Massage Therapy and Mental Health
For several years now, many studies have shown that massage therapy has real positive effects on mental health, particularly for people living with anxiety, depression or burnout. Massage therapy offers many benefits, both physiological and physical. It improves mood and reduces stress and depressive symptoms.
Why choose a relaxing approach like massage therapy to support better psychological balance?
First, it’s important to understand that massage therapy acts on the stress hormone (cortisol), which contributes to a feeling of well-being. Anxiety, depression and burnout can all influence stress levels and show up in the body as muscle tension. When the body and mind feel overwhelmed, it becomes harder to return to a state of balance and calm. Massage helps relax the nervous system, as well as releasing tension in the body.
Over the long term, anxiety can exhaust not only the body but also the mind, by maintaining a constant sense of alertness that makes it harder to feel completely relaxed or emotionally available. Since massage therapy can offer a moment of rest, by promoting muscle relaxation and acting on the nervous system, it allows the person to find a space to reconnect with themselves, listen to themselves and recharge.
Moreover, all these benefits allow the body to reach deep relaxation, because the parasympathetic system — responsible for slowing the heart rate, blood pressure and breathing — promotes better sleep.
Anxiety and stress have a major impact on sleep, and sleep is essential to strengthen the immune system and reduce certain physical health problems. In addition, anxiety and depression can worsen other health problems. So, if massage therapy helps reduce anxiety and depression, the other health improvements we observe could be linked to this reduction in psychological symptoms.
Mental health deserves as much attention as physical health.
It is recommended that you consult a health professional or a mental health worker if your life is in danger or if you are going through a difficult time psychologically. Massage therapy can be a valuable complement to overall well-being, but it in no way replaces medical follow-up, medication or appropriate psychological support.
– Rébecca Bibeau, registered massage therapist
References:
- https://www.fqm.qc.ca/le-massager/les-bienfaits-du-massage-sur-la-sante-physique/
- https://rmpq.ca/blogue/massotherapie-et-sante-mentale-des-effets-mieux-demontres-quon-ne-le-croit/
- https://commissionsantementale.ca/resource/sommeil-et-sante-mentale-quelle-est-la-connexion/
About the author
Massage therapist
A Quebec Sign Language (LSQ) interpreter for over 10 years, Rebecca has always used her hands as a means of communication. It was natural for her to turn to massage therapy, finding in it a deep and intuitive language to support well-being and human connection. A member of the RMPQ, she offers an accessible and inclusive space, practising in French and LSQ.
Book an appointment with Rebecca See her profile → @espacecorps