Why An Icy Dip Is Good For You

Many people swear by the benefits of a cold plunge, and it seems they might be on to something. Scientists are finding evidence that regular icy dips could help relieve stress, anxiety, and depression

- Helen Glenny

Claire’s* legs ache with cold as she pushes forwards into the messy grey sea, sand stretching behind her, and the sky above. She braces herself against each incoming wave, the wind whipping at her exposed skin. Her local beach, Scheveningen, on the western coast of the Netherlands, is a vast expanse of sand running uninterrupted beside the North Sea. It’s March, and the sea temperature is about 6°C.

In the water, Claire’s skin temperature drops instantly. Her muscles start to cool after a few minutes and stiffen like chewing gum. Her swim is short, and warming up takes hours, but she’s happy to be there. “We were jumping around, shrieking like schoolgirls,” she says, remembering her first taste of cold water swimming. Claire needed the boost because three months before, she’d sunk into severe depression after suffering a personal trauma.

In the UK, where Claire is originally from, researchers are looking into the scientific benefits of cold water swimming for people who are experiencing mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression. They’re dipping volunteers into troughs of frigid water in labs, and leading groups into the water beside Brighton pier. And they’re discovering that cold water immersion can prime you, mentally and physically; to better deal with any stress that might come your way.

BODY SHOCK