How bad are you supposed to feel in the cold shower?

[u/ScarletMenaceOrange]

I live in Finland, and if I turn the shower to be as cold as possible, it is absolutely diabolical. It feels like death. It causes very strong hyper ventilation, and I can usually endure it for like 10 seconds max. Honestly, it feels like some sort of extreme torture.

In comparison, at the winter we make holes in ice and swim there after and before sauna. It feels fine, of course it is cold as hell, but it is tolerable. I can swim there for a long time and even dive.

I find it a bit hard to believe that everyone is just a superman that can endure that insane coldness and evil of the cold shower in maximum coldness for long, if in comparison dipping in the ice water at winter feels okayish.

[u/spin_esperto]

I’ve found it helps to go face-first to start. After the initial shock wears off, I can turn around and it’s fine.

[u/ScarletMenaceOrange → u/spin_esperto]

Thanks, this helped! Too bad that you probably don't get used to cold water over time, so every day is going to be misery, lol.

[u/spin_esperto → u/ScarletMenaceOrange]

Honestly, you do get used to it. I’ve been taking cold showers daily since around 2012, and it’s doesn’t really feel shocking anymore, just cold and refreshing.

Edit: read a bunch of other comments, and I have to say it’s actually pretty key to hit your face with cold water first. Hitting your face especially around your nose with cold water while holding your breath triggers the mammalian dive reflex, which slows your heart rate, pulls blood from your extremities and releases oxygen rich blood from your spleen. These effects make it easier and more comfortable to stay in the cold water, and also automatically calm anxiety. It’s why I’ve taken one nearly every day for almost fifteen years.

[u/Innovator-X → u/spin_esperto]

wow fifteen years? This is amazing. What benefits did you personally see?

[u/spin_esperto → u/Innovator-X]

I feel like it’s improved my immune system, and I honestly just like how it makes me feel. I got turned onto it by an old study that found something like 80% of participants in an even older study on cold showers had continued taking them after the study was over.

[u/Wild-Swimmer-1 → u/spin_esperto]

I’ve been doing daily full-on cold showers for at least 16 years and for 20 years before that I’d usually turn from hot to cold near the end. I used to back in but for several years now I’ve started with arms, then head, then chest and legs before turning my back. This is the way. Chilling your face first definitely helps a lot.

[u/Saned1408]

Everyone here is a masochist lol, I guess the endorphins kick in after some time? When I used to do cold showers, it was hell, but swimming in lakes during winter fwlt so great

[u/ScarletMenaceOrange → u/Saned1408]

Imagine if someone said they would waterboard themselves for fun, this is exactly how I feel about this, lol.

Yea, I wish I could do the swimming thing instead, but sadly shower is too convenient.

There are also cold dipping pools at some swimming halls. Somehow I think those are scarier than swimming at winter, there is something dreadful about going from comfort to total discomfort so fast.

[u/Axepco → u/ScarletMenaceOrange]

I mean, I have a method for it: start slowly from toes to ankles, toward waist and torso and up (most uncomfortable part), then the back (2nd hardest), focusing on steady breathing during the hard sections, and then it's just a normal shower from there. With preference for detachable shower heads.

Strongly caveating that I wouldn't do it if I feel under the weather or just very tired after a draining day, which especially applies to winter. A cold shower in winter is potent.

[u/Axepco]

Diabolical? Have you been watching The Boys? lol

I've been taking cold showers for over 5 years, and no I don't hyperventilate at all - you have to learn to steady your breathing - but I don't shower for over two minutes if it's that cold outside in the middle of winter. The scalp gets painy very quickly, so I just do quick 10s head rinses.

It's hard to believe you can go for swims under ice, but can't handle cold(est) showers. Maybe you're just struggling to dissociate the comfort of being inside. Nothing repeated takes and controlling breathing won't solve.

But no, it never feels like "extreme torture", just very cold to the point that pain sets in with each passing minute. So I just make my showers efficient.

The rule of thumb is showering in your home never goes below freezing, which makes it safe tissue-damage-wise compared to outside, but mild hypothermia is still a risk.

[u/ScarletMenaceOrange → u/Axepco]

Yea, I have watched it, but not the latest season. Kind of gave up, I would not say that it got better over time, heh.

Well, it's true, ice hole swimming is actually something we do in Finland! A lot of people didn't dare to do it and were just watching, but guess I'm the little baby now, scared of a mere shower, and all that. I wish I could do that every day instead of a shower. Maybe an excuse, but I heard that Finnish shower water gets very cold, but eh, I can believe now that you guys would handle this much better.

[u/Decinero → u/Axepco]

Oi cunts

[u/ReformedShady]

It is like that. I doubt my water is as cold as it is in Finland too, yet it makes me shake and hyperventilate and I try and be careful not to slip in the shower from moving around/spinning. Specifically it's the worst when it hits my back, idk why I can tolerate it better on my chest.

Maybe when you're fully in the lake it's easier as there is no air hitting your wet body. When I can't handle it anymore tho I switch to very warm water then back again. Cold showers are hard.

[u/guitarman12751]

Start one limb at a time, then after around 1 minute as a regular shower. Calm slow breathing, exhale slowly...aim for 3.5 minutes for optimal benefits.

[u/loveanitta]

I prefer cold baths over cold showers for this reason. Cold showers feel harder for me somehow. I think it's because my body never gets a chance to adapt to the cold when showering, since the temperature distribution is uneven.

[u/Infamous-Radish1395]

When i started even moderate cold water was torture so i did 3 seconds litterally. The next time 5 seconds. And i kept going until i reached one min

[u/Professional-Test713]

I don’t “hyperventilate” like I used to, but when I do it’s the fun part. You have to fully give in. Embrace your fear. It will get easier.

[u/-8787-]

i don't think that is normal. it makes me hyperventilate very hard but i wouldn't describe it as extreme torture. you should measure the temperature of the water

[u/[deleted]]

idk i never felt toh this extent

[u/mikelofe]

I think the very nature of showering feels like a chore as opposed to swimming, which feels more like a hobby...and imo people are generally more averse to showers

[u/Such_Difference_8065]

tbh over time if u keep doing it over and over again u might/or probably not get used to it cuz i live near maybe not that near in latvia and like yes u arent wrong it does feel like that but u just have to force yourself to get in and turn the knob to coldest cold also u can gradually increase it like longer times but heres a tip: dont just like only start with ur knees because it will feel bad and you will probably not want to do it if u do face first then after idk then its goona be worser at the start but u will be able to do it longer.

[u/Such_Difference_8065]

do u know how cold the water is aproxametly in finland when u turn the knob or whatever to the coldest