Trauma is an emotional response to a distressing event that overwhelms an individual’s ability to cope. It can have a significant impact on a person’s mental and physical well-being. Massage therapy has been proven to be a useful treatment for individuals who have experienced trauma. In this blog, we will explore how massage therapy can help individuals who have experienced trauma.
Discover How Massage Therapy Can Help With Trauma
Want to learn more about how massage therapy can help those dealing with trauma? SOCHI breaks down the important information you need to know.
1. Helps to Release Tension and Reduce Anxiety
Trauma is an experience or what is caused by an experience that is deeply distressing or dramatic. This experience can happen to a person, a whole group of people, or even a culture. Due to their disturbing qualities, these events are ingrained in people’s minds causing them to relive the same pain they suffered or at least a form of it. This relieved pain and suffering can hinder someone’s inability to cope or deal with the past events. Trauma makes it hard for people to move on with their lives and deal with recovering. This can be relieved by seeking a massage therapist that can ease the symptoms of trauma for you.
2. Enhances Body Awareness
Massage therapy is an excellent tool for enhancing body awareness. Trauma can lead to disconnection from the body and the environment. Individuals who have experienced trauma can dissociate from the body and its sensations, leading to a sense of “numbness” or “deadness.” Massage therapy provides an opportunity to reconnect with the body and its sensations. It helps to increase self-awareness, providing an opportunity for individuals to recognize, accept, and process their emotions.
3. Boosts Oxytocin Levels
Oxytocin is a hormone associated with bonding, trust, and social connections. Massage therapy has been shown to increase oxytocin levels in the body. An increase in oxytocin levels leads to the reduction of stress and anxiety levels. It also promotes feelings of well-being, social connection, and empathy. This hormone is critical in overcoming feelings of isolation and disconnection that are common in individuals who have experienced trauma.
4. Helps in Releasing Emotional Blockages
Trauma is an emotional experience that can leave a lasting impact on an individual’s emotional well-being. Massage therapy can help to release emotional blockages. It is an effective tool for accessing and working through emotions that have been repressed or suppressed due to trauma. Massage therapy can help individuals to release feelings of sadness, anger, and anxiety that can manifest physically in the body.
5. Promotes a Sense of Safety
Lastly, massage therapy provides a sense of safety. Trauma can leave individuals feeling vulnerable and unsafe in their bodies. Massage therapy provides a safe space for individuals to connect with their emotions, experience touch in a non-threatening environment, and feel grounded in their bodies. It provides an opportunity for individuals to unwind, relax, and let go of feelings of stress and anxiety.
Relief Of Symptoms Trauma with Massage Therapy
Causes of trauma can come from many different events, from individuals affected to whole groups that are affected. When we speak of individuals that are affected, this can sometimes refer to events such as rape or murder or even witnessing the two. In terms of groups that are affected by trauma, a good example would be a natural disaster or an accident that has involved a whole community.
The most common trauma we hear about as a society is PTSD from war flashbacks. When veterans come back from war and are affected cognitively, that is a form of trauma manifesting itself. Although this is all normal, it is important to deal with your trauma with your professional to move on with your life and live healthy.
Using Massage Therapy to Cope With Trauma
Everyone experiences some trauma at some point in their life, but it varies from person to person. Noticing the signs is the first step you should take in your road to recovery. Massage Therapy is a great coping mechanism that can assist people with the symptoms of their trauma. Firstly, it relieves the physical aches and pains that trauma inflicts on a person’s body.
The pressure of massage therapy loosens tense muscles in the body and increases healthy blood flow, thus reducing tight pains and knots in the short and long run. Massage is also known to create endorphins and reduce stress hormones in one body. A bodywork session will leave one relaxed and with an open mind to heal.
Conclusion:
Trauma can have lasting effects on an individual’s mental and physical well-being. Massage therapy is a holistic and non-invasive treatment option that can help individuals who have experienced trauma. The benefits of massage therapy include the release of tension, improved body awareness, increased oxytocin levels, emotional release, and a sense of safety.
It is essential to seek the help of a licensed massage therapist who has experience working with individuals who have experienced trauma. Massage therapy can be a powerful tool in promoting healing and improving overall well-being.
