Top retreats for depression and anxiety

Depression and anxiety are two of the fastest growing issues in our society and mental health treatment and therapy is never going to be the same for every one person. 

Spas are associated with relieving stress, a place to go for relaxation and pampering, whilst medi-spas are known as somewhere to recover, to seek medical advice and therapy, so where exactly does mental health fit in?

Most spas wouldn’t make the claim that they could cure depression or anxiety; however a select few programmes are targeted towards those who deal with these issues and aim to alleviate symptoms.

Ashram – Vana Malsi Estate

Vana is in a league of its own, putting your needs at the core of their process and designing a personalised Ashram programme geared entirely towards improving your health and wellbeing.

The spiritual and calming nature of Vana is perfect for those dealing with depression and anxiety, through ancient Tibetan therapies, Ayurvedic treatment and harnessing healing powers of various energies.

A visit to Vana is a truly immersive experience, with no photography allowed in public areas, and a focus only on holistic healing, Vana is the ultimate escape to find yourself and allow yourself to become vulnerable enough to heal.

Anti-Stress Programme -  Sha Wellness Clinic

The anti-stress programme at Sha Wellness Clinic has its own unique properties to help combat anxiety and depression. Taking a more medical approach, the anti-stress programme looks closer at health issues, imbalances and more biological factors that could be impacting mental health and encouraging negative thoughts.

To introduce you to the programme you’ll undergo a general medical examination to get a clear idea of your current health and any potentially detrimental aspects. Throughout the week you’ll then receive consultations from nutritional and natural therapy experts, bioenergetics specialists and a derma-aesthetic consultant.

The belief partially is that a healthy lifestyle will allow the mind to be healthier, so exercise is incorporated into the programme with several private sessions with a personal trainer. A healthy diet is also prescribed to help rid the body of toxins and unnatural ingredients.

Other therapies include mindfulness sessions, Tai chi, yoga and many more traditional methods to help combat depression and anxiety.

Ayurveda Relax & Feel Good Retreat - Ayurveda Resort Sonnhof

This Ayurveda programme is designed to remove the stress from your life and give you the clear mind you need to deal with your personal issues.

When we become anxious or depressed, it can affect our health and make us feel run down and tired, making the battle against these demons even harder. Ayurvedic full body oil massages, Himalayan salt and oil scrubs and more are all used to revitalise the body, strengthen the nervous system and restore the energy we need to keep moving forward and make a change.

You’ll learn various breathing techniques, be able to meditate in solitude and relax through Yoga, helping clear the mind and better deal with stress and anxiety. These are all techniques that can be carried forward into your day to day life, to uplift and strengthen your mood in challenging situations.

Tension Release Programme - Chiva-Som

The Tension Release programme at Chiva Som is a holistic driven programme that uses alternative methods to help target the causes of tension, stress and more. These alternative therapies and treatments can be a welcome change for those who have tried and tested other spas and programmes that feature more traditional methods.

Chiva-Som is a picturesque resort with its decor = following stunningly traditional Thai culture and design.  The serenity of the water and lush greenery make for a breath-taking welcome with immaculate views exuding relaxation.

An initial Naturopathic consultation helps their wellness experts tailor the programme more towards your needs by getting to know you a little better and hearing more about your experiences and current issues. This consultation will also talk you through the various natural therapies and treatments, and just how they’ll help relieve your problems.

Biofeedback sessions help make you more aware of your stress triggers and pick up on the signs of this within your body and deal with these feelings before they go any further. Therapies such as this help make us more self-aware, instead of letting anxiety or bad thoughts snowball and become out of control, you can put techniques in place to combat them early on, and slowly minimise their frequency over time.

Other more spiritual-based therapies include acupuncture and reiki gemstones therapy.  Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese treatment that helps the free flow of energy throughout the body, it is believed that anxiety and depression can cause disruption to this flow and that acupuncture can restore it once again. Reiki gemstone therapy may be alternative but many believe in the healing power of stones and crystals. Different stones have their own individual healing qualities, dependant on your anxiety, depression or other issues, the stones are then placed on areas of the body to help heal and draw out negativity.

Relax and Renew Programme - Kamalaya

Anxiety and depression, no matter how severe or acute, can drain energy levels and cause unknown aches and pains. You function much better and can work through anxiety and depression issues much easier with a revived immune system and revitalised energy sources.

Your time at Kamalaya will start with a wellness consultation to help personalise your programme to your needs as much as possible through holistic means. With a strong focus on Wellness, the Relax and Renew programme at Kamalaya aims to de-stress and clear the mind so that you can begin to work on your personal issues much easier and in calmer headspace.

Here’s a look at what our clients had to say about some of our destinations and how it helped them:

Kamalaya –  Myriam, March 2019

A truly unique place where not only your body benefits but your soul finds peace and serenity. Their staff really care for your wellbeing beyond one’s imagination.

Vana – Margaret, October 2019

What can I say, everything was perfect. Beautiful surroundings, cheerful staff who went out of their way to meet our aims for the retreat. Amazing food with great attention to detail and presentation. So much choice. Plenty of treatments and activities to ensure a truly healing environment and experience. Loved the Kurta pyjamas that everyone was requested to wear, making everyone equal no matter what their background. Also enables you to travel light as everything you could possibly need is available there. A truly loving and spiritual environment. Definitely out of this world.

Sha Wellness Clinic – Patricia, June 2018

Wonderful place, I feel 100% better after being there...every little detail was thought about. Wonderful staff, great meals, wonderful treatments