold winter oceans for a short dip and then go into the sauna or just inside in front of the fireplace.. But only few hardy people stay out and swim in the icy waters for long

[@eleanor1255]

yeah there's a cold pit in a nearby swimming hall and it's located between the two warmest pools in the entire building

[@gawkthimm6030]

@@eleanor1255 you didnt see that I mentioned Ocean?

[@theoriginaltubeofyous]

I was out here looking for the Finnish cultural reference and this is the closest comment to that. Apparently the southern world thinks this is a new idea or trend lmao.

[@CainXVII]

Yeah we do this in Sweden too. It's called an isvak. I have never heard of a place where you can go and sit in cold water, all the big cities have waters where you can just go jump in. Now I do want to go swimming though

[@eleanor1255]

@@gawkthimm6030 no, i did?

[@yis8fire]

I've always wondered if there's actually a science behind ice baths, thank you for covering this topic

[@DeathnoteBB]

I couldn’t imagine it was THAT beneficial, but everyone and their mom seems to insist it’s good for your mental health or for athletes. Hopefully the video explains how true that is because I have been curious

[@stuntmonkey00]

There is and it's shifting away from ice. The inflammation phase during exercise recovery is important and cutting it short through icing/cold limits healing/recovery. It used to be RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) for injuries but PT's and trainers are shifting away from the ice part of that equation.

[@devin6300]

That’s the good thing about the north in the winters. Bodies of water everywhere. Whoever pays for a cold plunge is extra 💅🏼

[@mhenderson7673]

I live on the West coast of Scotland and a surprising number of people go swimming in the almost-always-freezing ocean. My aunt goes out with a group of older/middle-aged ladies and I think they do get a great sense of togetherness and comradery because they're all doing something outrageous together. I usually only see groups of people go out into the sea, and it does help when you have other people egging you on. Also there's the adrenaline rush you get when you shock your system like that and to quote my Gran it, "makes you feel alive!".

[@user-ee1fn4vt8b]

That’s really not the sort of thing you should do alone either way

[@liviousgameplay1755]

"oooooou" + the head shake + every single interaction from Sabrina on the vc proves she is the most mischievous, antagonistic friend and I love it.

[@andrewtaft48]

I love the idea that something making us feel good is enough of a justification to do it, assuming it doesn't cause any harm.

[@dragonflies6793]

As someone who's chronically ill and whose body is bad at temperature regulation, this would be incredibly unsafe for me if I ever tried it

[@TheMillieSmalls]

Or it could heal you

[@dragonflies6793]

@@TheMillieSmalls an ice bath is not going to heal my connective tissue disorder lol

[@TheMillieSmalls]

@@dragonflies6793nor will it kill you

[@Ashclayton1994]

​@@dragonflies6793 you would be surprised

[@tstodgell]

Did it ever occur to any of these geniuses that they could just sit in a bath tub full of ice?

[@meganwarren221]

As an ex dancer, ice baths/dips are common to help heal. I think it's weird to do to relax. But I guess to each their own.

[@waffle8946]

Ice baths really was just about the cult- *COUGH* friends we made along the way

[@Siberius-]

That formatting is the wrong way around...

[@captainkeys1]

Ice baths may not have concrete scientific backing for their benefits, but many people find them invigorating and enjoyable. The act of challenging oneself and emerging from discomfort can boost mood and alertness. While some claims may be placebo, the simple joy and satisfaction derived from the experience is valid. People should engage in activities that make them happy, even if there's no scientific reason behind it. Ice baths, being largely harmless, are one such activity. :)

[@marcella8576]

I can't believe you didn't mention the dive reflex! Cold water submersion activates the parasympathetic nervous system's response. In therapy they recommended shoving your face in cold water to calm yourself down if you're having a really activating episode. I get so upset, I can't stop crying, my face is flushed, and I can't regulate my emotions. It does really help.

[@kkilljoy3588]

I’ve never heard of this before. I’m going to recommend this to my sister who has crippling anxiety attacks. This seems like it could be a game changer for people w severe anxiety attacks - I’m surprised I don’t hear about this technique more often considering how prevalent that is these days. It sounds safer (and potentially faster and more effective) than oral medication, esp for people prone to side effects or who can’t take it for one reason or another like my sis. Thanks so much for this info. I hope this helps her!

