Does Massage Help With Depression (Answered)

Yes, Massage can help with depression. This therapy can help to improve the moods of depressed people. Moreso, the effects of this therapy vary from one individual to another. 

However, if you’re fighting depression, it isn’t enough to seek the help of a massage therapist; you also need to book a session with your counselor. Combining these two things can increase your chances of getting through your period of depression quickly. 

So why do we think Massage is good for depression? Research shows us that an hour massage session with your therapist lowers cortisol (a hormone the body produces in response to stress). 

In its place, one of your body’s anti-pain mechanism hormones called serotonin increases by 28 percent. As a result, your body’s ability is boosted to fight off negative emotions like sadness and anxiety.

Also Read:Does Massage Really Release Toxins: All You Need To Know Explained

Common Depression Symptoms You shouldn’t Ignore

The symptoms of depression aren’t the same for everyone. Besides, “The National Institute of Mental Health” states that frequency, duration, and severity of symptoms will differ. However, it depends on the patient and their peculiar illness.

Nevertheless, we enumerate some of the common symptoms of depression below:

• Feelings of helplessness, guilt, and worthlessness 
• Restlessness, irritability, and loss of interest in activities or hobbies once pleasurable such as sex
• Lack of concentration and difficulty in remembering details and making decisions
• Decreased energy, fatigue, appetite loss, or overeating
• Insomnia and excessive sleeping
• Feelings of pessimism, anxiety, and “empty” feelings
• Suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts
• Persistent pains, cramps, migraines, headaches, or digestive issues that don’t reduce even with treatment

How Does Massage Therapy Help Depression

Dr. Mason Turner said massage therapy is valuable in treating depression through muscle tension relief and improvement of physical health. (Dr. Mason Turner is chief of psychiatry at Kaiser Permanente hospital, San Francisco). Furthermore, he said that Massage could also strengthen our body-mind connection.

To further emphasize how Massage helps depression, several studies show that this therapy can help to ease tension in your connective tissues and muscles. And this allows blood circulation and increased relaxation. Thus it will improve your mood and reduce your depression level.

However, it’s important to note that massage therapy may sometimes not be the answer to your depression. But then, it would help to alleviate the physical symptoms associated with the condition. For instance, massage therapy will relieve back pain, anxiety, stress, muscle ache, fatigue, sleeping disorders, and many others.

What Are The Best Massage For Depression

If you are feeling depressed, the paragraphs below provide some of the best massage forms for depression:

Aromatherapy Massage

An aromatherapy massage is the type of massage therapy that involves adding scented plant oils, commonly known as essential oils, to meet specific needs. Your therapist can choose oils that relax, energize, relieve or ease stress, and more. 

Lavender is one of the common essential oils used in aromatherapy massage. The aromatherapy massage is particularly suitable for emotional-related conditions like depression, and other related conditions.

Thai Massage

In Thai massage, the energy of the body is focused on specific points by applying gentle pressure. This massage form also includes stretches and compressions. You won’t lie there while the therapist is moving and stretching you into a variety of postures. It’s similar to yoga without work. Thai Massage is more energetic than other massage forms. 

Shiatsu

Shiatsu is a Japanese form of bodywork. And in this massage form, local pressure is applied with the fingers to the acupuncture meridians in a rhythmic sequence. Furthermore, each point is held for two to eight seconds to improve energy flow and allows your body to regain balance.

People are often amazed when they try Shiatsu for the first time. This is because it’s not only relaxing, but the pressure is firm, and there is usually no pain afterward.

Also Read:Can Massage Therapy Cause Injury And Side Effects? 5 Tips To Avoid Them

Feeling Depressed? 4 Things To Consider Before Receiving A Massage

Massage therapy doesn’t have many adverse side effects that are potentially damaging. However, you may initially experience some soreness in your entire body during the first few days after the therapy. Here are four things you should consider before getting massage therapy:

1. Underlying illness: Ensure you consult your physician before receiving massage treatment, especially if you are unsure if it’s not suitable for your condition.
2. Massage Therapist: Ensure you determine whether your massage therapist is professionally qualified to treat you for depression. Additionally, we recommend you visit a therapist with years of experience under his belt.
3. Massage Forms: You should understand that some forms of massage therapy like aromatherapy massage are much more effective in managing depression than others
4. Cost: The cost of visiting a massage therapist to undergo treatment may not be budget-friendly for you. Always ensure to know if this is something you can afford.

