cathartic

kath-AR-tik

meaning in plain English

Something that helps you release strong feelings and makes you feel lighter afterward.

for example

I find shaving to be really cathartic; after a quick shave I feel a lot calmer.

Imagine you’ve been holding in a lot of stress, then you finally let it out with a good cry or a long run. That release feels cathartic because it empties the pressure and leaves you feeling refreshed.