Chill Out: Use Ice Cubes To Help Ease Anxiety

Anxiety can sneak up on you like an unexpected pop quiz or your cat deciding your keyboard is the perfect nap spot. When your mind races and your heart pounds a million miles per hour, sometimes the best remedy is right in your home or office freezer. Yep, ice cubes. Those chilly little cubes aren’t just for constructing your daily iced coffee—they can actually help calm your nerves in surprisingly effective ways. One of the coping skills for anxiety is distraction and what is more distracting than putting freezing cold objects on your body? Well, probably a lot of things, but nevertheless, let’s dive into 3 ice cube tricks that might just become your new go-to anxiety coping skill.

Ice cube melting slowly on a wooden surface

1. Ice Cube Hold: Freeze Your Freak-Out

When anxiety hits, your body often feels like it’s running a marathon it never signed up for. Your heart races, your palms sweat, and your thoughts are deep in the rabbit hole. Did you say the wrong thing in that meeting 5 years ago and ruin your life? Anxiety is a treat no one wants, but many have to choke down. Here’s where the humble ice cube comes in.

How it works:

Grab an ice cube and hold it tightly in your hand. The cold sensation shocks your nervous system just enough to pull your focus away from the anxiety storm brewing in your brain. It’s like your body’s way of saying, “Hey, feel this freezing thing instead of that panic!”

Pro tip:

Try holding the ice cube until it melts completely. The gradual melting gives you a timed distraction, helping you stay grounded for a few minutes. This coping skill can be as public or private as you want it to be.

2. Ice Cube Chew: Crunch Your Way to Calm

Brrr! It's cold in here! There must be some ice cubes in a mouth I hear (Bring It On reference, if you know you know). Yeah, you interpreted that right. Chew on an ice cube. It sounds odd, but the crunching sensation can help distract your mind and soothe anxiety.

How it works:

Chewing ice stimulates your jaw muscles and provides sensory input that can reduce feelings of stress. It’s a bit like stress ball therapy but for your mouth.

Pro tip:

Use small ice cubes or crushed ice to avoid an unwanted trip to the dentist. If chewing ice isn’t your thing, try sucking on an ice cube instead for a similar calming effect.

3. Girl, Splash Cold Water On Your Face

Feeling overwhelmed? Splash some cold water on your face. Or run an ice cube over your face and the back of your neck. This sudden cold shock can reset your nervous system and bring you back to the present moment faster than a cat chasing a laser pointer.

How it works:

The cold water triggers the dive reflex, slowing your heart rate and calming your breathing. It’s like hitting the reset button on your stress levels.

Pro tip:

Keep a small bowl of ice water nearby during stressful moments. When anxiety creeps in, dip your face in for a quick splash. Just don’t do this before an important meeting unless you want to look like you just did the Ice Bucket Challenge.

Final Note

Anxiety is normal, but it isn't cool. Use something 'cool' to help calm your mind and body. Sometimes, the simplest tools are the most effective. Ice cubes offer a cold and accessible way to interrupt anxious thoughts and brill some chill back to your day. If anxiety is consistently interrupting your daily functioning, it is appropriate to put the ice cubes back in the freezer and call your doctor or a counselor. As always call 988 if you are in crisis.