Managing anxiety with the power of cold water and ice

Cold water stimulates the vagus nerve, which plays a significant role in the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting relaxation and reducing stress.

Here’s how to tone your vagus nerve and get calm fast with only the power of cold water.

🧊1. Cold or Ice Packs

Apply a cold pack or ice pack to the back of your neck or forehead to help lower your heart rate and slow down breathing. It's particularly useful for acute stress relief when triggered.

🧊2. Cold Water Face Immersion

Dunk your face in a bowl of very cold water or splash cold water on your face. This slows the heart rate and stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system to calm down.

🧊 3. Cold Compresses

Place a cold, wet cloth on your forehead or wrist to bring fast relief from triggers, acute stress and high anxiety.

🧊 4. Feet in icy water

Put your feet in icy cold water for 1 to 2 minutes at a time to reduce inflammation, stimulate the vagus nerve (calm the nervous system) and reduce anxiety fast.

🧊 5. Cold Showers

The classic cold shower for TWO minutes reduces inflammation, improves circulation, and triggers the release of endorphins that help reduce anxiety.

Photo (c) Canva

Jane Pendry

Solution Focused Hypnotherapist & Coach

Sense-Ability Hypnotherapy & Coaching, UK

jane@sense-ability.co.uk

+44 (0) 7843 813 883

www.sense-ability.co.uk