My mother was always telling me that the cold shower helps to relax. I agree that it helps to cool down. I was taking it regularly to train my resistance to cold. I was jumping into the shower dancing, shaking and straining my muscles (the cold shower in Latvia is really cold). I was jumping out of it fresh, energetic, but never relaxed.

Some time ago I found how it can be relaxing. Everything remains the same, you go under the shower as usually, but you breath deeply, stay calm and control your heartbeat. Just don't stay too long otherwise you will get cold :)

How does it work? This way you train yourself to resist against simple external irritants. Your body remembers the reflex and you become less sensitive and less vulnerable also to stresses.