How to Get Rid of Stress, Anxiety & Depression through Massage Therapy?

Stress, anxiety, and depressions from hormonal imbalance, traumatic past, or cumbersome circumstances haunt almost everyone to the point that it interferes with their daily activities, requiring a preemptive solution.

Massage therapy will come in handy to help decrease cortisol levels, improve circulation, and release endorphins to induce happiness and better sleep.

What it does is help relieve constant stress, anxiety, and depression or minimize their effects through the practical and proven therapeutic process.

Read on to learn how massage therapy can help relieve stress, anxiety, and depression.

Get Rid of Stress, Anxiety, and Depression through Massage Therapy

The great thing about massage therapy is that it helps release the tension that builds up inside your body. 

Let us check how massage therapy helps relieve stress, anxiety, and depression.

• Decreases Cortisol Levels

Consistently high cortisol levels can negatively alter the brain’s structure and level of functioning and directly contribute to the onset of anxiety by destroying neurons in the hypothalamus. 

According to research, massage lowered cortisol levels, increasing alertness, speed, and accuracy on math computations and lowering anxiety levels and job stress scores.

During a massage, autonomic nervous system stimulation occurs. The autonomic system triggers the release of positive hormones around the body that help replace negative hormones. 

Replacing the negative hormone cortisol lowers the level circulated in the body, helping decrease stress and other negative cortisol symptoms.

How to use massage therapy to help decrease cortisol?

• A deep, firm pressure on the muscle using flattened hands and fingers helps to reduce muscular stress and tension by decreasing the levels of cortisol released due to stress. 

• Firm pressure on the muscle enabling the therapist to get deeper into the muscle tissue encourages increased relaxation as circulation is improved, helping decrease stress and depression.

• Pulling soft tissues with flattened hands and fingers in the opposite direction decreases pain by reducing tightness and restriction, decreasing the production of cortisol. 

A reduction in stress and pain then lets a person relax psychologically. Relaxation can improve a person’s energy levels, sleeping, and overall positive mood. 

• Improves Circulation

Stress and anxiety can also constrict blood vessels and reduce blood flow. 

Massage therapy can help to improve circulation by relaxing the muscles and increasing blood flow to the affected areas, which can help reduce stress and anxiety.

It can even boost lower-than-normal blood pressure, a symptom often associated with adrenal fatigue, anxiety, and depression due to poor circulation and blood flow. 

How does massage therapy improves circulation, reducing stress, anxiety, and depression?

• It can help relax the muscles, increasing blood flow and improving circulation.

• It can stimulate blood flow by increasing the pressure and movement of blood through the vessels. This can help bring oxygen and nutrients to the cells, improving overall health and well-being.

• It can improve the flow of lymph, a clear fluid that helps remove waste and toxins from the body. This can help to improve circulation and overall health.

• Massage can also help to improve the range of motion. This is because when blood flow is increased, it brings oxygen and nutrients to the muscles, which can help to reduce inflammation and pain, making the muscles more flexible.

Massage therapy can greatly complement other forms of treatment by improving circulation and promoting relaxation, reducing stress and anxiety.

• Releases Endorphins

Health Careers states that massage therapy induces the immediate release of endorphins, reducing the levels of stress hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol.

Massage therapy can stimulate the release of endorphins that calms the peripheral nervous system.

When endorphins are released, stress-related hormones are decreased; therefore, the feeling of stress is relieved.

This can help to reduce pain and improve mood, making it an effective treatment for depression.

How do massage therapies release endorphins?

• Massage therapy involves where soft tissues being pulled and squeezed in circular movements.
  It helps to promote cellular exchange, increase blood and lymph flow, and muscular preparation for deeper techniques.

• During the massage, your blood flow increases, which boosts the release of endorphins by the autonomic nervous system.

• Similarly, the myofascial technique is slowly applied to the treatment area using flattened hands and fingers that help raise the fascia's temperature.

Rising the temperature of the fascia allows the release of endorphins.

• Provides Emotional Support

Did you know massage therapy utilizes specific massage oil to provide emotional healing?

Therefore, massage therapy can be a form of emotional support that eases muscle tension, reduces stress, create a sense of security & comfort, and lifts mood. 

How can massage therapy provide emotional support?

• Massage therapy involves physical touch, which can be comforting and soothing. The therapist's touch can create a sense of connection and support, which can help to reduce feelings of stress and anxiety.

• Massage therapy typically takes place in a quiet, calming environment. The therapist’s touch and the quiet, calming atmosphere can provide a sense of security and comfort, reducing stress and anxiety.

• It also encourages self-care, essential for reducing stress and promoting overall well-being.

• It can help promote relaxation by slowing down the heart rate, reducing muscle tension, and promoting calm and well-being.

