3 Ways Hot Showers Relieve My Anxiety

Usually, people recommend taking a relaxing bath before bed to help reduce anxiety. For me, taking hot showers help to relieve my anxiety. In this article, I'll go over the ways it helps me personally along with studies that show the benefits of taking a hot shower.

How Hot Showers Help to Relieve My Anxiety

Hot Showering Is Meditative 

One of my favorite ways to let my brain relax is to take a shower. To me, there is something so meditative about the entire process. Rather than stressing out, my thoughts are redirected to things like washing and shampooing. The hot water not only feels soothing, but the sound is relaxing as well. 

My Stress "Washes Away"

I have sort of a ritual whenever I take a hot shower. While I'm standing under the water, I'll take deep breaths in and out, letting my mind relax. I picture the shower water washing away my stress as I stand there and breathe. It sounds kind of cheesy, but it is something that is extremely helpful for me. 

Studies that Show How Hot Showers Help to Relieve Anxiety

Heating Up Your Body Temperature Before Bed Helps You to Relax

Did you know that taking a 20-30 minute shower about an hour or two before bed can help you relax before bed? When you take a bath or shower, your temperature rises by a couple of degrees. Once you step out of the shower into your cool room, your temperature will rapidly drop. According to a study conducted by New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, this drop causes you to relax and can put you into a deep sleep. It can work better with a bath because you're submerged in the hot water, but a hot shower has always worked well for me. 

Does taking a hot shower help relax you? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. 

Sources

1. Health.com, 7 Bedtime Behaviors That Will Help You Sleep. Accessed May 5, 2019.