[@Saya-ng1sl]

@@kkilljoy3588 i hear that biting on a lime also helps, the sourness gives a shock to the brain and helps ground the person

[@marcella8576]

I'm glad it could help! Useful information-it should only be used for when other coping skills aren't working, and when you physically can't calm yourself down. It should be paired with breathing exercises, and after the attack you should try to target the triggers of it and work through it! Hope it could be helpful. By the way, I learned this in DBT therapy, and its a part of the "TIPP" skill. More information should be available free online. @@kkilljoy3588

[@angelahull9064]

It makes sense. But I find exposure to the cold makes me more agitated and anxious. Makes me wonder where my dopamine went.

[@toptenlottery3586]

Yes this technique is taught in CBT therapy. I am going through CBT now and this was taught in the last group session.

[@Masapa93]

As a Finn. Sauna and ice is awesome combination. It enhances bloodflow and just feels good. Dont know any scientific studies for it, but that is what we have been doing for centuries and IMO it works

[@DeathnoteBB]

How do you know it enhances it though? It could just be normal bloodflow right?

[@Masapa93]

@@DeathnoteBB Dunno. Just how we have been taught. It feels different going from Sauna to ice cold water.

[@ohiasdxfcghbljokasdjhnfvaw4ehr]

yeah but we've also been not doing ice baths and saunas for hundreds of thousands of years, so...

[@MrCmon113]

If you have enhanced bloodflow that's called hypertension and is quite deadly.

[@HBCrigs]

I love ice baths. for me, with a dissociative disorder and schizophrenia temperature can be a really stabilizing activity, like stimming, that relaxes my nervous system. Its a great way for me to focus on my body when my mind starts to tear apart. I also like them because they are hard to do. Its a really safe way to conquer my fears and as a really anxious person, that can help me do everyday stuff. Yeah! hope that helps. I don't think it matters what it does for your body, its fun. As an edit, I really just take cold baths or cold showers but will throw a 2$ bag of ice in the tub with me every once in a while as a treat.

[@Zoltan1251]

If you like it you do not fear it... thats contradiction. You proved its just placebo, mind trick to feel good about yourself.

[@jamiefoy4531]

@@Zoltan1251 can skydivers both like and fear skydiving?

[@Zoltan1251]

@@jamiefoy4531 No. You can have fear for the first time but he said, he does it many times. What is he affraid of? His massive enjoynment and relaxation?

[@ryalexstudios]

*"Turns out it's expensive to put a human body in a garbage can."* Melissa out of context

[@ShervinShares]

honored to be in this video!!

[@DAT-OFFICIAL]

Finally! Some actual research on the concept of ice baths/cold showers. It's been the biggest fad lately and I'm glad people are actually looking into it now.

[@dynomar11]

I mean you could also look for yourself

[@iWhacko]

@@dynomar11 exactly, you can google the articles yourself.

[@maromania7]

​@@dynomar11 Nothing they said implies they hadn't. They mentioned it's a fad (as in tons of people randomly doing it) and that they're glad people are looking into it (like, for instance, the tons of people randomly doing it). Could also be interpreted as being glad that there is actual research being done. Tons of these fads come and go without research, because the people who want to don't have the funding and the people who do are the ones selling the story to being with.

[@bosstowndynamics5488]

This comment seems a bit strange when the conclusion of the video is that there *isn't* actual research that supports most of the claims, but that doesn't matter because the people actually doing ice baths are doing it for reasons that don't need research anyway.

[@rjthomasindyusa]

The Finnish/ Nordic figured out that cold water plunges were beneficial a long time ago...... Nothing new here.....

[@StraightLace0]

I love Answer In Progress Videos so much, I hit the like button while the starting ads are still playing

[@Fauxglove]

I remember soaking our legs in ice baths after particularly rough track practices, cool to see some actual research on them!

[@somethingsomething404]

I often have chest tightness that makes me think doing this would give me a heart attack

[@Chareads]

I bought a giant whiskey barrel off marketplace and had my first cold plunge in it yesterday! Not quite as refreshing as the sea, and all my neighbours came out to laugh at me, but I enjoyed myself.

[@squashduos1258]

The fundamental reason to “sciencify” it is to avoid dangerous experiments! Lots of stuff make you feel good but can be very dangerous

[@marspersonal1]

I thought this was a short but then it turned into a full vid....

[@AlpineDividends]

I live in Canada and spend most of my life trying to stay warm. I'm out lol.

[@gaze5393]

I swear by ice baths. There’s just something about it that electrifies you into becoming a “new” person with an open mind. They helped me manage my anxiety attacks and gave me so much bravery to do anything. Like a mind and body connection.

[@katherinelangford981]

We had a flood and our hot water tank was broken for about 3 weeks. Only cold water. I can say I have no love for cold showers, nor did I feel invigorated by them. I'm happy we got a new hot water tank today.

