Massage therapy: a boon for mentally tired people

Mental health is not a destination but a process. It’s how you drive, not where you’re going.

So — you’ve finally started looking for a massage therapist. Before finding one, you might try to determine the issue: why do you want it? Is it for treating depression, or perhaps to increase your levels of concentration? Whatever the reason, a series of massage therapies has been proven a boon for curing mental fatigue, anxiety and depression, along with other positive benefits. In this article, we’ll see how massage therapy can change your life for the better. Ready to read?

Massage for mental fatigue

Tiredness can be both physical and mental. An unhealthy diet, depression, overwork, improper sleep, the side-effects of certain medicines — all can be root causes of emotional fatigue. And America has noticed: after chiropractors, massage therapists are the most preferred complementary medicine providers across the US. A recent study showed that US residents spend approximately $11 billion annually on massage — and the American Massage Therapy Association’s projections say that figure will rise considerably in the coming years.

The mundane activities of daily life create tension in your muscles — and it is when these muscles tense chronically that your mind, too, becomes affected. By preventing the further activation of stress-related hormones, massage redresses the body’s natural balance. That is how it treats mental and emotional fatigue.

It works wonders on depression

Many mentally tired people are experiencing, or have experienced, depression to some extent. A common treatment is anti-depressant medication — a seemingly easy solution, and in some cases a very suitable one. Another conventional approach, tackling depression at its root, is psychotherapy, commonly called “talking therapy.” Both forms of treatment are highly effective in particular situations, especially in the short term. But the longer-term side-effects of medication, and the limit to how much talking can actually resolve, mean a complementary remedy is necessary.

Though massage treats several mental health conditions, its results against depression are outstanding. A recent report on the effectiveness of massage found that depressed people receiving massage reported lower levels of depression than those who received no such therapy.

The chemistry of a good hour

In the western world, people used to see massage as a luxury — something a little indulgent. In the medical world, though, things are changing rapidly. Eastern cultures have long woven regular massage into daily life: terms like shiatsu, reiki and acupuncture have been recognised in Asian cultures as methods of treatment. Complementing traditional western medicine, massage therapies are evolving into an option that counteracts — even reduces — adrenaline and cortisol, while increasing dopamine and serotonin, to carry you past emotional fatigue.

Different kinds of massage therapies can lower the levels of cortisol by up to 53%.

Researchers, University of Miami School of Medicine

The best results, however, are achieved when massage is performed under the guidance and expertise of a certified therapist. A trained expert uses massage as a holistic treatment technique — understanding the individual’s background, including any medical conditions. The massage centre should be designed for clients to feel comfortable, and ideally the therapist encourages open discussion about whatever is currently affecting your life.

Three hours of sleep, in one session

Experienced and renowned therapists throughout the world believe that a good massage is equal to three hours of sound sleep. Since much of the body’s “damage” is repaired during sleep, the beneficial technique of massage does the same work. Those who suffer some degree of insomnia can benefit greatly from regular massage — especially when the insomnia itself cannot be resolved.

Massage also plays an essential role in boosting immunity, by increasing circulating white blood cells — immunity that is crucial in fighting viral disease. This, indirectly, greatly impacts the state of mind: when you’re physically healthy, you feel happy from the inside. In the same way, when you’re stressed, you’ll start to observe certain disease symptoms. The good thing is that by opting for massage, you can have a happy and healthy life.