logo
episode-header-image
Jan 2025
1h 36m

Cold Exposure for Mental Health

DAVID PUDER, M.D.
About this episode

Can cold exposure improve your mental health? In this episode, we explore the science behind cold therapy methods like ice baths, cryotherapy, cold-water swimming, and cold showers. Backed by research, we dive into the physiological and psychological effects of cold exposure, including its impact on mood, anxiety, dopamine, norepinephrine, and stress resilience.

We discuss historical practices, benefits for mental and physical health, and common misconceptions around claims like immune boosting and inflammation reduction. Learn practical tips, safety precautions, and how cold immersion could fit into your mental health or wellness routine.

Whether you’re curious about the Wim Hof Method, the dopamine-boosting effects of cold plunges, or the latest studies on cold exposure’s antidepressant potential, this episode offers insights you won’t want to miss.

 

By listening to this episode, you can earn 1.5 Psychiatry CME Credits.

Link to blog.

Link to YouTube video.

Up next
Jun 27
Catatonia in Children and Teens
Catatonia in children and teens is underdiagnosed, frequently misunderstood, and potentially fatal if left untreated. In this episode, Dr. David Puder and Dr. Annabel Kuhn interview Dr. Joshua Ryan Smith—child and adolescent psychiatrist and division director at Vanderbilt Univer ... Show More
53m 53s
Jun 13
The Bear: Trauma, Personality, and Attachment with Dr. Eric Bender and Dr. David Puder
In this episode, Dr. David Puder is joined by psychiatrist Dr. Eric Bender to explore the psychological depth of the Emmy Award-winning show, The Bear (FX). Through a psychodynamic lens, they examine Carmy’s character—his trauma, complex PTSD, obsessive-compulsive personality tra ... Show More
1h 9m
May 23
Depressive Personality Style with Jonathan Shedler
Dr. David Puder and psychologist Dr. Jonathan Shedler explore depressive personality style—how it differs from clinical depression and why it often goes unrecognized. Through a detailed role play, they demonstrate how self-criticism, unconscious guilt, emotional deprivation, and ... Show More
1h 53m
Recommended Episodes
May 2024
The Science of Cold Water Therapy & How to Start
We know how fabulous getting out in the water can be for our mental health & overall well-being but there’s a growing body of research showing that cold water can be absolutely transformative, whether it's from your shower, pool or  the ocean. So what is it ACTUALLY doing to our ... Show More
38m 7s
May 15
Saunas, cold exposure, and your health: what the science says | Dr. Susanna Søberg & Prof. Tim Spector
Unwrap the truth about your food 👉 ⁠Get ZOE’s new app Most of us avoid the cold. We crank up the heating, bundle up in layers, and curse every icy gust of wind. But what if freezing — or even sweating — could be the key to better health? In this episode, Jonathan is joined by tw ... Show More
1h 2m
Mar 2022
175 | Do Cold Showers Work? | The Mental and Physical Benefits
On this episode, I talk about my experiences with cold showers and how this can help strengthen the mind. Overcoming fear is constant exposure to what it is you are most afraid of. Could you not look at cold showers as a tool to increase your pain tolerance? To aid in the facing ... Show More
19m 10s
Aug 2024
2675: Seasonal Affective Disorder by Becca Shern of Minimal Wellness on Benefits of Physical Activity & Exposure to Daylight
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.Episode 2675:Becca Shern explores how dietary and lifestyle changes can combat seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Highlighting the i ... Show More
12m 20s
Aug 2024
Anxiety Recovery Without Exposure? | Ep 298
Send in a question or comment via text.Is it possible to conquer an anxiety disorder without doing exposure? Well ... there are plenty of non-exposure concepts and techniques that can really help. No doubt about that. But in the end, thinking and feeling is rarely if ever all we ... Show More
20m 21s
Oct 2023
Chilling Secrets: Unlocking Cold-Water Therapy's Power with Dr. Mark Harper : 1096
In this episode of The Human Upgrade - anesthetist and researcher, Mark Harper, M.D., Ph.D., shares how the power of cold-water practices can treat depression, anxiety, PTSD, arthritis, migraines and other health conditions you may be experiencing.Despite all the attention cold w ... Show More
50m 21s
Nov 2024
Using Movement to Heal Your Brain and Body
Join Dr. David Jockers as we explore the deep science behind movement and its profound effects on our health. Learn how something as simple as activating myokines can significantly dampen inflammation and shut down inflammatory pathways in the cells, revealing layers of benefits ... Show More
15m 9s
May 24
2989: Top 9 Benefits of Using a Sauna by Eric Leija on Cardiovascular Health and Muscle Recovery
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 2989: Eric Leija breaks down nine powerful benefits of regular sauna use, from boosting cardiovascular health and speeding ... Show More
12m 2s
Oct 2024
Hello Darkness My Old Friend: Seasonal Affective Disorder
In this episode, Dr. Jessica Steier and Dr. Sarah Scheinman welcome clinical psychologist Dr. Nicole Lippman-Barile to explore Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). The scientists examine the clinical criteria, symptoms, and biological mechanisms underlying SAD, while addressing bot ... Show More
42m 26s