Ice baths, or cold-water exposure, have been long-touted for its psychological benefits.
The sudden drop in skin temperature increases cortisol, adrenaline and noradrenaline, which creates a sense of alertness or awakening in the body.
Darwin-based trauma counsellor Peter Bourke has seen how this can have positive impacts on his clients.
Mr Bourke works in Aboriginal-controlled residential rehab and runs ice bath programs with recovering addicts.
He said the act of bringing the mind, breath and body back under control was beneficial for people who struggled with to maintain control over addiction.
“Your heart rate goes down, your breathing softens, your mind starts to relax,” Mr Bourke said.
“A lot of people get in [the bath] and just hold on for dear life, but there’s this opening and this release of the thing that’s creating the discomfort.”
Many of Mr Bourke’s clients had histories of trauma and violence but he said ice baths helped them work through the things that made them reactive.
“The ice bath allows us to go into those subcortical, reactive places that lead us to impulsive acts that lead to violence,” he said.
“A lot of the time that pattern, which is developed over time, has been because of a lack of capacity to sit with distressing emotions, or distressing thoughts.”
“Getting into the ice bath is the most immersive mindful experience I’ve ever had.”
Mr Bourke thinks cold-water exposure can have a positive impact on people who typically have unhealthy coping habits, claiming they’ve made him a better man, father and friend.
“[Ice baths] can be a point for feeling amazing … feeling completely present and empowered, that’s not drug dependent.
“I think that’s a great thing.”
Similar programs have been developed around the country, such as the Gold Coast program using meditation and ice baths to tackle youth crime.
