Cold Showers

Gambit123

Active Member
I have seen a number of success stories that talk abuot cold showers helping their reboot. Is this really just to help fight urges or does this do anything physical (e.g. affect dopamine or blood circulation) to help the reboot process?
 

Phase2

Well-Known Member
Hey Gambit, I posted this a couple weeks ago, gonna repost since this is on topic. Thanks for bringing this up. Gonna go take a CS now!  :eek:

DAY 38  A word about cold showers. So, the idea of a cold shower used to be horrifying to me. I like warm water, comfort, soothing steam and heat. So when I read on here in some posts that people were taking cold showers I thought it was a ridiculous throwback to the 1950s--just an extreme distraction from being horny. However, one day I was feeling like I needed a shake up and I decided to do it and of course it was uncomfortable and I was jumping around in the shower like a crazy person. Damn it was cold! But afterward, wow it was exhilarating. Then I did it again the next day, and it was 5% easier. And then the next day and it was a little easier still. But the thing is, your body gets this crazy rush during it and you feel pretty electric during and afterward. This is the feeling (dopamine jolt) your body loves and gets when we PMO. So the cold shower offers a valuable, much-needed instant replacement. This is the key. It's not about doing something uncomfortable or distracting, instead it's about giving your body a dopamine blast that can replace the PMO. After a couple weeks of the cold showers, yesterday I noticed at the end I was just standing in the shower and the cold wasn't even really bothering me. I had actually acclimated to the cold, so now I can take a longer one (sound familiar?-- like searching for more extreme, longer porn sessions--see how related they are?). I find myself looking forward to the cold shower now as if I am going on a wild roller coaster ride that thrills and scares me. So, I'm writing this for some of you new guys who are in the first week or so and may need a boost if you are feeling horny or bored. Try the cold shower routine. Add it to your day. It works!
 

Gambit123

Active Member
I think I am going to add cold showers to my routine! thanks Phase2 for your thoughtful and informative reply. It seems to have a lot of physical benefits but I am still uncertain whether there is any evidence that it has a direct affect on helping the reboot process and ED. I guess it can't hurt! For me, I am still in a moderate flatline so I don't have the strong urges I had the first couple of weeks of my reboot (wich was almost unbearable). for me it is not about the urge to PMO anymore - it really is just about the patience and managing the stress of the reboot / PIED with dating women. Well, if I completely come out of the flatline I guess that can change and I seem to be inching out of it as the first month I was in a complete flatline.

Hope everyone is staying strong.

 
Cold showers have been mentioned by many successful rebooters because they work. Whether you are rebooting or not, it can be a highly effective routine for having a more relaxed and badass outlook on life, like meditating. If you go to yourbrainonporn.com, you can find an interview that Gary did with a chemical engineer, who talks about the physiological and psychological benefits of cold showers. One of these benefits is dopamine receptor up-regulation. It doesn't necessarily cause a blast in dopamine, it just produces more receptors for your neurons to transmit the signal of dopamine faster. It can also make you more resilient to stress. Believe it or not, our body's have natural physiological processes that have evolved over millions of years to counteract cold water. This is because our ancestors bathed and swam in it (we haven't had central heating until about the last century and a half.) The idea is that you introduce stress into your life for ~5 minutes each morning and, overtime, your body and mind learn how to process it for long-term benefits. It's the opposite of addiction. With porn, you feel pleasure followed by pain. With cold showers, you feel pain followed by pleasure. There's plenty of other benefits like depression relief, weight loss, and increased energy.
 

Gambit123

Active Member
Very helpful. Starting tomorrow, I am trying cold showers although I am sure it will not be a fun process to start. However, if this will help my reboot process and also help with other health benefits, I am definitely going to do it. Thanks so much.
 

Phase2

Well-Known Member
Yeah, PresidentCoolidge described the biology of it more accurately. All I know is I had several weeks where I was feeling pretty blah and down early in my reboot and the cold showers were the one way I was able to give myself a much needed boost in mental attitude.

That radio show is http://ia801704.us.archive.org/3/items/Cyber20130409/cyber20130409.mp3  Give it a listen. I recommend listening to all the radio shows in fact. I listened to them all several times just to keep me in line and learn as much as possible. It was a habit for a couple weeks that kept me well away from PMO when I was probably most vulnerable. The radio shows are at http://yourbrainonporn.com/your-brain-cybersex-jungle-radio-show 

Knowledge is power!
 