[@CainXVII]

I lived in an apartment for a year where the hot water tank was too small. So if I didn't wash my hair quickly I would get a sudden cold shower. Nah mate. I am Swedish, I am completely fine with cold baths, but I prefer to choose them on my own

[@unknownsofa]

I wish more people knew that ice baths reduce one's allostatic load, which actually has long-term positive effects! It does so because of the shock that it brings. Also, the water doesn't have to be 4C to shock you, whatever you have in the pipes is likely cold enough (especially in the winter).

[@AaronEvoDevo]

Human soup! Can't believe you stuck your head under the ice water! Thanks for including me in the video, it was a pleasure working with you and learning so much about ice baths!

[@Wizarth]

For me, rockclimbing gives me the things people talk about getting from ice baths. But I never would have guessed it before I tried it, and I tried plenty of things that gave those benefits to other people. So if ice baths do it for you, that's excellent, I'm glad you found your thing!

[@MeTheOneth]

Hey, kids. I have a friend, an old squadmate, with chronic pain from a TBI he suffered during his time as a Marine. He started trying to supplement his doctors' efforts to help him with alternative medicines - herbal medicine, reiki, whatever. Eventually he tried cold water immersion. In January of 2020, he fell through the ice and drowned in the frozen river he was practicing this immersion in. His body wasn't recovered until it thawed in March. Just be careful, ok? Please? Don't try to do anything like that alone.

[@lordwafflesthegreat]

Source: Trust me, bro.

[@MeTheOneth]

@@lordwafflesthegreat Is this really the best place to employ skepticism? Someone saying "don't go alone in frozen water, my friend died doing that"?

[@sitcomchristian6886]

@@MeTheOneth Why shouldn't he be skeptical? A sad story doesn't make you immune to criticism. Tact should be employed, yes, but question everything you read online.

[@MeTheOneth]

@@sitcomchristian6886 I did not say don't be skeptical. I said don't go alone.

[@aff77141]

I will not go out of my way to freeze myself every time i need to clean up, but after a long hot day they can be enjoyable and i feel good afterwards. No need to do it all the time

[@MrnmrsCCazares]

As a Houston resident who has been dealing with 100 + degree temperatures for over a month now I would absolutely pay for an ice bath.

[@ohiasdxfcghbljokasdjhnfvaw4ehr]

or you could move out of the desert

[@MrnmrsCCazares]

Would love to, but it would be easier to get an ice bath than make my family, my husband's family, our jobs and everything we've ever known move.

[@Trizzer89]

Why are idiots spending thousands of dollars when you just have to grab a bag of ice from the gas station for a few bucks and throw it in your tub

[@JToh0914]

temperature is not consistent, and it's not as glamorous.

[@benizjammmin]

I wish I had a tub 🛀

[@WLJ1287]

You need far more than a single bag of ice. You need at least 30 pounds of ice to bring about 50 gal of water to a temperature of 55 degrees.

[@steakbeard]

Great way to connect with yourself and do something viscerally uncomfortable in a world designed for comfort. We all can use more of this. Doing it with a group actually builds connection as you are overcoming this discomfort together - an instant bond.

[@zoeholman150]

This is a huge thing in Ireland, but it's cold water plunging in the sea. In the winter our water is between 1 celcius and 5 celcius. It's been a thing for years. It's great! I go everyday! ❤

[@phibian00]

Searching for ways to improve one's quality of life is a worthy pursuit. Thanks for sharing part of that lifelong journey.

[@gJonii]

How do you spend $1100 on water and ice? Like, I've gotten the same effect by taking cold shower. It literally saves me a few cents. Swimming halls here cost about $5 and they have huge ice bath pools. If you have bathtub you can just put cold water in it. Like, $1100? How, what, why? I don't even understand what's the scam, it's like selling sand in Sahara, for $1,100 and having customers. How do you even scam that? It's not like ice or bath are some mythical items we plebs can only imagine.

[@WLJ1287]

Shower doesn’t have the same impact as submersion

[@MS-lw1pd]

It's simple: love what you do, as long as you don't hurt anyone. Being happy is the healthiest thing you can do.

[@rayvillarreal635]

Easily one of my favorite channels love everything you guys do 🫶🏽

[@andrewmutavi590]

Shocking the system does work wonders,my only query is how long before the body 'gets used to it's?'

[@dmiller21283]

We did ice baths thigh deep in Cross Country after our "speed" workout days. I never got sore that entire season. The first couple weeks were terrible. After a few weeks, we could stand in it for several minutes calmly, usually reading magazines while we waited.

[@higherquality]

2:16 I love the storytelling with the dark cloud in the background and it raining later.

