Reason to Get a Massage #3 - Reduce Anxiety

Which comes first?  The anxiety or the chronically tight muscles and pain?  It’s a vicious cycle.

What is anxiety? 
The dictionary definition from the internet is:  

• a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.
• desire to do something, typically accompanied by unease
• a nervous disorder characterized by a state of excessive uneasiness and apprehension, typically with compulsive behavior or panic attacks

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Emotional symptoms can be:

• feelings of worry, nervousness or scared
• thinking something bad will happen
• difficulty concentrating
• avoiding doing things out of fear
• overly concerned about things such as health, finances, family, job
• excessive guilt over past events
• negative, fearful thoughts about the future
• panic attacks

Physical symptoms could include:

• increased heart rate
• breathing rapidly or shortness of breath
• sweating
• stomach upset, “butterflies”
• bursts of energy
• muscle tension and aches
• fatigue
• headaches
• swallowing difficulties
• twitching
• irritability
• nausea
• lightheadedness

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Massage has, for many years, been thought of as a luxury, but society has changed those ideas over the past few years.  Many people are using massage therapy as a part of their healthy lifestyle.

In the case of anxiety, massage therapy has been proven to help in tremendous ways.  There have been many studies done that have proven that a variety of therapeutic massage does calm anxious clients.  Trained professional massage therapists promote relaxation and soothe their clients.  Massage can also alleviate pain and muscle tension, which is just one of the physical symptoms of anxiety in many people.

Massage also improves blood, lymph and oxygen flow, which cleanses the blood and the body of impurities, toxins and waste.  Anytime you can cleanse those impurities out of your body, you will feel better.  Massage definitely addresses headaches, irritability, and fatigue.

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One way to ensure that therapeutic massage can and will help with anxiety, is to keep the session quiet and calm.  Soft music, a warm table, low lighting, maybe falling water will create a calm and relaxing experience.  Not talking about, or thinking about anxious events or things in your life, will really help with increasing the results of your massage on your mood.  So … remember to relax and clear your mind of any and all issues you may be worried about.

You should feel very calm and relaxed within just the first few minutes in the massage room, if your therapist has set it up correctly.  The feeling of calm and relax should go with you and last for as long as you allow it.  If you get right back into the stress of your life, it may not last as long as you want it to.

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Every time you come for a massage, however, you will get better and better at remembering to relax and be calm.  Your muscles will remember to relax and let go.  The therapist’s job is to create a healing environment, that will last long after you leave the studio.  They should also be very good at releasing the muscle tissue in a firm but gentle way, so that you can be relaxed during the massage as well as for days afterward.  Each massage is cumulative, and will result in your muscles being released deeper and deeper, which correlates into the muscles staying relaxed for longer periods of time.

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Although we cannot eliminate all stress or anxiety in our lives, we can combat it with a variety of lifestyle choices.  Whether we choose to exercise, read, visit with friends or family, play a musical instrument, cook, be creative, hike, get a massage, or any other number of things, we can create a more calming and relaxing lifestyle.  At least enough that we can deal with the stress and anxiety that everyday life throws at us.

Some studies have shown that massage can lower cortisol, which is a stress hormone, which then increases serotonin, the feel good and anti-pain one. This obviously can and does help increase feelings of self worth and self image, while decreasing feelings of depression, anxiety and stress.

There have been numerous studies done on the effects of massage therapy for a variety of symptoms and issues that we face each and every day of our lives.  From mental, emotional, to physical and medical.  It’s worth looking into and even trying to see if it is a viable option for your life, your situation, your health and happiness.

Make sure that you find a reputable, experienced, thoughtful and kind therapist who is there to help YOU with whatever you need.  Each massage should be customized to the client and if you feel like you’re getting one that’s just on a conveyor belt, go somewhere else.

Have fun and enjoy your massage!