Gambit123

Active Member
second day of cold showers. It is painful in the morning but i feel great after. I am never going back to warm showers (unless i have a partner in the shower with me ;))

Also, day 60 of hardmode!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

Phase2

Well-Known Member
Awesome Gambit! What's your technique? I point the nozzle to the wall and step in the shower and my heart starts to race. I stick my head under the water and race my fingers through my hair which sends little droplets everywhere and sort of prepares the rest of my body. Then I step all in. The first week or two I was yelling and stamping my feet, but now it's not nearly so shocking. In fact, the past few times I've been staying in longer, really letting that cold sink into my chest and to my bones, not just the surface. However, when I turn around and that cold hits my back for the first time, it's always a teeth clencher! Gonna go jump in now. Thanks for reminder!
 

Gambit123

Active Member
Thanks Phase2! my strategy is really to inch into it. Lather my arms and and legs and then when I feel ready really just jump in. Maybe there is a better method but that is what works for me. I try to last at least 5 minutes. today was about 7 or 8 minutes. After a few minutes it isn't quite as bad and I def go to work with a new attitude. Typically, it is groggy and "when do I get my coffee." now it is heading to work eyes wide open and invigorated along with motivated. I actually even got to work at 7:30 am today which is the earliest I have gotten to work in a while! Between reboot, cold showers, and losing some weight in the last few months (still want to lose a bit more, which I am reading cold showers helps too), this year really feels like a new me so far.

Here is what I am doing in addition to hard mode: increasing exercise; cold showers; taking several multi-vitamins per day; ginko biloba (however you spell it) and making out and cuddling with women. I am trying my best not to test erection strength but it is tough if you wake up with MW. Is there anything else I can be doing to help my reboot?

Phase2, any news on your end with the reboot? how is it going?
 

Phase2

Well-Known Member
Cool. Or should I say, 'Cold'!

Day 47. My reboot is rocking along. I'd say I'm mostly in flatline with some occasional MW. I've now had my second wet dream (some people say don't M until you've had at least 2 wet dreams, so I feel like at least I've made it that far, still, I'm sticking to my 60 day plan. Only 13 more days to go!). I have been trying to find some guys to help rewire with, just cuddle and makeout kind of stuff, but haven't been too successful with that so far. So, just working out (I've gained 5lbs in these 47 days), cold showers, ignoring all P and triggers and keeping tabs with YBOP and my buddies on Reboot Nation.

I wish there was just a bit more chatter out there about PIED and success stories, so if you know of any point me to them! Thanks. Stay vigilant today!
 

Gambit123

Active Member
There are tons of success stories on YBOP. If you cant find the link let me know I will show you. Glad your reboot is going well. And like I said, I didn't see results until day 50ish (still have ways to go) and that is after 30 day softmode so really like day 80ish. so keep going!
 

Fappy

Respected Member
I enjoy the odd cold shower now and then. It makes me feel like a mental patient. Under that icy spray you become totally aware of your own body, the penis shrinks like a frightened turtle, but man is it refreshing!

Ice-fap
 
J

jsplinter01

Guest
Cold showers are wonderful.  They suck at first but they feel amazing right afterwards.  I am not sure about all the benefits (or even risks) but don't go colder than you can handle.  I use it to try and test myself in a way, sort of toughen me up, both physically and mentally.  Here is a decent article and video about cold showers:

http://www.artofmanliness.com/2010/01/18/the-james-bond-shower-a-shot-of-cold-water-for-health-and-vitality/

I gotta say, I love them so far, been doing them for a week.  I would recommend easing the temperature down at first until you think you can just jump right on it.  Unless you can just jump in from the start!
 

ready2go

Active Member
I'm so glad you told me about cold showers really early in my reboot Phase2.  I've done them every day but one since then.  Our methods for getting in are similar.  Shower head pointed toward the opposite wall of the door, step in and away from the stream.  Move the stream to the middle so my feet get hit.  Bend over and wet my head.  Then my right arm, next my left, my chest, and then I turn around and over the back.  Yeow!!  I'm even doing them at the gym, which is ridiculous.  My first several days I was chilling down and couldn't warm back up, but that has abated and my robustness is apparently overtaking the chill.

The way you experienced them for boredom, urges, horniess - the same here.  And even when I'm feeling good, they help me feel better. 

Awesome showers!  Now if I could just get some boners.  I don't ask for much, really.
 

Fappy

Respected Member
I like to start off with a nice hot shower, wash up, shave, then turn the hot all the way off in a flash.
Gives you a kick in the balls let me tell ya! I bet anyone listening to me while im in the shower thinks im jacking off what with all the crazy noises! That, or im having intercourse with a chimp.

Ice cold fap
 

transit

Member
there are also this thing called cold bathing which are popular in some countries. The idea is to sit in a hot sauna 180 to 210 F. and when you cant take it anymore you throw yourself in the ocean that is about 34 F. I have done it several times, it's an pretty intense experience. i find cold showers more challenging though. 
 
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