4 Spa Treatments That Are Great For Anxiety
Spas are wonderful places to go if you want to relax and feel a sense of stress relief. Those of you that suffer from anxiety will benefit from going to a spa every now and then. It doesn’t have to be a regular thing, but getting a spa treatment every month or so will reap many benefits.
Some spa treatments are better than others, It is best to try out different techniques and treatments to see what works best for you. It’s worth trying any or all of these treatments if you regularly get anxious or stressed, yet can’t find any relief.
Photo by EKATERINA BOLOVTSOVA
Aromatherapy
As the name alludes to, aromatherapy is a treatment based on aromas or smells. It typically involves essential oils taken from plants, which are then diffused into the air for you to smell. An aromatherapy spa treatment can vary depending on where you get it. However, most treatments will involve you lying down on a comfy spa table, while the air is filled with nice and calming scents. You may be asked to do certain breathing exercises while you’re there, but the aim is to just lie down and relax as much as possible.
You’ll be given a robe to wear during the treatment, or you can bring your own. There are plenty of really nice waffle and towelled bathrobes you can buy that are probably more comfortable than the ones some spas give you.
Meditation
Some spas provide meditation treatments where you are in a room and are led with instruction. The person providing the treatment will sit with you and guide you through different exercises to help you release yourself from the current plane. Your breathing will be focused on, and the whole aim is to help you almost detach yourself from reality.
By the end, you are likely to feel incredibly relaxed and mindful. Meditation on its own is a really effective way of dealing with stress and anxiety. But, with someone in the room coaching you and helping you get the most out of the treatment, you’ll see even better results. Sometimes, this can be combined with aromatherapy so you have the relaxing smells to help you meditate.
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio
Massages
Massages are usually the most popular treatment in spas. Therefore, it’s no surprise that you have so many different types to choose from. Instead of going through them all, here are three of the best ones for people with anxiety:
A hot stone massage
A full-body massage
A head massage
A hot stone massage will use hot stones that are placed on your body and moved around. It is incredibly relaxing and helps you get rid of a lot of stress. These massages also tend to be pretty light, so you don’t have to worry about someone really digging into your muscles.
A full-body massage is exactly what it says; a massage for your entire body. Here, you can decide how firm you want it, but it’s a great way of removing tension from troublesome parts of your muscular system.
Head massages are confined to your head and will be ideal if you have anxiety. They do a fine job of getting you to release tension in your head and feel more relaxed. You’ll walk out of the spa with a much lighter feeling in your head, both literally and metaphorically.
Hot tubs
Most spas will have a hot tub that you can use at your own leisure. All of the other things above are added treatments you have to book while you’re at the spa. But, the hot tub comes as part of the general spa experience, along with a sauna and steam room (usually, anyway).
Sitting in a hot tub is fantastic for your mental health because it takes you away from your worries. You can clear your head as you relax and feel the bubbles all around you. It creates one of those out-of-body experiences where you forget about your troubles and feel the anxiety temporarily melt away.
As mentioned earlier, any of these treatments would be brilliant for people with anxiety. It’s all about helping you relax and stop worrying for just a few minutes. Will this cure your anxiety? No, of course it won’t. Anxiety isn’t something that can be cured; it’s a mental health condition you have to learn to live with and manage. Seeking out different treatments is the first step in managing this problem and making it easier to live with.