Today many people face different levels of mental health. As mental health problems become more common, people are searching for more treatment options such as in-home massage therapy. Feelings of anxiety and sadness are the most common situations that can be treated through in-home massage treatment. In-home massage gives relaxation and stress relief to the body. Also, it can be an effective tool that can fit into a treatment plan for mental health problems.
The connection between physical and mental health is well-known and well researched. After all, it is difficult to get one without the other. Depression and stress can have a large impact on both aspects of our well-being. There is no lack of finding areas that produce stress in our normal daily lives; office, relationships, economical stress, the list goes on. Finding healthy treatment for stress can help us deal with both physical and mental issues. As we all know that in-home massage is good for a broad range of physical problems, science also shows that regular massage has great effects on our mental health. Scheduling a regular in-home massage into your month can help change your body, mind, and productivity.
Massage for mental health:
As we all know, mental health is a person’s state of mind. It is connected with psychological and emotional health. Mental health issues can vary from the worries of everyday life to serious long term problem. It can be divided into two groups called “neurotic” or “psychotic”. Neurotic mental health includes severe symptoms of “normal” emotions such as anxiety, depression, or panic.
In this condition anxiety and depression are common problems that can be severe and long-lasting and have a bad impact on people’s lives. Another less common type of mental health is psychotic behavior. It can interfere with a person’s perception of reality. Mental health issues can affect the way you feel, think, and behave. In-home massage is an appropriate method to use for mental health in the following circumstances:
Relaxation:
In-home massage can be applied for relaxation purposes. Relaxation can occur in both psychological and physiological forms. Psychological relaxation means the decrease in stress hormone release such as cortisol. A decrease in the level of cortisol within the blood will assist the individual to feel a decrease in stress and depression. On the other hand, physiological relaxation refers to the increase in tissue elasticity, flexibility. A decrease in musculoskeletal tension can help the individual to feel a reduction in pain and increase their range of movement and flexibility.
Prior to a stressful event:
In-home massage can be extremely beneficial to a person with mental health issues prior to a stressful event. These stressful events can include a business meeting, interviews, or the first day at a new job. During periods of anxiety and depression, the body enhances the amount of cortisol, a hormone connected with anxiety, stress, and fear. Less amount of cortisol can enable the individual to become attentive and observant during the “fight” or “flight” response. Very long periods of high cortisol levels can make an individual anxious, stressed and even depressed. In-home massage can be used to limit the production of cortisol which can help the individual to feel relaxed and calm.
Following a stressful event:
In-home massage can also be used following a stressful event e.g. following a project presentation, first day at the new job, or exam. In these stressful situations, the body will have faced a sudden increase in levels of adrenaline, cortisol, and norepinephrine which are all stress-related hormones involved in the body’s “fight or flight” response. Although these stress hormones can be helpful within stressful situations to become aware and focused, it can be difficult to relax following a stressful event when these hormones are no longer needed. The application of in-home massage can decrease the production of stress hormones.
Massage and your mind
In-home massage is a powerful wellness tool in producing relaxation and decreasing tension. But does getting an in-home massage actually affect your mental health? Research that calculates the neural activity during and after a massage suggests that in-home massage isn’t just skin deep. Our brains are actually very active during in-home massage!
Take a closer look at mental health during massage:
So what’s occurring inside your head during your in-home massage session? The most important impact of in-home massage on your mental health is your hormone levels. Researchers have recorded increased serotonin and dopamine levels in several massage studies and decreased cortisol levels after an in-home massage session. These hormones are connected to feelings of happiness and tension, respectively. It may be one reason that in-home massage is often used to handle mental health conditions like depression and anxiety disorders.
Checking brain activity during massage showed more interesting findings. In Brian, the right side is more active when we’re depressed, and the left side more active when we’re happy. When we compare brain connectivity, researchers showed enhanced activity on the left and decreased activity on the right. In simple words, getting an in-home massage can make you happier.
The Mental Health Benefits of Massage:
In-home massage is a very effective way to unwinds and relaxes after a long working day. It’s also beneficial for your physical health, since it allows relaxing muscles, decreasing tension, improving circulation, and more. Thanks to in-home massage, you’ll have larger flexibility and range of motion and you will be able to maintain that if you get massage therapy regularly.
Improved Sleep
Taking plenty of regular sleep is an important part of any wellness routine. Without it, we are taking risks to a range of physical and mental issues. While the in-home message isn’t designed to send you off to dreamland on the spot, the effects of enhanced blood circulation and relaxed muscles can assist you to sleep more easily – and for longer.
