According to the WHO, more than 300 million people of all ages suffer from depression worldwide, of which most are women. The World Health Organization also added that depression was the leading cause of disability, several diseases and could even lead to suicide. No doubt, depression is becoming an increasingly common illness today, but it is also one of the most unaddressed issues in major parts of the world.
According to Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, depression is on rise in the United States, with the most rapid increase seen among young people. People have always been hesitant to share their mental health concerns with peers, fearing that they might be judged or labeled. However, we need to take responsibility for our own physical and mental health. This might require you to incorporate a relaxing escape from the stresses of life in a warm and quiet enclosure, called a sauna.
While studies have conclusively demonstrated that sauna therapy works wonders for heart health, controlling blood pressure, weight loss and even skin problems, experts at The Sauna Place also emphasize that saunas are the best way to sweat your stress away.
People dealing with depression and anxiety, with tolerance for excess heat, are prescribed regular sauna sessions. It is found that daily sauna sessions leads to relaxation and has a positive effect on mental health, by allowing you to escape the uncertainties and complexities of the outer world, according to a study published in Psychosomatic Medicine.
Cortisol is our body’s main stress hormone. Many studies have revealed that daily sauna sessions lower the levels of cortisol in the body. As a result, stress and anxiety is reduced. Moreover, the excessive sweating during the session also reduces feeling of frustration and increases relaxation.
Did you know that strenuous activities cause pain that can cause emotional stress, which in turn drives the body to produce natural pain relieving compounds? Beta-endomorphins are the natural pain relievers of the body. Interestingly, heat exposure during a sauna session puts some amount of stress on the body, such that it is encouraged to the release of these endomorphins, which then leads to a significant reduction in pain.
The reason a lot of people start suffering from depression is that they are unable to find joy in their lives. Sauna sessions can make people feel a sense of euphoria due to the release of certain hormones, as a result of the heat stress on the body. This can significantly help people suffering from depression. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself feeling generally happy after regular sauna sessions.
Don’t go inside a sauna with expectations and judgments, which are a major cause of resentment. Instead, enter the sauna with the solo aim of relaxation, and the rest will be sorted.
