More than half of our population struggles with anxiety - that pesky voice in the back of your mind that’s always causing a sense of worry, sometimes, for no reason at all.
Anxiety can send you spiraling even when everything is seemingly perfect. It’s like things are too perfect, and you’re just waiting for the other shoe to drop.
But, this is no way to go about living your life. There are plenty of steps you can take to alleviate anxiety, like a nice hot bath at the end of the way. But can a hot bath calm anxiety in actuality, or is this more or less a placebo effect?
It’s true. A hot bath for anxiety is a powerful technique for calming a racing mind and helping you find your inner zen. So, how does a hot bath help anxiety? The warm water itself plays a role in relaxing your body and mind, activating the parasympathetic nervous system, and boosting serotonin levels.
But that’s just one piece of the puzzle. When you combine these effects with our anxiety bath soak recipe, you’ll find yourself in a complete state of bliss for up to 5 days! Find out how our magnesium bath soak works firsthand today.
Overview of Anxiety
Before we get into tips on managing this condition, let’s take a step back and explain what anxiety is in the first place. It’s a fairly natural response to stress, but unfortunately, many exist in a chronic state of anxiety that can disrupt daily life.
It’s more than just feeling nervous before a big event. Anxiety is a persistent sense of worry or fear that doesn’t go away, even when there’s no immediate threat.
It can be triggered from a seemingly endless list of things - from work to financial pressures and relationship issues. Overexposure to negativity is another common culprit, which is more pressing than ever in the digital age where we’re always scrolling through news feeds.
Sometimes anxiety is linked to genetics or medical conditions, while a lack of sleep and poor nutrition can also exacerbate the issue. Whatever the case, its effects are problematic.
Beyond the fact that you can’t focus on anything but the negative thought loop you’re stuck in, anxiety can lead to tension headaches, digestive issues, and muscle pain. You’ll eventually feel mentally drained and burnt out if you don’t address it.
To make matters worse, chronic anxiety can contribute to ailments like insomnia, high blood pressure, and weakened immune function. It’s clear you need a way to manage anxiety, and medication may not be the answer. That being said, does a hot bath help anxiety?
Can a Hot Bath Calm Anxiety?
The answer is yes, but there’s a bit more to the story you need to know. So, how can a hot bath calm anxiety - and what can you do to make the most of this anti-anxiety technique?
The Power of Heat for Relaxation
The simple act of dipping your body into the warm water will immediately relax both your physical and mental senses. This is tied to increased circulation associated with heat therapy.
As your muscles loosen and tension dissipates, the body is better able to relax, signaling to the brain that it’s safe to unwind. In other words, this helps turn down your body’s “fight or flight” response.
Moreover, the feeling of being submerged in warm water can create a sensory “cocooning” effect, where your body is enveloped in warmth, making you feel safe and calm.
Boosting Serotonin Levels
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood, and it’s closely linked to feelings of well-being and happiness. A hot bath helps stimulate serotonin production, boosting your mood and reducing anxiety.
But how can a hot bath calm anxiety through this mechanism? It has to do with raising your core body temperature. This can activate a number of biochemical processes in the body, one of which is the release of serotonin.
Activating the Parasympathetic Nervous System
Speaking of activating various bodily processes, a warm bath also plays a role in activating your parasympathetic nervous system - or PNS for short.
This is responsible for your “rest and digest” state and works opposite of your sympathetic nervous system, which drives the “fight or flight” response that often fuels anxiety.
As your core body temperature climbs in the hot bathwater, your heart rate and blood pressure both drop down a bit. This kicks your PNS into action and can help slow your breathing, reduce stress hormones like cortisol, and promote a deep sense of relaxation.
Boosting the Anti-Anxiety Effects of a Hot Bath With Bath Soaks
A hot bath on its own can help calm a racing mind and ease the physical tension that comes with anxiety. But it’s not enough on its own to truly help you find relief. So, what is a bath soak, and how does a hot bath help with anxiety when these are introduced?
These are not to be confused with bath bombs (see our bath soak vs bath bomb for more insights). Rather than adding a fizzy layer of fun to your bathing experience, these deliver essential nutrients and minerals - including magnesium, essential oils, vitamins, and in some cases, nootropics.
Wait, does magnesium soak into skin as you bathe? It sure does! In fact, this is the best way to consume magnesium, as we explain in our comparison of magnesium soak vs oral. So, why is magnesium soak good for you?
This calming mineral plays a role in more than 300 bodily processes, and one of the key magnesium soak benefits is relaxation. But this is just one of the many ingredients you’ll find in some healing bath recipes.
You’ve probably heard all about the benefits of epsom salts for baths, but bath soaks take things a step further as they include a more bioavailable form of magnesium - magnesium chloride. Epsom salts contain magnesium sulfate, which isn’t quite as effective.
You can learn more about the magnesium soak vs epsom salt differences, or you can read our guide on how to make magnesium bath soak to put anxiety on pause. But with the #1 anxiety-destroying bath soak just a click away at Flewd Stresscare, invest in your wellness today!
Alleviate Anxiety and Feel Better Fast With Flewd Stresscare!
Flewd Stresscare is proud to have helped thousands of individuals alleviate a range of ailments, from muscle soreness to stress, insomnia, rage, and in this case, anxiety.
We formulate our soaks with natural ingredients that your skin will love - and they’re functional, fighting anxiety head-on to deliver rapid, targeted relief. So what makes the anxiety-destroying soak so special?
Beyond Magnesium Chloride, which is the best form, we’ve included Complex B Vitamins, and Zinc to help provide stress-reducing nutrients for up to 5 days.
You’ll love the scent, too. It reminds one of the calm, warm ocean through a lime rind tropical top note and soft, rounded, almost warm sea salt and white floral base.