[@Sharft6]

Maybe it depends on the person. I've had hot showers sometimes even twice a day for years now and no matter how many I have, every single one of them feels absolutely incredible. I've had brief cold showers on occasion and every last one was bloody horrible. The best part was getting out and even that felt worse than normal ambient temperature. The only thing I'm missing is a sense of community connection with my fellow hot showerers. However I'm not sure community would improve the experience that much. I have shared a couple of showers with my wife which can be fine depending what you get up to. But there's still nothing quite like running a hot shower solo.

[@supraguardian]

As someone with hla-b27 I have severe inflamation after a workout. Like 4 days of nausea, diarrhea, and utter exhaustion. As a strongman, that is too long to recover. I spend $0 dollars on ice baths, just find a cold body of water. It cuts my symptoms and recovery time in half, sometimes more. This may not work for normal people, but for those of us with unbelievably high inflammatory responses, ice baths are a life saver.

[@fenshipismagic]

one thing that i wish came up in this, is the idea of somatic treatments for anxiety and other mental health conditions. i use ice packs for somatic grounding to treat ptsd flashbacks, and it wouldnt surprise me if ice baths could be similar and help people for those reasons. any strong sensory experience works for this of course but i wonder if that's why some people feel ice baths helped with depression or anxiety.

[@nirmaleva]

As someone with anemia this just sounds like pure hell. Now give me a sauna first and then we're in business

[@dudecraft2280]

even if there isn't any science behind it, the main reason why people do it is to test how mentally strong you are. It's about getting used to being uncomfortable. It's about being deciplined enough to put yourself through pain. It's one of the rules of stoisism.

[@Boudicaisback]

Yes and because of ice baths and cold showers my confidence has boosted so much. If I can remain calm in ice water when it is 2 degrees outside, I can accomplish anything 😊

[@dokida]

the sorry girls answer in progress crossovers are making me so insane. i love you all so much!!

[@teresana21]

I think you hit it on the head. Ultimately the shock of cold immersion triggers a pain response: cortisol and dopamine. It's a thrill seeking behavior, and a very low risk one at that depending on how you go about your ice bath. It has similar effects to therapy for some and seems to be a really healthy coping mechanism for them.

[@rmjrmj4]

"We pay her too much" I'm dying over here, XD Stay awesome guys [ and girls] lmao

[@Hiltegard]

I first started taking ice bathes when I played football in high school to reduce inflammation. That was over 10 years ago and today I still take an ice bath after a workout to manage/reduce inflammation post workout. That's it. No other reason.

[@annieonimous4352]

Bath tub, tap water, and large reusable ice packs, works just as well for me. Breath work, mediation, cutting back on caffeine, and ice baths have helped my anxiety.

[@LauraSomeNumber]

Susanne Søberg did an observational study on less than fifteen people. The participants already did winter bathing and she took their higher brown fat than her control group to mean that that meant it was because of the winter bathing which you cannot use that study to illustrate as none of the participants changed their behaviour. It might as well have been that the people who stick it have more brown fat. I have nothing against doing btw, I finish my showers with cold water, it feels nice.

[@ember5500]

i love that you were looking if a body would fit in the bin, and not a single person questioned you

[@Tank5066]

After watching this video I feel like this is not the latest cult but just the latest grift on rich people... Or just people with too must disposable income if you are uncomfortable with calling yourself rich. Edit: At this point it just feels like pseudoscience. Which always attracts grifters.

[@wastingmylifeaway4898]

I do cold showers. It doesn't cost me any extra money. I do it for mental reasons. I wanna control the reflex to shiver. It preps me for the rest of my day. I don't know or care about any of the other benefits. This is just something I do. Yeah, people that buy thousand dollar plus cold plunges are getting scammed, but in general, the majority of people doing this sort of cold exposure aren't spending any extra money or involving themselves in the broader community. I feel like it's a case of mind your own business.

[@sriig]

Am a person of high income. Do not have children. Do own property (financed at COVID-era interest rates). I am the target market for the now-billion+dollar industry, and they've got me hook line and sinker. Once some new parts I ordered ship, I will have spent over $3k on my cold plunge setup. Feel free to mercilessly mock me, I brought it on myself.

[@marky5493]

i just jump into the sea near me, it sometimes 6 'C and that's cold enough, you really don't need to go to zero. just stay in longer

[@horrorluver565]

It’s her speaking into the sharpie for me 😂

[@EdwardAlcantara]

Was not expecting a Sorry Girls collab. 😂 This just confirms to me that all Canadian KZbinrs know each other.

