Massage and Anxiety/Depression

Did you know by 2030, Depression is projected by the W.H.O. to be the #2 disease. The main cause of depression being stress and anxiety combined with genetics.

Stress activates our body's Sympathetic Nervous System. The SNS causes your adrenal glands to release hormones that cause your heart rate and blood pressure to increase. Along with receiving a burst of energy. One of these hormones is cortisol. So why is this important? When we are in prolonged periods of stress we continue to stay in this state for an extended time period. Increasing our cortisol levels over long periods of time can cause weight gain, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, muscle weakness, and mood swings(i.e. depression, anxiety, and irritability).

So how can massage help? Massage is proven to decrease cortisol levels by at least 50%, while at the same time increasing seratonin and dopamine. These are 2 of the 4 happy hormones our body produces. So as they increase we feel happier and our stress response decreases. Massage may not cure depression, but it can greatly reduce its symptoms and make us feel better so we are more able to deal with it.