If someone would have asked me a month ago what I thought about tanning in beds, I would have gone on a rant about how dangerous it is and how such a danger is a stupid one to face just to get tan skin. Little did I know that people don’t go tanning just for a darker pigmentation of skin. My psychiatrist recently told me that tanning helps to eliminate anxiety, so I thought I would give it a try to see what I think.

I have found tanning in a bed to very beneficial and calming, especially on a stressful day. The best way I can describe tanning is by saying it is like being wrapped in a warm blanket fresh from the dryer for a full 10 minutes. The reason I feel so refreshed and happy afterwards is due to the vitamin D that the bed provides.

Not only does vitamin D help with anxiety, but it also gives you healthy bones and teeth and ensures better immunity, according to Best Health magazine.

The benefit of being panic attack free outweighs the cons of tanning for me. Risks of tanning are skin cancer and premature aging. Because I do not burn when I tan in a bed, I have less of a chance for skin cancer. Also, I could care less if I get a few more wrinkles earlier than everyone else my age. I’d rather be happy and have less anxiety than look younger.

I would highly recommend tanning in a bed during the colder months for someone who does not burn and has anxiety, depression, or just a lot of stress. The outcome is amazing, but people need to keep in mind that moderation is key.

Addictions are common but, if you tan every day, the health risks increase significantly.

People should not look down on tanning as much as they do because, while it does have dangers, they’re minimal, especially compared to the benefits.