[@DemoniqueLewis]

With it being Sickle Cell awareness month, just thought that I would mention there is a population of people who would not and should not try this trend. I hate when the family uses all of the hot water before I shower so this is a hard pass for me.

[@ExplodingDarth]

At 5:16 when medlife came on I audibly exclaimed "yaaayyy!" Love this!

[@brekkoh]

Cant wait to dig into this one!

[@daisymayla]

Ive been doing ice bath cold plunge tub for 1 month and the cellulite on the back of my legs is gone 🥶💙

[@niftimalcompression]

This is unrelated to the video but I find it interesting that 10:14 if men want to do fun things with their friends, they have to do it as a joke. 0:23 female friends can just be like "I have a really fun surprise for you". I wish men were allowed to be more open in our society, then they might not suck so bad. (down with the patriarchy!)

[@sortasurvival5482]

When i was growing up, my brother and i had a tradition. He showered in morn, i did at night. So when shower is done there was a pitcher of cold water to pour on self, and requirement to refill before leaving bathroom. It was a nice shock

[@EmmisonMike]

I feel my inner hillbilly going "why not just get some ice at the dollar general for three fifty, plop that in your bathtub at home?" on reflex. Then I remember spas with hot water exist, so maybe this is just spa but cold? And like there's all sorta health benefits to... relaxing. I'm not saying this to trivialize ice baths, I've had a few cold showers in between gas bills and they're pretty darn refreshing. It feels like this is a new flavor of ice cream, mostly. Not super new, Johnny Harris explored sauna culture in Scandinavia awhile back which includes just jumping into the river (God's ice bath, I call it), but if that's something you enjoy, I really don't think any further justification is needed, and if you don't, it's okay if it's not your flavor of ice cream.

[@EmmisonMike]

defo posted this before the doctor man discussed ice cream. I feel very vindicated.

[@jestemwojtek8741]

In some psychology book i found that exposing yourself to discomfort will create "bounce-back" effect, that will release dopamine and endorphins. And will result in more happiness overall

[@jestemwojtek8741]

can find the book if needed

[@HIR0SE]

I tried the whole cold shower thing to see if it would improve anything. I usually have too many layers of clothing on me and that made my skin feel even the lighest cold breeze. My cold shower experience on winter was I got sick and even sicker because my sleep schedule and meals aren't consistent enough for my body to handle that big of a change. I didn't die but had to take a week off work because I work with children and we can't risk it.

[@rpe]

just stop being a weakling

[@DeathnoteBB]

…yeah nobody told you not to take cold showers in WINTER 😅 Sorry that happened, I took a cold shower in summer and hated it!

[@HIR0SE]

@@DeathnoteBB that's the thing! It'sgood for you "year-round" they said... And winters in Brazil aren't that cold in some places.

[@DeathnoteBB]

@@HIR0SE Oh are you in Brazil? That makes more sense! Though yeah I have heard conflicting advice about cold showers. I heard its not good in winter but also they probably said it depends on where you are. For me even in winter we have heating so its not super cold inside the house anyway. I guess my point is idk anything about this stuff XD

[@mettelindegardnielsen9411]

From my understanding it is important to get warm and dry again after the bath. But from the people I know (coming from a culture, where it is quite normal to do it) most only do it as a quick thing, ie. do bath normally and in the last 30 seconds you make it cold and then you dry yourself up so you're not cold anymore. Or the whole bath is cold, but only so it feels cool to the touch, but not freezing, since it should be good for your skin to not use warm water. The other ways I have heard about is winter bathing, but there you get into a sauna, so you also get warm again quickly. But what you're used to and the climate you live in probably have an big effect on how your body handles it.

[@zenchiefengineer]

I have to admit, I jumped around the video. Was the extensive study done by Dr. Susanna Soberg mentioned? I see the one cardiologist throughout. It costs nothing for me. My pool stays at 50 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. I do my 2-3 minutes every morning. I've had abdominal pain for the last 4 years. Doctors couldn't find anything wrong. The cold plunges helped me deal with it and I was able to do things I haven't done in those 4 years prior. Feel great all day now too!

[@Dani_el_Duck]

My takeaway is that cold showers can be nice and the bath ones are definitely cults

[@luisostasuc8135]

Part of why this needs to be studied isn't just to rain on people's parades; this needs to be studied because there are people claiming it will provide benefits and uses those purported benefits to sell the experience to people. It's the same as any supplement, treatment, or experience that promises benefits.

[@thatcrazytoaster]

All I know is I'm grateful to The Ice man. He documented his health/strong immune system. That spoke louder than anything else.