Can A Massage Really Help Your Anxiety?

Over the past few decades, complementary and alternative practices have become more and more popular, often used in combination with traditional Western medical practices. These can include acupuncture, yoga, aromatherapy, progressive muscle relaxation, and massage therapy. You may be wondering if these practices really work. Today we’re providing some information on massage therapy to help you. 

Perhaps you or someone you love suffers from anxiety; can a massage really help someone with this condition? While it is most often used to treat muscle pain, injury, and stiffness, it is being used more often for the treatment of mental and emotional issues, such as stress, depression, and anxiety, and is considered a very effective technique that reduces tension and brings about feelings of calm and deep relaxation. It is thought to be very helpful in curbing those feelings of fear and other symptoms of panic disorder. 

What Is Massage Therapy?

Massage therapy involves the manipulation of muscles by kneading, pressing, and/or patting the different muscle groups, with the therapist using their own hands and various massage oils to work through all the muscle groupings. It is common for aromatherapy oils and peaceful music to be employed in the creation of a peaceful and tranquil experience. 

How Do Massages Help You Relax?

Massages can be very effective in helping your body to relax, which will allow you to let go of anxious and fearful thoughts that may plague you. It can also relieve muscle pain and tension, increase flexibility, and improve circulation, all of which can often have a positive effect on your overall feelings of well-being. Its benefit as a relaxation technique works to manage your “fight-or-flight” response, which is a stress reaction that is often overactive in people who are suffering from anxiety disorders. This reaction is responsible for causing thoughts and reactions that are often far more powerful than any actual threat in a person’s environment and can lead to very uncomfortable physical issues, such as shortness of breath, higher heart rates, sweating, and even chest pain. Massage therapy can be used to create an opposing effect on the sufferer’s body by bringing about a relaxation response that reduces tension, lowers the heart rate, and calms the person. 

If you or someone you love suffers from anxiety, call us or visit us online to make an appointment and begin the healing process. Here at Urban Oasis Day Spa, we offer massage options that can help you handle the stressors of life.