Using Saunas and Cold Plunges to Prevent Seasonal Affective Disorder

Cold plunges may not be a magical pill like they are touted to be online but there is reason enough to include them in your health routine alongside sauna and exercise sessions. For instance, it is now a proven fact that regular cold plunging and sauna therapy is an effective defense against Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). How so? We shall explain.

What is Season Affective Disorder?

Seasonal Affective Disorder is an unpleasant and surprisingly common type of depression that affects people during winter and fall. Most people are affected every year without knowing it which can cause a dangerous cycle of seasonal depression and mental health deterioration.

Some common signs that you might be having this sneaky disorder include:

• Having decreased energy or fatigue at the first sign of winter or fall
• Experiencing changes in sleep or appetite
• Your sex drive taking a hit
• You have difficulty concentrating and remembering stuff
• Brain fog or having trouble thinking clearly
• Having unexplained pains and aches, etc.

Seasonal Affective Disorder can affect anyone anywhere but data by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) shows that people living further north tend to suffer more. As for age groups, you are more likely to suffer from SAD if you are between the ages of 18 and 30 and are a female by birth.

There are both natural and medical remedies or treatments that have been proven effective against mild to chronic cases of Seasonal Affective Disorder. The medical treatments for SAD involve taking medication or a visit to a psychologist. Not many people get to visit a doctor for diagnosis when they get Seasonal Affective Disorder so it can be hard to take the medical route.

If you don’t like the idea of visiting a psychologist or popping pills, you’ll be happy to know that natural DIY remedies like sauna therapy, cold plunging, and spending time outdoors are effective. Cold plunging and sauna therapy are particularly effective as preventive methods for SAD and more convenient for people leading lifestyles.

How Cold Plunging helps prevent Seasonal Affective Disorder

Cold plunging is the practice of immersing oneself in very cold water below 4 degrees Celsius. Some people even take it further by adding ice (ice bath) to the already freezing water. It’s an uncomfortable experience, we won’t lie, especially since it is done in the colder seasons (fall and winter) but it’s an ancient practice that has been proven effective as a means of hydrotherapy.

Ice baths or cold plunges have been proven through medical research to have numerous benefits to the human body including improved recovery, boosted immunity, reduced stress, and better blood circulation among others. However, it’s the stress relief part that we are more interested in regarding Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Here is how and why cold plunges or ice baths prevent SAD:

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) mainly causes stress or stress-related effects in your body like brain fog or unexplained fatigue. Cold plunging or ice bathing has been used for centuries as a way to release tension and prevent or reduce stress. So much so that you find literature about it in ancient writings by the likes of Plato.

More scientifically and relying on modern or emerging research, cold plunging helps prevent Seasonal Affective Disorder by triggering the release of mood-boosting chemicals like endorphins and norepinephrine. This happens because of the stress response caused by cold exposure. The resultant effect contributing to SAD prevention is the feeling of increased alertness and better mood.

Cold plunging regularly and in the appropriate seasons can help anyone counter many of the depressive symptoms associated with Seasonal Disorder. The following are some of the specific ways cold plunges act against SAD in detail:

Helping with Stress Adaptation

Regular exposure to cold temperatures in a cold plunge or ice bath triggers a “fight-or-flight” response in your body. This effectively helps your body in stress management in multiple ways.

Triggering the right Hormonal Responses

Exposing your body to cold water or an ice bath causes it to release adrenaline and norepinephrine. Both chemicals have been proven (Endocrine Society)  to elevate one’s mood and energy levels.

Improving Your alertness

You recall one of the main symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder is difficulty concentrating and remembering stuff. A cold plunge has the effect of Improving your alertness simply by shocking your system thus counteracting this effect.

Improving Blood Circulation

One of the benefits of a cold plunge or ice bath is the way it improves blood flow over time. Better blood flow improves your overall well-being which is great for SAD prevention in colder seasons.

Regular cold plunging is an effective prevention mechanism or remedy for Seasonal Affective Disorder according to emerging research. However, you should also take steps to understand your body and the correct ways to do a cold plunge.  At the same time, regular visits to the doctor for checkups or seeking mental health help are important, and cold plunging is a good complementary therapy.

How Using Saunas helps prevent Seasonal Affective Disorder

Another effective remedy or preventive self-care method for Seasonal Affective Disorder is sauna therapy. Like cold plunging, you can treat your body with a nice and cozy sauna therapy session with a modern home sauna at your convenience.

Sauna therapy is a type of heat therapy involving the use of a heated and steamed room or enclosure to improve wellness. Like cold plunging, saunas have been around for centuries and used widely to promote health and wellness. These are the ways saunas help prevent or deal with Seasonal Affective Disorder:

Saunas Help you Relax

It’s hard to relax when you are stressed and the sauna is an effective remedy against that. The heat from your sauna can help stimulate blood flow in your body which effectively improves relaxation. They also help ease anxiety which is a major contributor of stress caused by SAD.

Helping with Sleep

Better sleep is an effective prevention method for stress and anxiety and regular sauna therapy has been known to help with sleep patterns.  Treat yourself to a nice sauna experience regularly before and during SAD seasons and you will effectively prevent it. You won’t experience the excessive sleepiness or decreased deep sleep caused by Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Production of Serotonin

Low levels of serotonin in your body are a major sign of SAD and depression.  You will likely get a prescription for antidepressants that mainly increase serotine levels. Infrared saunas can improve the production of serotonin in your body and boost the reception of natural antidepressants like dopamine and oxytocin.

In Conclusion

This article covered some of the proven ways both saunas and cold plunges can help you prevent Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).  These two natural and DIY therapies though complementary to medical remedies are effective and supported by emerging research as demonstrated. However, it’s important to listen to your body and use the right techniques, especially with ice baths.