The Practical Guide To Managing Stress With Massage Therapy

With the hustle and bustle of life, it’s very easy to become stressed. While there are ways to help relieve it, sometimes these aren’t always the most practical solutions. They also might take some time in order to work and some methods could be pricey. However, there are thankfully a few ways you can easily manage stress with the help of massage therapy. Below you’ll find more about what causes stress and ways massage therapy can help you.

What Causes Stress?

Stress is caused when your body tries to respond to a perceived threat or problem. It causes your body to activate a “flight-or-fight” response which is its way of protecting you. While stress can sometimes be helpful in certain situations as it can give you strength and energy, most of the time it can be very harmful. Chronic stress can eventually lead to many health problems and even hurt your lifestyle, relationships, and mood.

What is the Autonomic Nervous System?

When your body becomes stressed, it triggers the autonomic nervous system. This system sends messages to the body through the central nervous and parasympathetic nervous systems. When the messages are received, it can cause various reactions in the body, such as stress or fear. In addition to this, it can cause a faster heart rate, high blood pressure, and a dry mouth.

Problems Disbalance with the Autonomic Nervous System Can Cause

As mentioned above, there are many health problems that can arise from a disbalance with your autonomic nervous system. In addition to these issues, other problems can be caused such as:

• Arthritis
• Liver problems
• Anxiety
• Dilation of pupils
• Disorders of the gastrointestinal tract
• Heart problems

When the autonomic nervous system interacts with other nervous systems, especially the parasympathetic, it can cause your body to overwork. If done too much, it will eventually lead to significant health problems which could prove fatal.

What is Massage Therapy?

Massage therapy or chiropractic massage therapy includes a chiropractor or massage therapist using their hands or other devices to release tension. This manual manipulation works to relieve various areas in the body like:

• Connective tissues
• Tendons
• Ligaments

Massage therapy will vary in its techniques depending on your needs. For instance, if you’re stressed, you might need to use a Swedish massage. On the other hand, if you have sore muscles, you might need to have a deep tissue massage done.

Benefits of Massage Therapy for Stress

There are many benefits that come with massage therapy for stress.

• • It Relaxes You

One of the biggest benefits of massage therapy is that it relaxes you. This is because it reduces your heart rate and helps to calm your muscles. In return, your body will release endorphins which are known for their “feel-good” chemicals.

• • It Can Heal Many Other Health Problems

If you’re stressed out from health problems you might have, the good news is massage therapy can sometimes help to heal them. This includes fibromyalgia, headaches, insomnia, and anxiety.

• • It Removes Toxins

Because massages will increase blood flow, it can remove toxins from your body. By doing so, it can help to keep your body flexible and more energetic. This is because your body won’t be weighed down by dangerous particles.

• • It Improves Circulation

Massage therapy is a great way to help improve circulation. This is because it moves lactic acid away from the muscles which otherwise can cause pain and a buildup of toxins. A good circulatory system will help to provide the body with oxygen to keep the brain and other organs healthy. It also improves the lymphatic system as it prevents it from having to overwork and filter through excessive toxins in the body.

Practical Ways to Manage Stress with Massage Therapy

Thankfully, there are plenty of practical ways you can manage stress. This is especially so with massage therapy.

• • Sign Up for a Professional Massage

By having a professional massage session done every week, you can help to reduce and manage your stress. This can help to prevent a build-up of tension in the body which can increase stress levels. For many massage centers, prices tend to be very low making these sessions easy on your wallet.
The massage therapist will be able to do different types of massages for you based on your symptoms. Some common massage types they might use are:

• • • Swedish massage: ideal for those with a lot of tension. It uses kneading, circular motions, and vibrations to help provide relief. Swedish massage also uses lotions and oils.
    • Hot stone massage: helps with pain and tension by placing hot stones on the spine. This form of massage therapy also helps to reduce stress.
    • Deep tissue massage: uses heavy amounts of pressure to help relieve tension or muscle knots. While it uses slow strokes, the pressure applied is very heavy.
    • Reflexology: helps to restore energy levels by applying pressure to different areas of the body, mainly the hands and feet. While it uses pressure, it’s much gentler compared to a deep tissue massage.
  • Do Simple Massages Yourself

While you might not have the professional experience of a massage therapist, you can do simple massages yourself. For instance, if you have tired eyes from stress, you can take your thumbs and do gentle circular motions under your eyebrows.

If you have headaches, you can take your fingers and apply firm pressure on your temples. Keep this pressure going as you move your fingers around your hairline until they meet at the top of your forehead.

Stress is a common problem and one that can be very harmful to your health if not managed. However, there are many ways you can relieve tension in your body, especially with massage therapy. Massage therapy will not only help to reduce stress, but keep you healthy and active. Because of this, it’s ideal to consider using to help keep your stress levels in balance.

My chiropractic clinics offer free massage therapy service in Anchorage and Juneau. You should come visit should you be around Alaska.

About Dr. Brent Wells

Dr. Brent Wells, D.C. has been a chiropractor for over 20 years and has treated thousands of patients. He founded Better Health Chiropractic & Physical Rehab in Alaska in 1998 and is a member of the American Chiropractic Association and the American Academy of Spine Physicians. Dr. Wells is also the author of over 700 online health articles that have been featured on sites such as Dr. Axe and Lifehack. He continues his education to remain active and updated in all studies related to neurology, physical rehab, biomechanics, spine conditions, brain injury trauma, and more.