Stress & Anxiety Relief

treating stress & anxiety with massage

Stress and anxiety are becoming increasingly common in modern life. The most successful and healthy people learn to manage them in a positive and constructive way.

Massage is a highly effective tool in helping you cope with stress and anxiety in your life. By relaxing and calming the nervous system, it helps you feel better both physically and mentally.

the response to stress

When the body is under stress it enters a state to fight or flee from the source of the anxiety. This activates the nervous system and the body produces hormones such as adrenaline. The muscles automatically tense and there is an increase in the heart rate and the body’s blood pressure.

Unfortunately fighting or running away is rarely an appropriate response to modern-day pressures. There are also many stresses in life, which are on-going, such as conflict, so there are often no clear signals to the body that it is time to relax and recover.

how massage therapy eases anxiety and stress

Massage therapy can help the body relax, which in turn can help one let go of anxious and fearful thoughts. Massage can relieve muscle pain and tension, improve circulation, and increase flexibility. As a relaxation technique, massage therapy can work to manage the fight-or-flight response, or stress reaction, which is typically overactive among people who suffer from anxiety and stress.

The fight-or-flight reaction is responsible for causing fearful thoughts and reactions that often far outweigh any actual threat in the environment.

The fight-or-flight reaction typically leads to uncomfortable physical symptoms, such as shortness of breath, accelerated heart rate, excessive sweating, and chest pain. Massage therapy can have an opposing effect on the body by eliciting the relaxation response, reducing tension, lowering heart rate, and generally making a person feel calmer.

reviving your energy

Massage is incredibly effective in easing muscle tension. It contributes to keep the muscles and tissues around them soft and relieves any painful trigger points. Massage improves circulation, removing the build-up of stress hormones and waste products and allowing the cells to get the nutrients they need. Moreover, it encourages the flow of oxygen to the brain, reducing mental fatigue and improving the ability to focus. The quality of sleep also usually improves following a massage. Consequently, the body can repair itself even further and energy levels can be restored.