For Mental Health Relief, Take a Bath!

We've all been there: you've had a chaotic day at work or school, and even though you knowit's time to access your "off" switch and wind down, there are simply too many things on your mind.

If you're particularly prone to racing thoughts or stress worsened by clinical depression or anxiety, your "off" switch might be that much harder to access – but before your symptoms get the best of you, why not take a hot bath for your mental health?

Studies show there are a slew of mental health benefits associated with taking a relaxing bath, and in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, we've compiled a few of them that accompany a long soak:

This might sound like a strange benefit, but actually, raising your core temperature can strengthen your circadian rhythm and make you more sleepy before bed. This is great news if you experience insomnia caused by anxiety or depression.

Even better: in one study, people suffering from depression were asked to soak in a hot bath twice a week for up to 30 minutes. The result? After eight weeks, the participants dropped six points on the depression scale. What a fantastic holistic solution for depression and anxiety!

The next time your symptoms feel unmanageable, try a stress-relieving bath, and experience the short-term andlong-term benefits.

Warm baths work wonders not only for mental health, but for heart health – and there's evidence that the two may be linked. The constant stress experienced by those with anxiety and depression wreaks havoc on the body, and can lead to heart disease if left untreated. Recently, emotional distress and depression were classified as new risk factors for coronary heart disease.

That's where the benefits of bathing pull through, yet again. Not only does a relaxing bath ease your mind and take the edge off of anxious thoughts, but the temperature of the water will improve blood pressure as well as circulation.
Looks like bathing yields positive results for your mind and your heart!

By using a few bath accessories, such as bath salts and bath bombs, you may significantly reduce the symptoms of depression or anxiety. Lavender-scented bath accessories are particularly helpful for stress relief, as lavender is known to possess soothing properties.

Bath salts, bath bombs, and even essential oils can all be used to enhance your bathing experience and further reduce anxiety. Epsom salt, specifically, can even be used to replenish magnesium, which is known to alleviate anxiety and depression by increasing serotonin levels.

Count on feeling just a little more balanced and peaceful after a hot bath with salts or bath bombs!

Don't wait for your mental health to reach its limit before caring for it as well as you can. Aim to make your bath a healing experience, so you can stay ahead of your depression or anxiety and better regulate your symptoms.