A depressed man believes he has cured himself by dousing himself in ice cold water daily.
Mitchell Bock, from Caerphilly, Wales, is now slowly coming off his antidepressants.
And he did had already stopped taking his anti-anxiety medication.
The 30-year-old said of the benefits of ice-cold water baths: “I think it’s like trading a whole day’s ailments for a few minutes. You look amazing. It’s really a quick thing.’
Mr. Bock has struggled with severe depression, anxiety and anxiety for the past 10 years.
Mitchell Bock (pictured swimming in cold water), 30, suffered for years from severe depression, anxiety and fear which prompted him to attempt suicide last year.
Mr. Bock (photo ice bath) stopped taking his medication because he believes daily immersion in ice cold water works just as well
The problems of the tax officer led to a suicide attempt last year.
He was rushed to the hospital by a crisis team and discharged after 13 hours with a single follow-up call, which he described as a “rear exercise”.
Let down by his aftercare, Mr Bock felt “hopeless” and began exploring alternative treatments with his mother, Melanie Aldridge, 50.
Herr Bock said: “It was kind of where I go from here. When I went to the hospital I thought I would at least be helped.’
Weeks after his suicide attempt, Mr. Bock’s mother sent him an ice bath to calm the cold.
Mr. Bock started taking it right away and claims to have started feeling the effects within a few days.
“When I first did it, I remember waking up without the usual feeling of anxiety,” he said.
“It was like going to bed with the flu and waking up completely healthy.”
He now tries to take an ice bath or cold shower every day, and sometimes goes wild swimming in icy water instead.
The coldest bath he took was at zero degrees surrounded by snow.
Mr. Bock is so convinced of the effects of ice water therapy that he has stopped taking his anti-anxiety medication and attends regular therapy sessions.
He said: “I have been on medication and therapy for years. Every time I called the doctors it was a short conversation and they told me to increase my meds.
“I started cutting off one of my medications and stopped completely. I’m as confident as I feel.”
Mr Bock (pictured ice bath), from Caerphilly, began researching ice water therapy after being discharged from hospital and said he was disappointed with the care he was receiving and felt “hopeless”.
Mr. Bock tries to take an ice bath and cold shower every day and instead sometimes goes wild swimming in ice cold water (photo)
The coldest bath the Treasurer ever took was at zero degrees surrounded by snow
Mr. Bock added: “I don’t find it uncomfortable anymore. First, your body panics. You feel tingling and your heart beats, but once you get your breathing under control, you’re fine.”
Ice baths have been shown to have physical health benefits, which is why sports stars such as Usain Bolt and Andy Murray have been known to use them.
But research also suggests that ice water therapy is also good for your mental health.
Researchers from Bournemouth University said in February that a brain scan was proof.
The MRI image – taken by a volunteer who was asked to soak in a 20°C (68°F) bath for five minutes – showed changes in small areas of the brain that are interconnected.
The results, published in the journal Biology, showed increased connectivity between the medial prefrontal cortex and the parietal cortex – indicated by red dots on the scans.
These parts of the brain are involved in maintaining attention, making decisions and controlling emotions.
In addition, experts believe that the cold shock of swimming outdoors can increase dopamine levels and the release of endorphins – feel-good hormones – in the brain.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
