In my most stressful jobs I often found myself leaving the office and walking around the block while taking ten deep breaths. It sounds silly and simple but it really does help at least bring things closer to baseline.
We (and many other mammals) have what is known as the mammalian diving reflex. It’s a hard-wired psychological response to immersion in cold water. When triggered, our heart rate slows, blood is redirected towards our core to protect critical organs, and a host of other energy and oxygen conserving mechanisms come into play in anticipation of us holding our breath for an extended period underwater.
Well, I can't comment on the exact psychological and physiological effects. It definitely wakes me up if I'm sleepy too. But it can be helpful if you're anxious.
At the end of the day we all react differently to different stimuli so try things out and do what works best for you.
"you do you" post-modernity doesn't fit at all with how you wrote your comment above.
If it's just your opinion then say that, don't try and make up some pseudo-scientific reasoning.
Originally you claimed a scientific response and that you knew the reason for it, now you're just commuting that to "well splashing water on my face wakes me up". Well, no shit Sherlock.
1) There is well established science that links the dive reflex to physiological changes in the human body.
2) Using the dive reflex as an anti-anxiety measure is well established in psychology.
3) Humans do respond differently to things and if they don't make you feel good, don't do them. There is nothing postmodern about arguing "some people enjoy a hot sauna and others find it miserable." My wife, for instance, will not do the dive reflex thing because it ruins her makeup. Individual variation is a thing.
4) I am not attempting to write airtight arguments to win a debate, but writing very loosely to share what I've learned with others.
5) If you're not sure about points 1-3, you are welcome to research them yourself instead of insisting I present them to you as formal arguments.
There's more than one state of arousal. Anxiety and concentration are both forms of arousal but the latter has an associated feeling of calm.
I would've also thought the "Or something like that" should allow for more a charitable response, and that's before we note that you're comparing two different starting states.
