Let's Talk About Stress Relief & Massages

Despite our efforts, stress is an inevitable part of life. Long hours in the office and sitting for too long can put an intense strain on our whole body, adversely affect our mental health and lead to chronic stress. Fortunately, there is a proven treatment for relieving stress, treating pain and promoting better postural habits.

Massage therapy is a non-invasive and risk-free approach to dealing with stress that will reinvigorate you and help you release tension. It involves manually manipulating the soft tissues to provide a sense of deep relaxation, alleviate soreness and boost blood circulation to bolster our body’s regenerative mechanisms.

Read along to learn more about the effects of chronic stress on your physical and mental health and how massage therapy can help you reduce stress and restore your quality of life.

How Stress Affects Your Body

Few people know that adequate levels of short-term stress have an extended list of protective and beneficial effects on the body. The surge of hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline helps you face daily challenges, achieve your goals, boost memory, fortify the immune system and generally, help you accomplish tasks more efficiently.

However, once chronic stress ensues and you feel yourself under constant pressure all the time, there is a whole torrent of physiological responses that start becoming harmful. We experience a rapid heart rate, decreased libido, unexplained headaches, hypertension, upset stomach, sleep deterioration and weaker immune system.

Overall, these responses combined increase the risk for developing gastritis, diabetes and thrombotic events such as heart attacks and strokes.

How Stress Affects Your Mental Health and Behavior

For some patients, the psychological effects of stress are even more prominent than the physical ones. Studies show that chronic stress can cause eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia, social withdrawal, irritability, lack of motivation and depression.

Overall, chronic stress can affect your ability and ambition to pursue and achieve goals, worsen your relationships with friends and family, and stop you from enjoying life to the fullest.

Numerous clinical trials show notable stress relief and symptom alleviation in most individuals who have massages regularly. 

How Massages Help You Relieve Stress

The most prominent benefits of massage on stress associate with the ability to calm the central nervous system. The effect reverses the physiological responses linked with discomfort and diseases, including increased heart rate, hypertension, high glucose, sleep impairment and weak immune system.

The emotional response to touch that massages bring leaves a surge of serotonin, dopamine and endorphins. These hormones promote positive feelings and act as mood stabilizers and pain relievers.

Following various studies and clinical trials over the past decades, the American Massage Therapy Association now affirms that therapeutic massages have the potential to alleviate the adverse effects of chronic stress on your physical and mental health.

Schedule Your Next Massage Appointment With Us Today!

The ability to significantly mitigate stress along with providing a deep state of relaxation, pain management and increasing joint mobility and flexibility makes massage therapy a brilliant option for virtually everyone.

Our exceptionally skilled experts at Don Valley Health and Wellness in Toronto are ready to meet with you today! We have years of experience in massage therapy, chiropractic care and physiotherapy to provide a holistic approach to your needs and treatment plan.

To learn more about our services, give us a call at 416-466-4438, or book an appointment online.