Activating the vagus nerve has been shown to help reduce anxiety — at least in the moment of an anxiety flare-up. So, stimulating the vagus nerve during say, a panic attack, can help calm the body down. The best way to stimulate the vagus nerve, which you can’t physically touch, is by exposing yourself to ice-cold temperatures. “Cold water immersion has been shown, with some mixed results, to enhance vagal tone and improve HRV (heart rate variability),” said Sarah-Nicole Bostan, Ph.D., a clinical health psychologist who is board-certified in biofeedback. “The parasympathetic nervous system quickly kicks in, which results in slowed heart rate. This can feel grounding for a person experiencing the physical symptoms of anxiety, like racing heart and difficulty breathing.” Ice is a great tool to make the vagus nerve kick in. Jennifer Surak-Zammitti, LCSW, a psychotherapist, recommends “icing” as an anxiety coping mechanism to her patients. “When they’re feeling anxious, I will tell them to hold and squeeze ice cubes in their hand,” Surak-Zammitti said. She also recommends icing to people at risk of self-harm. “I tell them to hold an ice cube to their wrists,” Surak-Zammitti said. “It gives them the feeling of something on their wrists that they’re craving. It also buys them time to get to another coping skill to get out of the situation [that is] causing them to want to self-harm.” If you’re feeling anxious, something as simple as super-cold air can help as well. “If it’s winter, open a window and let the cold air hit your face,” said Surak-Zammitti. “It’s extremely calming.”