A physically taxing experience isn’t the only way to strain and damage your musculature system.
There is so much we don’t know about the brain, but we do know that there is a connection between our mental and our physical health: when something causes a detriment to our mental health, it will affect our bodies as well.
An estimated 70% of the population have experienced an event in their lifetimes which could result in Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, more commonly called PTSD.
We see this most often in military veterans returning home after witnessing combat, but it is also diagnosed in those who have experienced violence, accidents, and even natural disasters. It’s common to have a life-upset after a tragic experience for weeks or even months after, but people who have PTSD are unable to let go of the event.
However, massage has had a positive effect on the symptoms which are side effects of PTSD.
WHAT IS PTSD?
Post-traumatic stress episodes are triggered by imbalances in chemicals in the brain brought on by moments of stress. When the mind is flooded with these chemicals, a person’s feelings and behavior are affected, and they are unable to stop reliving the PTSD causing moments.
Those suffering from this condition are in a constant state of heightened anxiety, always posed for “Fight or Flight.” This creates a continual tension of the muscles which also results in physical pain.
Common symptoms include:
- Reliving the event through nightmares, flashbacks, or triggers
- Avoiding trauma-related events (e.g., evading vehicular travel if you were involved in a car accident)
- An adverse change in thoughts or feelings, including the way one feels about oneself or others
- Experiencing hyperarousal – inability to sleep or concentrate, startling easily, etc.
This is all paired with anxiety, depression, and fatigue.
PTSD is generally treated one of two ways:
- Exposure therapy – As the name implies, this type of treatment exposes patients to their trauma experience in safe ways.
- Cognitive restructuring – Often used in conjunction with exposure therapy to help a victim understand their cognitive patterns associated with their experience so they can move past it.
Prescription medication is often part of psychological treatment as well.
HOW CAN MASSAGE HELP?
Adding a massage regimen can also aid in PTSD recovery.
Massage therapy is focused on bringing healing to the musculature system, often by relaxing the muscles, tendons, and soft tissues. With constant tension from muscles, physical recovery from PTSD can be difficult. The victim can get stuck in recovery limbo if they’re not being treated on every level.
Through several studies, it’s been confirmed that positive touch, such as massage, also stimulates positive-feeling serotonin in the brain, which helps to begin relaxation. When a person undergoing treatment is in a relaxed state, it’s much easier for positive effects on mental health to take place. Massage allows someone who is suffering from PTSD to relax completely and regain association with their body.
It can also assist in normalizing hormone reproduction. The stress of a traumatic event can cause an overproduction of cortisol, a hormone in the brain which triggers the “Fight or Flight” as well as metabolism and immune responses through an increase in glucose. When a body builds up too much of this hormone, it can upset blood sugar levels. This also causes sleeplessness, weight gain, immune suppression, headaches, and even anxiety.
There’s no one-type of massage that benefits PTSD over another – the primary goal is positive touch that brings relaxation. That could come from relaxation massage or even facials – it just depends on the individual receiving the treatment and what benefits them the most.
PLEASE NOTE
It’s important to note that massage should not be a form of PTSD therapy without first seeking help from a psychologist or psychotherapist. Those suffering from traumatic events view the world as a commonly unsafe place and are weary of those they don’t know.
Physical touch can be a trigger for some victims as well, which can be traumatic – particularly true for sexual abuse survivors. With this in mind, a massage without first focusing on mental health can be more of a hindrance than a help in the healing process.
Once you have spoken with your mental health therapist and have come to the conclusion that massage therapy is the right addition to your treatment, you can contact MG Sports Massage to book a session. We will work with you, so your session is relaxing and valuable to your recovery.