Axios Finish Line: Rage rooms may not be best for stress relief

Zoom in: Interest in rage rooms has more than doubled in social media searches this year compared with last year.

• But rage rooms may not be the most effective long-term remedy for tension.

Zoom out: Stress is on the rise in America.

• 1 in 4 adults surveyed rated their stress levels between 8 and 10, on a scale of 1-10, according to a recent study by the American Psychological Association.

Reality check: Research doesn't indicate that participating in rage rooms has any salient perks.

• "If you have a pre-existing pattern of breaking things and want to find a safe way to satisfy that urge, you can try a rage room, but I wouldn't necessarily encourage or recommend it to someone newly seeking stress relief options," says Chloe Carmichael, a clinical psychologist and author of Nervous Energy: Harness the Power of Your Anxiety.

Between the lines: There are other productive ways to channel your energy when experiencing stress, anxiety or anger.

• Carmichael suggests to "address and set a boundary around what is causing the stress and anger in the first place."

Then, consider other productive methods of coping:

• Working out — whether on a treadmill or in a boxing class — can harness your extra energy while helping you develop a skill.
• Float therapy tanks containing Epsom salts relax your muscles and remove the element of gravity for a calm, sensory experience.
• A very hot or cold shower can provide immediate relief from stress with the tactile and sound sensations of the water.
• Salt rooms, which resemble caves covered in salt from wall to ceiling, can provide a visually stimulating sensation.

The bottom line: Rage rooms may not be all the rage after all.