Promote feelings of wellbeing and connection
Oxytocin is called the “love” or “cuddle” hormone. When people meet physically, hug, or bond, oxytocin is produced, enhancing deep feelings of wellbeing, ease, and comfort. The professional touch of an in-home massage can get that hormone moving in a safe and non-offensive way, as we massage over the clothes.
It helps with emotions related to ongoing illness:
Many people with a chronic illness feel helpless and aren’t sure where to move for treatment. It can lead to stress and anger. In-home massage therapy has been shown very beneficial against these symptoms in people with serious illnesses. People who receive massage had less stress, and anger than a control group. However, you should make sure to see a medical professional in order to ensure in-home massage therapy is ideal for your health issues. For example, those with blood clots should not receive an in-home massage.
Feel Fresh and Energized
We all know that living with any mental illness is very exhausting. It feels difficult to even drag yourself out of bed in the morning, let alone work with a clear mind. Because in-home massage improves circulation, you can feel happier and focused, leaving those feelings of fatigue and lethargy.
Naturally, Increase Serotonin and Dopamine
Today many antidepressants work by causing low levels of serotonin in the brain (the “happy” neurotransmitter.) Scientists have shown that in-home massage can increase both serotonin and dopamine by about 20 percent, giving us a natural mood boost.
Calm Your Mind
The simple act of taking an in-home massage even for 25 minutes can help reset your brain and let you take some deep breaths. This opportunity to step away from your desk can give you perspective, so you return to your work with an energized mind and body.
Relaxed state:
In-home massage allows the individual to experience a relaxed state both physically and psychologically. Physical relaxation can be achieved by decreasing muscular tension and increasing tissue temperature. Another relaxation is obtained through the help of moderate to deep massage strokes which can activate the soft tissue to decrease adhesive connections between the muscular fibers. The use of such techniques increases vasodilatation, which refers to the widening of blood vessels. In-home massage enabled the tissues to increase in temperature due to enhanced blood circulation.
Physiological effects of in-home massage:
in home massage for mental health
The application in the home of massage can produce a number of physiological effects such as;
- Increased endorphins serotonin and dopamine
- Decreased cortisol
- Increased temperature
In-home massage can enhance the release of endorphins such as serotonin and dopamine. Endorphins are produced during times of happiness and relaxation. Low amounts of endorphins are common among people facing mental health problems due to the stress associated. These low levels are linked to negative thoughts, anxiety, stress, and depression. In-home Massage can produce an increase in the release of endorphins with the help of the autonomic nervous system. An increase in levels of serotonin and dopamine can make the individual feeling enthusiastic and relaxed.
In-home massage can decrease the release of cortisol. It is a stress-related hormone released during times of danger. High levels of cortisol are connected to feelings of stress and depression. In-home massage can decrease the production of cortisol by promoting relaxation. A decrease in the levels of cortisol can leave the individual feeling relaxed and happy.
In-home massage can enhance tissue temperature. It is achieved by stimulating an increase in blood flow. An increase in blood flow is obtained through vasodilatation. Due to the increase in blood circulation, it can warm the tissues making them become more relaxed. It can also lead to an increase in tissue elasticity and decreased pain.
Does technique matter?
Some people need an in-home massage in the morning to get their day going, while others need it to fall asleep at night. Some people get energy from in-home massage, and the same activity puts individuals to fall asleep. The type of in-home massage you receive can alter its effect. A slower massage with rhythmic strokes, like a Swedish massage, decrease epinephrine levels and produces a soothing, calming effect. This great relaxation is ideal for facilitating peaceful sleep! Other massage techniques, like deep tissue or sports massage, can offer you an energy boost. This massage work gets deeper into the muscle to produce lymphatic drainage blood circulation.
A longer in-home massage doesn’t always mean more impact. Researchers measured patients’ stress levels before and after a massage and changed the length of the massage. The result showed that while all the massages decreased stress levels; the massage session length didn’t offer a greater effect. Both the 20-minute and 30-minute massage has similar stress-decreasing effects. Next time you’re feeling depressed, try a quick 10–minute in-home massage.
Getting an in-home massage used to be considered a luxury indulgence, but the science is clear. In-home massage has real advantages that enhance overall mental health. Based on all the studies above, it’s no wonder many people add in-home massage as part of a regular fitness routine. You should try our in-home Soothe massage and see if you feel a change in your mental state and feelings after the massage session. Book your time and let us know how it goes!
