Massage and mental health: How can one help the other?

A massage not only feels great, but it also comes with plenty of therapeutic benefits. It does a whole lot of good for your body and it’s fantastic for your mental health as well. Massage therapy is known to relieve stress, and also help those suffering from anxiety and depression.

Seeing that a growing number of the population suffer from mental health issues during their lifetime, there is a lot of research around how massage therapy can have a positive impact on mental health issues like anxiety, depression, stress, insomnia and so much more.

The link between physical and mental health is undeniable and rather well known. You cannot have one without the other. This is where massage therapy comes in to enhance emotional and mental well-being. 

Keep reading to find out how massage therapy can help with mental well-being

Relief from stress

Massage therapy can reduce the levels of stress hormones cortisol (up to 30%) and adrenaline in the body. It is well known that stress leads to many other health conditions like addiction, anxiety, PTSD, hypertension and heart disease. Whether you are experiencing physical or psychological stress levels, massage therapy can help.

There is increased blood flow to the areas in the brain that deals with stress regulation post a massage. This will help to regulate emotions. 

Stress affects the immune system, elevates blood pressure levels, leads to weight gain, impairs your memory, and puts you at increased risk for anxiety, depression and other mental health issues. These symptoms can lead to increased cortisol levels and this creates a vicious cycle of chronic stress that would seem impossible to get out of. A massage is highly effective to break through this cycle by lowering the cortisol levels and bringing the body back to balance. 

Soothes anxiety

Reduction in cortisol levels can help your body cope and fight anxiety on its own. Anxiety leads to people experiencing a negative quality of life. Moreover, massage therapy can be effective to elevate neurotransmitters associated with lower anxiety levels. If you are feeling anxious, massage therapy can help you deal with the symptoms of anxiety to a great extent.

Relieves symptoms of depression

Massage therapy can definitely help alleviate the symptoms of depression. Now, there are two neurotransmitters involved in depression. One is Serotonin, and the other one is dopamine. 

Studies have shown that massage therapy can affect the chemistry of your body and increase serotonin and dopamine levels. These feel-good, happy hormones can help with reducing the symptoms of depression. Serotonin also helps to stabilize your mood and even helps you sleep better. Who can say no to a natural mood boost!

The healing touch of your massage therapist will help in the release of Oxytocin. This love hormone as it’s called helps reduce anxiety levels and will make you feel all relaxed and enjoy psychological stability. 

Massage can lift your mood and reduce depression for people with any chronic disease or pain. Seasonal Affective disorders could leave you feeling fatigued, lethargic and depressed (know that feeling when you don’t even feel like getting out of bed?). 

Frequent massages can uplift your mood, calm you down, and bring your circadian rhythms back to balance. This, in turn, leads to a better quality of sleep and leaves you feeling more energetic and invigorated. 

Improved relaxation, rest and sleep

Getting your regular sleep quote is paramount to your health and wellbeing. Improper sleep can lead to a host of physical and mental health issues. When you get a massage, the improved blood circulation, lowered heart rate and loosened muscles will help you drift off to sleep easily and for longer when you hit the bed. 

Insomnia is the absolute worst! The anxiety that comes from being unable to sleep can only make you feel frustrated and this makes your sleeplessness worse. Research has shown massage to increase the serotonin levels, which in turn stimulates the production of melatonin which helps people drift off to sleep by regulating the body’s circadian rhythms. 

Makes you feel fresh, focused and energetic 

When pressure is applied through massage, it can boost the lymphatic system. This, in turn, allows the body to thoroughly detoxify. When your blood circulation gets better, and toxins are removed, you will be left feeling fresh and energetic. 

No, you don’t have to turn to a fresh cup of coffee every time for that feeling. Massages can help you feel fresh and reenergized. Moreover, you will be able to think with a clear head and be more focused. 

What happens when you are suffering from pain at a particular spot on your body is that blood flow is diverted to that troubled spot rather than to the brain. A massage will release that tension so that the blood flow to your brain will improve. When this happens, the nutrient and oxygen flow to your brain will also increase. What this means for those who find it difficult to focus on the task at hand is that massage therapy can help you concentrate and focus better.

Final Wrap

We bet you didn’t know massage therapy can have so many positive benefits on your mental and emotional health! Massage therapy can help you on the path of profound mental healing, emotional regulation and tackle conditions of stress, anxiety, nervousness, melancholy, insomnia, depression and other mental health conditions.