For many people, massages feel like a guilty pleasure. For some it feels completely frivolous and is not a priority. But what if that thinking was flawed? What if there are some benefits, besides feeling completely amazing physically, that come from getting massages?
It’s Melanie on the blog this week, and at Dóchas Psychological, we’re always looking at ways our clients can support their mental health. And sure, sometimes working through painful traumas and difficult situations with a therapist is something that needs to be done. We will always be here to facilitate that process and guide and support you through the hard stuff.
However, there are other treatments that can also support your mental health journey. One of these great, and often luxurious, treatments is massage.
If you’re from the Spruce Grove area, try out Bloom Therapy Wellness Co. or Britannia Hills!
“So how can massage benefit my mental health?” Keep reading to find out!
Proven Benefits of Massages
- Reduces stress and anxiety –
- Lowers cortisol levels (Rapaport et al., 2010, Field et al, 2005).
- Promotes relaxation (Fears 2024).
- There is a solid body of research that has demonstrated that massage is efficacious for decreasing anxiety symptoms (Rapaport, et al. 2018).
- Boosts mood –
- Increases serotonin and dopamine (Field et al., 2005).
- Reduces depressive symptoms (Hou et al., 2009).
- Improves sleep quality (Cinar & Eser, 2012) –
- Encourages restorative sleep.
- Enhances mind-body connection (Mazzeo, c. 2008) –
- Promotes mindfulness.
- Releases stored emotions.
- Lowers blood pressure and heart rate –
- Calms the nervous system by reducing stress and anxiety.
- Regulates the parasympathetic nervous system (Sliz et al.).
- Alleviates physical discomfort related to mental health –
- Reduces muscle tension often associated with depression and other mental health struggles (Fears 2024).
- Eases headaches and migraines, which promotes mental clarity and reduces irritability (Quin et al., 2002).
The Mind-Body Connection
If you’ve ever read The Body Keeps the Score and The Myth of Normal, you know how deeply our physical and mental health are connected. These books do an incredible job of showing how trauma, stress, and emotional pain don’t just live in our thoughts, they live in our bodies too. I recommend these books to anyone who wants to learn more about the mind-body connection.
When your body holds tension, it’s not just about sore muscles. It can be part of how your nervous system stores unprocessed emotions or stress. Massages help release some of that stored tension, giving your body and your mind the opportunity to feel safer, calmer, and more balanced.
Final Thoughts About Massages
A brief investigation into the benefits of massages produced several evidence-based studies that support the claim that they can help improve mental health. For those of us who are firm believers in the mind-body connection, this comes as no surprise. Without a doubt, research into the mental health benefits of other physical treatments, such as mindful yoga practice and acupuncture, yields similar results. I encourage you to speak with a mental health professional about your specific situation and what practices, in addition to psychotherapy, can help support your mental health. If you find that you are struggling with mental health and are looking for therapy, reach out to a mental health therapist here at Dóchas Psychological Services – 780-446-0300 or info@dochaspsych.com – we would be happy to work with you.
References
ÇINAR, Ş., & EŞER, İ. (2012). Effect on sleep quality of back massage in older adults in rest home.
Fears, A. (2024). An Examination of Benefits Between Massage Therapy and Mental Health.
FIELD, T., HERNANDEZ-REIF, M., DIEGO, M., SCHANBERG, S., & KUHN, C. (2005). CORTISOL DECREASES AND SEROTONIN AND DOPAMINE INCREASE FOLLOWING MASSAGE THERAPY. International Journal of Neuroscience, 115(10), 1397–1413. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207450590956459
Mazzeo, C. A. (2008). Nurturing the mind/body connection: a phenomenological analysis of emotional release in massage therapy. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.
McFeeters, S., Pront, L., Cuthbertson, L., & King, L. (2016). Massage, a complementary therapy effectively promoting the health and well‐being of older people in residential care settings: a review of the literature. International journal of older people nursing, 11(4), 266-283.
Rapaport, M. H., Schettler, P. J., Larson, E. R., Carroll, D., Sharenko, M., Nettles, J., & Kinkead, B. (2018). Massage Therapy for Psychiatric Disorders. Focus, 16(1), 24–31. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.focus.20170043
Rapaport MH, Schettler P, Breese C: A preliminary study of the effects of a single session of Swedish massage on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal and immune function in normal individuals. J Altern Complement Med 16:1079–1088, 2010
Sliz D, Smith A, Wiebking C, et al: Neural correlates of a single-session massage treatment. Brain Imaging Behav 6:77–87, 2012
Hou, W. H., Chiang, P. T., Hus, T. Y., Chiu, S. Y., & Yen, Y. C. (2009). Treatment Effects of Massage Therapy in Depressed People: A Meta-Analysis. Retrieved October 11, 2024, from https://www.psychiatrist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/18369_treatment-effects-massage-therapy-depressed-meta-analysis.pdf
Quinn, C., Chandler, C., & Moraska, A. (2002). Massage therapy and frequency of chronic tension headaches. American journal of public health, 92(10), 1657-1661.
About Dóchas Psychological
Dóchas Psychological Services is a well-established and trusted therapy clinic located in Spruce Grove, Alberta. At Dóchas we value the idea that everyone deserves a safe space. Through connection and education, our team works hard to build a trustworthy relationship with each of our clients. It is our goal to create a community for our clients to feel like they belong.
Disclaimer
Information provided through Dóchas Psychological Services blogs or vlogs is meant for educational purposes only. They are NOT medical or mental health advice. You can read more about our disclaimer here.
