Everyone suffers from stress, and it’s not always a bad thing. whenever you’re pushed out of your comfort zone, you’ll feel stress doing its job. The adrenaline boosting your heart rate, and cortisol boosting your blood sugar, while taking your energy away from the digestive system and immune responses, are exactly what your ancestors needed to fight or flee attackers.
However, when there’s never any relief from all that stress, the ongoing fight-or-flight response can become an issue. Professionals warn that constant stress turns into “distress” - a negative stress reaction. Distress can lead to physical symptoms such as headaches, elevated blood pressure, upset stomach, chest pain, and problems sleeping. Research suggests that stress can also notably bring on or worsen certain symptoms or diseases.
Massage Therapy and Stress
Virtually every negative stress-related symptom can benefit from massage. Research has shown that it helps relax your muscles, lower your heart rate and blood pressure, and increase the production of endorphins, your body’s natural “feel good” chemical. Dopamine and serotonin are also elevated through massage, with the result being a feeling of calm relaxation that makes chronic or habitual as well as acute or short-term stress much easier to manage.
Stress relief is one of the most though of benefits when thinking of massage therapy. It’s also a key component for any individual looking to achieve a healthier lifestyle. Clinical studies have shown that even a single 1-hour session can significantly lower your cortisol levels, heart rate and insulin levels - all of which helps explain why massage therapy and stress relief are two of a kind.
If you’re looking for release from stress, routine visits to Massage Me can be a powerful ally when combating daily pressures and anxiety. In addition to stress relief, ongoing massage therapy can help reduce pain, increase energy levels and improve overall mental and physical performance. Our professional and experienced therapists at Massage Me tailor every massage (and stress relief) session to address your individual needs.
