Heartbroken, stressed, tired... why just bathing or soaking in water feels better?

As the warmth of the water allows the brain to gradually change from a "fight or flight" mode to a "rest and recovery" mode, many people feel calmer and cope better with their emotions, even if the problem has not disappeared.

Many people would have had similar experiences...

When heartbroken, stressed from work, or in serious trouble, the first thing you want to do is "shower" or "soak in warm water." When you leave the bathroom, you feel relieved, comfortable, and unspeakably calm.

This feeling is not caused by self-thought, but by both neuroscience, psychology and physiology.

While bathing or soaking in water does not directly solve or heal sadness, it can help the brain and body enter a state of relaxation, allowing us to cope better with emotions.

1.The brain changes from the "fight or escape" mode to the "rest and recovery" mode.

When we are stressed, upset or heartbroken, the brain activates the Sympathetic Nervous System, a system that prepares the body for threats.

As a result, for example,

* The heart beats faster

* Shorter breath

* Muscle tension

* The body secretes stress hormones such as cortisol.

When bathing warm or soaking in warm water, the body tends to go into a more relaxed state, contributing to the activity of the Parasympathetic Nervous System or the "rest and recovery" system.

Therefore makes many people feel that

* The heart is beating slower

* Muscle loosening

* Breathe more comfortably

* Feelings of tension subside

2. Warm water helps the body relax.

Several studies have shown that soaking in warm water around 38-40 C for 15-30 minutes can help the body feel more relaxed.

The result is, for example,

* Improved blood flow

* Tense muscles loosen up

* Reduced sense of stress

Although some studies have found lower levels of the hormone cortisol, the results have been uneven in all studies, so it is not yet possible to conclude that soaking in warm water reduces cortisol in everyone, however, the evidence is quite consistent that most people often feel relaxed after soaking in warm water.

3. Water pressure makes the body feel safer.

When immersed in water, the body is pressurized by the water around it (Hydrostatic Pressure).

This uniform pressure is a gentle stimulation of the skin, which partially resembles deep pressure.

So many people feel

* Calm up

* Anxiety decreases

* Feel safer

Although the results vary from person to person, this mechanism is one of the reasons that explains why being in the water feels comfortable.

4. Water helps pull the brain back to the present

When we are stressed or heartbroken, the brain often repeatedly thinks about the same thing, known as Rumination.

The more you think, the more you stress.

But when we bathe or soak in water, the brain instead begins to perceive things around us, such as:

* Warmth of water

* Sound of flowing water

* Touch of water on the skin

* Breathing rhythm

Awareness of these things helps bring attention back to the present, similar to the principle of mindfulness, temporarily diminishing distraction.

5. Water may awaken memories that make you feel good.

For many, water is linked to happy times, such as

* Water play as a child

* A trip to the sea

* Swimming

* Onsen infusion

* Bathing after a day of tiredness

As the brain experiences the same familiar experiences, it can be associated with a sense of safety and relaxation, improving mood in some people.

6. If natural, the effect may be clearer.

A number of studies have found that spending time near natural bodies of water, known as Blue Spaces, such as

* Sea

* River

* Lake

* Waterfall

Have a relationship with

* Reduced stress levels

* Better mood

* Feeling more calm

It is expected to be caused by a combination of natural sounds, scenery, water movement and a break from a depressed environment.

So why do "heartbreakers" feel particularly better after the shower?

Neurological research has found that "heartbreak" is not only emotional sadness, but the brain also processes through some of the networks involved in the perception of physical pain.

As the body gains warmth, relaxation, and safe stimuli from bathing or soaking in water, the level of neural awakening decreases.

The result is

* Suffering persists

* But the intensity of emotions may temporarily decrease.

* The brain calms up

* Therefore cope with feelings more easily

Bathing does not erase memories, does not cause forgetting loved ones, does not solve life problems, but keeps the body and brain in a better position to deal with emotions.

Summary

Bathing or soaking in warm water is not a cure for sadness, stress, or heartbreak, but a way to take care of yourself that has a scientific background to support.

Through a multi-sided mechanism including

* Helps the nervous system enter a relaxed mode.

* Reduce muscle tension

* Helps pull the brain out of iterative thinking

* Increased sense of security and calm

* Gives us the power to deal better with emotions

Sometimes... mind care can start with giving the body a break.

Note: If sadness, stress or despair are continuous for more than 2 weeks, interfering with living, sleeping or working, a doctor or mental health professional should be consulted, for proper assessment and care.

# Mental health # Dcare and insurance # Heartbroken # Sad # Soak in water