How Regular Massage Helps Improve Mental Health

Most people know that a good massage feels good but what most people miss is that the right massage will help your mental health, too. When you become stressed, it creates anxiety. Anxiety then causes a rash of other issues from tight muscles to grinding your teeth, which causes TMJ, which can also cause tinnitus; another ailment that massage can help. All of this pain can also add to your anxiety or depression, so when you get a massage to help your muscles, you are also helping your mental health.

There are many factors in everyday life that can cause anxiety; money, family and health issues just to name a few. Anxiety is not something to be ashamed of. In fact, most of us suffer from it to some extent; some people just experience a higher level at times.

What happens is that anxiety causes the body to tighten up which then creates physical pain which will lead to more anxiety. It is a vicious circle that must be broken for the patient to feel relief, both physically and emotionally. During your first massage, your therapist will determine the points of your body causing your anxiety. They will then work through those areas to focus on your problem areas.

Your massage therapist is specially trained to find areas causing your anxiety. Not only do they offer relief for tight muscles, they also know how to use various pressure points to relieve stress and anxiety. This creates an overall total body massage, relieving pain in your body and your mind. This is one way of finding relief from your anxiety without medication.

Depression is another mental health ailment that massage therapy can help. Many times when you become depressed, you just need to relax for a while. Simply close your eyes and focus on the healing power of the massage and nothing else. Typically, those suffering from depression do not believe that this technique works until they try it. Once you try it, you may instantly feel the results and those around you will find a happier, healthier you. Again, massage therapy can help your depression either instead of or with medications your doctor feels are necessary.

There are many factors that can cause depression, from a traumatic experience to the death of a loved one or even the loss of a job. While massage will not bring a loved one back or find you a new job, it will allow you to free your mind of any negative thoughts. Sometimes, when your mind becomes clear, you can think about your circumstances, come up with a game plan and execute that game plan to fix or ease what has caused your depression.

Even surgical facilities are beginning to use massage therapy for their patients. Anxiety is very common in patients about to undergo a surgical procedure, no matter how routine. Many facilities nationwide are using these services to offer patients a 15 minute massage to help ease their fears and anxiety about their upcoming procedure. This has been proven to reduce anxiety going into surgery, which also reduces the risk for complications such as hemorrhage or stroke. This is a simple, effective and inexpensive way to ease the anxiety level of surgical patients.

Massage therapy has been proven to help your mental health. It allows you to free your mind of your negative thoughts while relieving the pain that can add to anxiety. This is one way that many people are finding relief without the use of medications.

While you should always talk to a doctor about medications to help ease your mental afflictions, you should also discuss with him/her about incorporating massage therapy in your treatment. You should return for more than one massage since most depression and anxiety issues cannot be cured in just one treatment. This is one type of therapy where, if you continue it regularly, you will continue to feel relief.

Yours in Good Health,
Eugene Wood
Certified Massage Therapist