Common anxiety is another form of stress. Worry over things like health, finances, job, or family issues can often cause feelings of anxiety: worry, nervousness, unease. And like stress, in the short term, the symptoms of anxiety, enhanced awareness, increased response times, increased endurance, can be useful tools to successfully navigating life. In the long term, it can be just as dangerous. Adrenal fatigue, weight gain, gastrointestinal issues, heart attack, stroke are just some examples.
The good news is as with stress and mental exhaustion, massage can help.
Massage relaxes the body, quiets the mind and clams the nervous system.
According to this article from the Mayo Clinic Health System website, “A 60-minute massage can lower cortisol, a hormone that’s produced in response to stress, by an average of 30 percent. And when cortisol levels decline, serotonin — one of the body’s anti-pain mechanisms — increases by an average of 28 percent after receiving a massage. By lowering cortisol and increasing serotonin, you’re boosting your body’s ability to fight off pain, anxiety and feelings of sadness.”
So, yes, a massage will make you feel better in the short term, but also in the long term. By balancing the body’s natural chemistry, massage can be a powerful tool in managing anxiety.