When exposed to cold water, the vast number of cold receptors in the skin send an excessive amount of electrical signals to the brain, akin to a mild electro-physiological shock. Some people report cold showers helped them improve their mood and reduce their depressive symptoms. 1. Cold showers performed once or twice daily (20 degrees C, 2-3 min, preceded by a 5-min gradual adaptation) can have an anti-depressive effect (Shevchuk, 2007). 2. A study with 32 male volunteers found that those habituated to cold water had a lower stress response when later asked to work out in a low-oxygen environment (Lunt & Barwood, 2010). 3. A British study found that 61 people who swam in cold seawater for ten weeks improved their mood and well-being more than 22 of their friends and family members who observed them from shore (Massey & Kandala, 2020).