A cold shower is synonymous with suffering as if one has entered a apocalyptical path to darkness. This is an example of how narrative can equal automatic reactivity. Cold showers as are available to us in the 20th century are actually a healthy chance to build self-regulatory skills while giving us a nice push toward wakefulness.

Lewis Pugh is pictured here about to plunge into the southern arctic to raise awareness about glacier melts. He also represents an insight into our daily life, we are not likely to perish from hypothermia. Everyday experiences can produce primal responses even when we know we are safe in the comforts of home. Reactions of disgust, panic, tension, etc. were methods of survival where the body takes over when in danger or under attack, For some reason we have not evolved passed those reactions even though the days of being chased by lions and foraging for food have long passed. These primal reactions can be used as an opportunity for building skills in self-regulation.

Cold Showers: The unexpected or resisted entry into cold water elicits a shock response to shut down the body and avoid hypothermia as if you are stuck in artic waters. In contrast we enjoy pumping frozen slushies into our uninsulated internal organs and find it refreshing or in the case of a “brain freeze,” even amusing. Cold water in the shower, pool, beach can be invigorating and therapeutic in short doses but that is only if you can convince your automatic response that you are not likely to die. Do try this at home rather than starting with the local polar bear club.

Further posts will explore how posture, breathing, and a new narrative can help re-write primal reactivity.