{"id":17451,"date":"2013-04-01T11:00:04","date_gmt":"2013-04-01T18:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/?p=17451"},"modified":"2016-09-27T12:57:42","modified_gmt":"2016-09-27T19:57:42","slug":"exploring-the-psychological-benefits-of-massage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/massage-therapy-mental-health-0401135","title":{"rendered":"Exploring the Psychological Benefits of Massage"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"personMost people get a massage in order to relax, perhaps a pleasurable way to unwind after a long work week.\u00a0Others go to address some physical discomfort or injury.\u00a0Maybe your lower back aches from sitting too much in front of a computer.\u00a0Massage can be a sumptuous delight that treats your body\u2019s aches and pains.<\/p>\n

But it can also be an effective choice of treatment for a number of psychological issues:\u00a0depression<\/a>, attention-deficit hyperactivity<\/a>, and posttraumatic stress<\/a>, to name a few.\u00a0After a massage, we may find our spirits have been lifted, or that we\u2019ve broadened our everyday perspectives.\u00a0The opportunity is one for self-awareness.<\/p>\n

The benefit of massage on mental health is not a surprise if we think about the connection between the mind and body.\u00a0The body is a miraculous manifestation that gives us direct access to unknown parts of ourselves. The body revealed by posture, muscle contraction, and flexibility demonstrates the sort of armor we use to protect ourselves in a sometimes difficult world. For instance, an individual with depression\u00a0might tense up or constrict the stomach or back in order to be less\u00a0vulnerable to particular emotions.<\/p>\n

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Find a Therapist<\/a><\/h2>\n\t
\n\n\t\t\t\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\tAdvanced Search<\/a>\n\t<\/form>\n<\/div>The massage therapist is as much a student of the mind as they are\u00a0of the body.\u00a0The massage therapist bears witness to our mounting stresses<\/a> and vulnerabilities, and helps unblock the passageways that allow us to fully breathe in life.\u00a0They soothe feelings of angst that cause depression, and prevent us from connecting to our bodies and experiencing joy.<\/p>\n

An observant massage therapist need only consult a client\u2019s muscles to gain an understanding of their\u00a0psychology.\u00a0For instance, some individuals\u2019 muscles may come across as more or less penetrable.\u00a0A hardened collection of back muscles can serve as a force field, making it difficult to reach deeper layers of musculature.\u00a0Such a force field is simultaneously physical and\u00a0psychological.\u00a0Psychologically, it may represent a general distrust<\/a> or impermeability to others.\u00a0Granted, such armor can be invaluable in adapting to threatening situations.<\/p>\n

If the client is unaware of this\u00a0\u201cbody armor,\u201d the therapist has an opportunity to bring it to the their\u00a0attention.\u00a0With such awareness, the individual may choose to slowly \u201cdisarm\u201d if they are\u00a0carrying \u201cunnecessary armor.\u201d While massaging, the therapist may ask the client to \u201cbreathe into it,\u201d which encourages the development of a deeper trust.\u00a0Every point of contact on the body is an opportunity for self-awareness.\u00a0Psychological healing occurs when we sink into the reality of our bodies.<\/p>\n

Technological advances in communication can paradoxically leave many feeling more isolated and alone.\u00a0When that happens, our life forces may dwindle.\u00a0We communicate with greater numbers of people, especially online, but it may be\u00a0less direct contact and interaction. The mind and body become estranged from physical and emotional stimulation.\u00a0You may then experience feelings of dissociation<\/a>, depression, or detachment.\u00a0What is needed is a return to a nurturing touch, both physically and emotionally.<\/p>\n

Depression can be seen as an estrangement from a caring world.\u00a0The sense of being \u201cheld\u201d in a massage awakens a feeling of being cared about, as the therapist\u2019s focus is a kind of concentrated care for the client.\u00a0Massage offers an opportunity for learning a different way of being.\u00a0Your body may begin to realize that you don’t\u00a0have to tense up so much when work gets stressful.\u00a0If depression is the expectation that you will not receive the connection and nurture that you need, a massage can rattle the rigid sense of isolation<\/a>. Rigidity then dissolves.\u00a0It liquefies into the stream of life.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Commonly associated with relaxation or soothing physical aches and pains, massage can be an effective treatment option for mental health issues like depression.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2591,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[31,233,161,25,47,239],"class_list":["post-17451","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","tag-psychotherapy-practice","tag-chronic-pain","tag-depression","tag-psychotherapy-issues","tag-self-care","tag-stress"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17451","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2591"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17451"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17451\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17451"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17451"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17451"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}