If you’re looking for an alternative to massage therapy, check out the Opove M3 Pro massage gun. Read this review below to know more about the product. OPOVE M3 Pro Massage Gun Review: Why It’s Worth The Hype

Effect Of Massage On Depression

Applying massage therapy to a person suffering from depression is essential. This is because it will help release the structural collapse associated with depression and erect and support it. Besides, a structural collapse usually makes a person hopeless or helpless. 

Nevertheless, a sense of support makes a person feel more robust and capable of handling depressive issues. Below are vital points that are released for structural support: 

• The musculature, plus connective tissue of the chest front that leads to the shoulders medial rotation and a sunken chest
• The musculature, plus connective tissue of the anterior upper arms and shoulders that lead to the internal arms rotation
• The diaphragmatic arch and the abdomen
• The musculature and the anterior neck connective tissue plus the posterior neck and top of the shoulders. 

Ensure you bring your legs out of hyperextension and more beneath your body. All of this will create a major structural change when you’re depressed. Furthermore, when your structural collapse is corrected, you become much more energized. This extra energy will allow you to become more active in other activities that can get you out of depression.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Massage good for depression?

Yes, there is no doubt that massage therapy is a good form of treatment for depressed people. So we highly recommend Massage for depression. But ensure you seek your doctor’s advice before you begin a journey to this therapy.

What is the real cause of depression?

According to www.health.harvard.edu, little or excessive chemicals in the human brain don’t cause depression. Instead, depression could be caused by a series of things like medical issues, stressful life events, genetic vulnerability, medications, and loss of loved ones.

Does deep tissue massage release emotions?

Yes, deep tissue massage can often lead to significant emotional releases of negative emotions stored in your body for a long time. Additionally, massage techniques such as Thai massage, aromatherapy massage, and Shiatsu are also helpful in relieving the body of negative emotions.

Does Massage improve mental health?

Massage can stimulate the body’s production of endorphins, which influence our mood, reduce stress, and induce relaxation. When your body experiences an increase in endorphins such as dopamine and serotonin,  your stress levels will be lowered.increased

Can the brain be massaged?

Yes, a deep tissue massage can stimulate receptors in different points of the brain. Substantial evidence is available that massage therapy can promote brain function, lower stress, and reduce depression in people, including the younger population. 

Why does a massage feel good?

You feel good when you receive a nice massage because it releases endorphins (feel-good hormones) in your body. You also feel good due to the release of oxytocin by the brain. Also, oxytocin is a natural chemical that helps to alleviate pain and acts as an antidepressant.

Is daily Massage harmful?

This is not an exact science as people’s specific needs differ. However, massage treatment is a safe therapy. Nonetheless, it’s still essential you consult your doctor before going for a massage session, especially when you have a severe ailment. More importantly, ensure you seek a massage therapist who is more experienced to meet your specific needs.

Wrapping Up

Depression is a condition we should take seriously. Unfortunately, over the years, the rate of depression among young people has increased. This devastating condition is responsible for the deaths of so many people across the world.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, “Depression can adversely affect the course and outcome of common chronic conditions, such as arthritis, asthma, cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and obesity.” 

CDC also states that: “Depression also can result in increased work absenteeism, short-term disability, and decreased productivity.” So, if you suspect you’re depressed or suffering from another mental health condition, visit your doctor. 

But, ensure you do this before getting massage therapy or some complementary treatments. If you feel this is a bit expensive for you, we recommend buying the Opove M3 Pro. Lastly, you can visit their official website, Opove.com, to check the review and price of the product.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this website results from in-depth research on various topics. The articles on this site are only for informational and educational purposes, and it’s not intended as medical or health advice. Hence, we suggest you always ensure to seek the opinion of your doctor or other qualified health personnel regarding any questions that relate to health objectives or medical conditions.