OW, PAIN!. I pulled my hamstring or twisted my ankle, I’ve worked out too hard and now all my sh*t is busted. I should go for a massage. Many people have been through this and yes a massage is warranted and probably quite welcome. However, what is not often heard is “I’m so depressed, I’ll get a massage or I want to punch my husband in the butt, I should get a massage. This is stress, everyone knows and has probably experienced it before. But what they don’t realize are all of the psychological effects of it.
Here’s a list!
- Depression and/or anxiety.
- Anger, irritability, or restlessness.
- Feeling overwhelmed, unmotivated, or unfocused.
- Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much.
- Racing thoughts or constant worry.
- Problems with your memory or concentration.
- Making bad decisions.
The point is, is that stress does muck with your mind which eventually wreaks havoc on your body.
Here’s a list!
- Hypertension, heart attack, or stroke
- Chronic fatigue, metabolic disorders (e.g., diabetes, obesity), and immune disorders.
- Burping, gassiness, bloating, heartburn (acid reflux), nausea, vomiting
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Digestion and nutrient absorption issues
- Low sex drive, erectile dysfunction, and impotence (in men)
- absent or irregular, more painful, and changes in the length of a womans’ cycle
This scary list is what happens when you are in chronic stress. If there is constant stimulation of the Autonomic Nervous System (fight or flight system) which triggers physical reaction the wear and tear on the body will show.
This is how massage helps. It calms the Central Nervous System, which turns off the Autonomic Nervous system, activates the Peripheral Nervous system (rest and digest system) and allows the body to re-regulate. The power of safe touch, time and space for someone to just be calm can and does impact every system a human has in their body (of which there are many)
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