• It can also offer a sense of control, as the client can choose the type of massage, the pressure, and the areas they want to focus on. This can help reduce stress and anxiety as the client feels more in control of the experience.

This is why massage therapy can greatly complement other forms of treatment by providing emotional support and promoting relaxation.

• Increases Overall Happiness

The study has found that regular massage therapy not only decreased the production of cortisol but also significantly increased the production of serotonin and dopamine. 

Serotonin is the essential hormone that stabilizes your mood and feeling of well-being. 

Dopamine, on the other hand, influences your overall mood, feelings of reward, and motivation, usually associated with productivity and happiness.

When you combine these two factors, it will lead to a happier individual.

Therefore, massage therapy can help increase happiness and reduce stress by promoting relaxation and muscle tension. 

How can massage therapy increase happiness?

• Massage therapy stimulates the release of endorphins, chemicals in the brain that act as natural painkillers and mood elevators. This can help improve mood, reduce stress, and increase overall happiness.

• It can promote relaxation by slowing down the heart rate, reducing muscle tension, and promoting feelings of calm and well-being which helps to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression and improve overall mood.

• Stress and anxiety can often cause insomnia and other sleep disorders. Massage therapy can help relax the body and mind, promoting better sleep and overall well-being.

• Massage therapy can also be a form of self-care, vital for reducing stress and promoting overall well-being. It can provide a sense of security and comfort and help you to focus on taking care of yourself and your needs.

Being a happier person can bring an infinite number of positive effects on their personal life and the lives of those around them.

• Helps You Sleep Better

Sleep deprivation is widely recognized as a contributing factor to feelings of stress and depression. This sleep deprivation is often the result of common sleep disorders such as sleep apnea or insomnia. 

A study found that a massage can help you get quality sleep by helping your body relax and stimulating the serotonin hormone that promotes sleep. 

How can massage therapy help you sleep better?

• Massage can help you relax and relieve your body of all the tension accumulated throughout your day so you can fall asleep and rest peacefully.

• It can promote relaxation by slowing down the heart rate, reducing muscle tension, and promoting feelings of calm and well-being. This can help to reduce anxiety and stress, making it easier to fall asleep.

• Stress and anxiety can cause muscle tension, leading to pain and discomfort. Massage therapy can help to relax the muscles and reduce tension, which can help to alleviate pain and improve overall well-being, making it easier to fall asleep.

• Massage improves circulation by relaxing the muscles and increasing blood flow to the affected areas. It can help to bring oxygen and nutrients to the cells, which can improve overall health, making it easier to fall asleep

Ultimately, getting enough sleep leads to better mental health.

Types of Massages that Help Get Rid of Stress, Anxiety, and Depression

• Swedish Massage

This most common type of massage focuses on relaxation and reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. 

The therapists use long smooth strokes, kneading, and circular motions on superficial layers of muscle using massage lotion or oil. 

It will be very gentle, relaxing, and suitable for those with stress.

• Aromatherapy Massage

An aromatherapy massage is a therapy done by adding one or more scented plant oils called essential oils to address specific needs. 

The massage therapist selects oils that are relaxing, energizing, stress-reducing, balancing, etc. 

This massage is particularly suited to stress-related conditions or conditions with an emotional component.

• Stone Massage

Heated, smooth stones are placed on specific points of the body to warm and loosen tight muscles and balance energy centers in the body. 

The therapist may also hold stones and apply gentle pressure with them. The warmth is comforting.

A hot stone massage is suitable for people with muscle tension but prefers a lighter massage.

• Deep Tissue Massage

In this type of massage, the therapist uses firm pressure and gentle strokes to reach deeper layers of muscle tissue. 

It can help to release chronic muscle tension and pain, which can be caused by stress and anxiety.

• Trigger Point Massage

This type of massage focuses on specific areas of muscle tension, known as trigger points. 

The therapist uses pressure to release these points, which can help to reduce pain and muscle tension throughout the body.

• Myofascial Release

This massage works on the fascia, the connective tissue surrounding muscles and organs. 

It can help to release restrictions and improve flexibility, which can help to reduce muscle tension and pain caused by stress.

• Shiatsu

This type of massage uses finger pressure and is based on traditional Chinese medicine. It can help to balance the body's energy, reduce muscle tension, and promote relaxation.

• Foot Massage

A foot massage for depression would be Reflexology which works to stimulate the better function of the organs and systems of your body through pressure points in the feet. 

Any method in which the mind and body can connect, such as through massage, will lead to relieved tension, improved health, better stress management, and relief of depression symptoms.

Conclusion

Massage therapy can be an effective part of treatment if you have been experiencing depression or anxiety or are just overloaded with extra stress.

Remember, massage therapy may be helpful for some people but is not a substitute for professional medical treatment. 

Get in touch with Lemon Massage Therapy if you are considering making an appointment for massage therapist services.