Mental Health & Massage

The verdict is in, professional massage therapy is your mental health's friend! Many studies have been done over the course of the last 30 years in the massage and mental health industries. Noteworthy mentions include:

"Single applications of massage therapy reduced state anxiety, blood pressure, and heart rate. Multiple applications reduced delayed assessment of pain. Reductions of trait anxiety and depression were massage therapies largest effects, with a regular course of treatment providing benefits similar in magnitude to those of psychotherapy."
Field, T., et. al. J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry. 31(1):125-31.

"Massage reduces anxiety and depression in child and adolescent psychiatric patients. A 30 minute treatment can lower cortisol levels, improve nighttime sleep, and aid in improving general attitude and cooperation." Moyer, C.A., et. al. APA Psychological Bulletin. 130(1):3-18. 1992.

"Following massage therapy, on average, there is a marked drop in levels of cortisol, the stress hormone (31%) and a near parallel increase in the 'happy hormones' serotonin (28%) and dopamine (31%)." Field, T., et. al. Int. J. Neuroscience. 115(10):1397-413.

Furthermore, massage may help mitigate many of the secondary effects of stress, including muscle tension, inflammation, headache, TMJ pain, disturbed breathing patterns, bloating, nausea, constipation, restlessness, feelings of overwhelm, feelings of low self-worth, body detachment, fatigue, mental fog, inability to concentrate, and more.

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NOTE: We are not not a replacement for professional counseling services but we can help you find a professional to talk to if you need to! Please don't hesitate to ask. If you have been contemplating self-harm or suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 800-273-8255 (or dial 911) immediately. If you think you might be suffering from depression, they also have a Depression test that's FREE.