You’re getting 8 times more magnesium than other solutions with zero fillers and 245g of total stress-fighting nutrients. We also have a great muscle bath soak and stress relief bath soak along with a range of other solutions. Try them all and see which you prefer!
What About an Ice Bath for Anxiety?
Now, you’re fully aware of all the benefits of a hot bath for anxiety. But what about the opposite - an ICE bath for anxiety? Can this be just as effective, if not more?
How Cold Therapy Affects the Nervous System
Cold therapy is the opposite of heat therapy, so it makes sense that it would not trigger your PNS - but rather, your sympathetic nervous system responsible for the fight or flight response.
Imagine plunging into sub-freezing water, your body is obviously going to go haywire - at least at first. The sharp temperature change forces the body to focus on survival, which can temporarily distract the mind from anxious thoughts.
This shock factor may offer short-term mental clarity for some since the brain is preoccupied with the immediate discomfort rather than the stress that caused the anxiety in the first place. It has also been said to help build a more resilient response to stress and anxiety, kind of like training your muscles.
There’s also stimulation of the vagus nerve with cold baths, which is an important part of your PNS as it helps regulate stress responses and mood. After your body adjusts to the cold you may feel a greater sense of calm.
Why Some Feel That Ice Baths Make Them More Anxious
An ice bath for anxiety is certainly worth considering, but there is a more sinister side of things you need to be aware of. Some individuals feel that ice baths cause more harm than good.
The intense cold can increase heart rate and rapid breathing, both of which are also symptoms of anxiety. This can leave you feeling more on edge or overwhelmed rather than relaxed.
But let’s be honest, a hot bath is a relaxing experience - an ice bath, not so much. It’s not exactly the most enjoyable addition to your self-care routine. And given the likelihood of increasing anxiety, we recommend sticking with hot baths and seeing how effective these are first. We’ll share some tips on getting started below.
Tips on Adding a Hot Bath for Anxiety to Your Self-Care Routine
It’s not as simple as drawing a hot bath and throwing your bath soak in - there are a few specific details to consider to make the most of a hot bath for anxiety. That includes the actual water temperature, the soak time, and more. Let’s start with the environment itself, which plays its own role.
Cultivating a Relaxing Atmosphere
We recommend creating an atmosphere conducive to relaxing - from dimming the lights and using candles to playing soft, calming music. This will set the tone for peace.
You can also make yourself a nice warm stress-busting tea to sip on while you relax. Or, bring a glass of water to make sure you stay hydrated, as the heat and magnesium can draw moisture out of your body.
Incorporating Aromatherapy
One of the best ways to boost the benefits of a magnesium bath soak for anxiety is through aromatherapy. You can harness the power of scents like lavender, chamomile, or eucalyptus - each of which has been shown to reduce anxiety.
For what it’s worth, we do include some essential oils in our bath soaks already - but you can add more as you see fit. Simply add a few drops to the water or use them in a diffuser nearby.
Using Magnesium Bath Soaks
As far as how to use bath soak, be it our anxiety-destroying soak or a DIY bath soak for sore muscles, it’s fairly simple. Draw a bath with warm, but not scalding hot, water. A good rule of thumb is between 92-98°F (33-37°C).
Stir the water with your hand or foot to ensure the soak fully dissolves and spreads evenly throughout the bath. Then, hop in and enjoy the bliss that awaits.
Understanding how long to soak in magnesium bath is key to reaping all the benefits it has to offer. 15-30 minutes is plenty of time to uptake all the anxiety-alleviating ingredients in our soak, but you can stay in longer if you’d like.
Two to three times a week is generally a good frequency for maintaining relaxation without drying out your skin. But, they’re all natural and safe, so you don’t have to stress too much about overdoing it.
When all is said and done you can rinse off if you’d like - but this isn’t necessary with our specific formulations, since there are no fillers or other artificial ingredients.
Breathing Exercises or Meditation
If you want to read a book, chat with a friend, or scroll on your phone while you soak, that’s fine - but you can take things a step further with breathing exercises or meditation.
Inhale slowly through your nose, hold for a few seconds, and exhale through your mouth. This slows your heart rate and activates the PNS to encourage relaxation. Practicing mindfulness meditation can also help clear your mind of anxious thoughts and keep you present.
More Ways to Manage Anxiety
There’s no question that a hot bath for anxiety can help you find your inner zen and put those anxious thoughts in the past. With our soaks, you’ll feel calmer for up to 5 days after the bath! But, here are some more healthy coping tips for those with anxiety:
- Try journaling
- Maintain a healthy sleep routine
- Stay hydrated and eat well
- Get regular exercise
- Seek professional support
Of course, if there is something specific that constantly causes anxiety - like a relationship, a job, or something else entirely, it’s worth determining if you can eliminate that source altogether. It may not always be possible, but it’s something to consider.
That being said, anxiety is all around us. You won’t be able to protect yourself from it altogether. That’s why it’s so important to have methods for managing anxiety. So as we wrap things up below, spoil yourself and upgrade your self-care routine at Flewd Stresscare!
Parting Thoughts on Taking a Hot Bath for Anxiety
So, can a hot bath calm anxiety? Absolutely! It’s one of the simplest, safest, and most enjoyable ways to get a grip on anxious, racing thoughts. From the heat’s relaxing effects to boosting serotonin and calming the nervous system, it can make a real difference in how you feel.
But, the hot bath for anxiety itself is just one piece of the puzzle. You need to bring more benefits to the bathwater in the form of a specifically designed bath soak. Here at Flewd Stresscare we have just what you need.
Calm your mind and body simultaneously as you transform your self-care routine with our stress-melting bath soaks. Discover firsthand how our soaks can save you from the effects of anxiety today!
