Spa Wellness: How Going to a Spa Helps With Anxiety
A trip to the spa doesn’t simply relax and make you feel refreshed. Read here about spa wellness and how going to a spa helps with anxiety.
Keyword(s): spa wellness
Did you know that massages date back to as early as 3,000 BC?
For thousands of years, people have delighted in the benefits of massages and spas, from the Indians to the Romans. Of course, their spa experiences would have been slightly different from what we’re used to today, but the benefits are the same!
Visiting a spa is a truly relaxing experience. It’s a time to indulge and be pampered, embracing the finer things in life. But, more than this, it’s about spa wellness and helping you build a better mindset.
But, could visiting a spa actually help with anxiety? Find out in our guide.
Reduce Your Fight or Flight Mode
Everyone who suffers from anxiety will know their fight or flight mode very well. This is the part of your body’s defense systems that goes slightly overboard in some situations, causing you to feel that intense fear you know so well. It can lead to shortness of breath, sweating, and chest pain, all of which are very uncomfortable!
By going to the spa, you can put your body in the complete opposite of its fight or flight mode; relaxation mode. It can reduce the tension that’s built up in your body, lower your heart rate, and just generally help you feel more relaxed. As a sufferer of anxiety, your body will thank you for this time to just chill out!
Sleep Better
Did you know that one of the benefits of spa treatments is better sleep? In fact, in one of over 3,000 Japanese workers, spa use was linked to decreases in sick days and much better sleep, helping people feel more ready to seize the day, every day.
Anxiety and sleep are closely related, often setting off a vicious cycle that’s hard to end. A lack of sleep can increase your levels of anxiety – especially if you’re already a natural worrier – whilst anxiety can make getting good sleep harder. The more anxious you are, the harder it is to sleep and – you guessed it – the more anxious you become.
If you find your sleep is often disturbed by anxiety, find a spa near you and take a visit once every couple of weeks and see if it works for you.
Reduce Stress Levels
When it comes to spa and wellness, there’s probably one benefit that’s better known than any of the others. Of course, we’re talking about decreasing your stress. From TV commercials to online articles, pretty much any time a spa is mentioned, so are the spa benefits for stress!
But there is good reason for it. Studies show that just one 60-minute massage can lower your body’s cortisol levels by a whopping 30 percent. Cortisol is the hormone that’s produced in response to stressful situations, and by lowering it you’ll naturally feel more relaxed and in control.
Stress can do some horrible things to the body and mind, including increasing anxiety. Stress and anxiety are actually very closely linked, and by reducing stress you might be able to find that your anxious thoughts become much easier to control.
Increase Your Dopamine
If there’s one hormone our bodies absolutely thrive on it’s dopamine! This is the feel-good hormone that makes you feel happy, regulates your mood, helps you feel energized, and even helps you sleep better. The right balance of dopamine is vital for your mental health, helping you feel more balanced yourself.
Spa and wellness trips have been shown to have tons of mental health benefits, and a lot of them are closely linked to dopamine. A visit to the spa can noticeably increase your dopamine levels, leaving you feeling happier and more energized just a few hours after your trip.
There’s also evidence that people who produce more dopamine have less anxiety in their day to day lives. So, why not give a massage a try or pop in for a relaxing facial once a week and you could find yourself feeling happier and less anxious.
Leave Your Worries Behind
A spa is a place that’s designed to completely relax you and take your mind away from the outside world. Usually, it’s in a quiet location (or a quiet building, anyway) that’s designed to block out the world around it. There’s relaxing music playing, people speak in hushed tones, and there’s no busy schedule for you to live your life by.
For just a few hours, if that’s all you have time for, you can leave your worries and anxieties behind. You’ll be in a safe, stress-free environment where you can let go and simply relax. Having this haven that you can escape to when life gets a bit too much is so important for anxiety sufferers and can make the world of difference in how you face your troubles.
For a bonus tip, leave your mobile in your locker. Or, even better, leave it at home! Our mobiles are packed full of anxiety-triggers, and leaving yours behind could be just what you need to get a break from the stresses of the world.
It can also be good to let your spa team know that you’re an anxiety sufferer. They can recommend the most relaxing and beneficial treatments for you.
Discover the Benefits of Spa Wellness
Spa wellness is proven to have a whole host of benefits and, as you can see, reducing anxiety is definitely amongst them! If you suffer from anxious thoughts, it’s well worth giving a day at the spa a try to see what it does for your mental health.
If you’re not sure if there are any spas around you, make sure to learn about our easy spa finder! Even the stress of locating your perfect spa is removed with this tool, enabling a totally relaxing experience.
