Gradual cold showers to treat depression?

a recent theoretical paper suggests that this may be possible:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17993252

Previous relevant studies about the effects of brief cooling on mood:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15253480
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6635105
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10885123
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3688288

This research paper shows that daily brief exposure to cold can significantly improve symptoms of patients with depression:

Rymaszewska J, Ramsey D, Chladzinska-Kiejna S. Whole-body cryotherapy as adjunct treatment of depressive and anxiety disorders. Archivum Immunologiae et Therapiae Experimentalis. (Warsaw). 2008 Jan-Feb;56(1):63-68.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18250970

full text is available for free if you click on the SpringerLink icon on the right side of the webpage.

Because you get so cold all you are worried about is getting some warmth maybe? lol

It said it was a short term affect. Now I am not so sure I would actually do that because exposing your body to that degree of cold I would think would be harmful, unless there are no actual long term side affects to your brain or body.

Actually now that I've been thinking about it, it's possible this happens because points of your body that are exposed to cold result in blood rushing to it. That is why sports trainers will tell you to put ice on the injured area so that the blood will rush to it, so it can begin healing.

if temperature of water is moderately cold, around 68F (20 degrees C) then no adverse effects are observed in healthy people and also in laboratory animals long term (actually in rats the lifespan was increased by about 5%, see the Holloszy paper below).

O'Brien C, Young AJ, Lee DT, Shitzer A, Sawka MN, Pandolf KB: Role of core temperature as a stimulus for cold acclimation during repeated immersion in 20 degrees C water. Journal of Applied Physiology. (2000) vol.89, pp. 242-250.

Holloszy JO, Smith EK: Longevity of cold-exposed rats: a reevaluation of the "rate-of-living theory". Journal of Applied Physiology. (1986) vol.61, pp. 1656-1660.

Jansky L, Pospisilova D, Honzova S, Ulicny B, Sramek P, Zeman V, Kaminkova J: Immune system of cold-exposed and cold-adapted humans. European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology. (1996) vol.72, pp. 445-450.

Tikuisis P: Heat balance precedes stabilization of body temperatures during cold water immersion. Journal of Applied Physiology. (2003) vol.95, pp. 89-96.

Sometimes at the end when im showering i turn it to cold, i feel a kinda zing and a bit more lively, motivates me a little bit i think.

Cold does make me more energetic. That's why I love Winter, but HATE Spring, Summer and Fall (unless the temperatures are low in spring and fall.

I cannot stand heat. Thank God for air-conditioners. But I cannot wear an A/C everywhere I go. I know I am going to be in hell for the next 4-6 months, because temps above 80 make me lethargic, sweat profusely, and very irritable and tense, and a lot of times, I feel like I am going to faint.And it makes me fatigue a lot quicker. Especially if I get overheated, which does not take much exertion to do.

If I was able to, and could afford it, I'd move north, where it never gets hot. Even if I had to go to the North Pole.

ON_THE_EDGE wrote:Cold does make me more energetic. That's why I love Winter, but HATE Spring, Summer and Fall (unless the temperatures are low in spring and fall.

I cannot stand heat. Thank God for air-conditioners. But I cannot wear an A/C everywhere I go. I know I am going to be in hell for the next 4-6 months, because temps above 80 make me lethargic, sweat profusely, and very irritable and tense, and a lot of times, I feel like I am going to faint.And it makes me fatigue a lot quicker. Especially if I get overheated, which does not take much exertion to do.

If I was able to, and could afford it, I'd move north, where it never gets hot. Even if I had to go to the North Pole.

very true. I always get more depressed in the summer and feel(somewhat) well in the winter.
I tried this gradual cold shower once; don't know if that was the reason, but I got an headache that lasted 2 days.

mullog wrote:

ON_THE_EDGE wrote:Cold does make me more energetic. That's why I love Winter, but HATE Spring, Summer and Fall (unless the temperatures are low in spring and fall.

I cannot stand heat. Thank God for air-conditioners. But I cannot wear an A/C everywhere I go. I know I am going to be in hell for the next 4-6 months, because temps above 80 make me lethargic, sweat profusely, and very irritable and tense, and a lot of times, I feel like I am going to faint.And it makes me fatigue a lot quicker. Especially if I get overheated, which does not take much exertion to do.

If I was able to, and could afford it, I'd move north, where it never gets hot. Even if I had to go to the North Pole.

very true. I always get more depressed in the summer and feel(somewhat) well in the winter.
I tried this gradual cold shower once; don't know if that was the reason, but I got an headache that lasted 2 days.

Thats interesting. I actually feel a lot better in the summer and spring than in the winter and fall. For me, it's just because there are more things to do and I become more active. Also I tend to drink a lot more water and eat healthier too so I guess that makes a big difference.

Yeah, I should tell you more why I hate warm weather:

1. bugs. I cannot stand bugs buzzing around me. I hate pests.

2. Weeds. We have weeds that grow so fast, the mower cannot keep up. And I hate mowing the grass.

3. Sweating. I get so tired of getting sweaty just being outside, doing nothing. The heat and humidity makes me very irritable and volatile.

4. Thunderstorms. We get a lot more storms in warm weather. I have to disconnect TV's and my computer every time a storm approaches. And yes, I have surge protectors, but they do not protect from a direct hit from lightning.

5. My intolerance to heat. I can take the cold a lot better than the heat.

6. Allergies and Ticks.

Winter only last 3 months, but my hell lasts for the rest of the time. 9 months of misery.

ON_THE_EDGE wrote:Yeah, I should tell you more why I hate warm weather:

1. bugs. I cannot stand bugs buzzing around me. I hate pests.

2. Weeds. We have weeds that grow so fast, the mower cannot keep up. And I hate mowing the grass.

3. Sweating. I get so tired of getting sweaty just being outside, doing nothing. The heat and humidity makes me very irritable and volatile.

4. Thunderstorms. We get a lot more storms in warm weather. I have to disconnect TV's and my computer every time a storm approaches. And yes, I have surge protectors, but they do not protect from a direct hit from lightning.

5. My intolerance to heat. I can take the cold a lot better than the heat.

6. Allergies and Ticks.

Winter only last 3 months, but my hell lasts for the rest of the time. 9 months of misery.

Woah.. 3 months of winter? Where do you live?