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October 21, 2005

Massage and Depression

It is not unusual as a massage therapist to encounter clients who suffer from depression. Whether their depression is temporary, a natural reaction to setbacks in life, or the chronic, mild, high-functioning variety, massage can help with coping and improved quality of life.

Research by Tiffany Fields, at the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami School of Medicine in the USA looked into the therapeutic value of massage in reducing anxiety and depression.

The subjects massaged were found to have lower levels of cortisol stress hormone in their saliva and depressed people also had lower levels of urinary cortisol and noradrenaline which increase in times of stress.

As a therapist, we sometimes encounter clients with more severe issues such as suicidal tendencies. We may be the only people the client feels comfortable revealing these feeling to. It is essential that we have a network of professionals we can turn to for advice and referrals. It is also essential that as massage students we are trained to deal sensitively and effectively with mental health issues as they arise in our practice of massage.

Posted by linda at October 21, 2005 9:57 AM