If you’ve ever suffered from anxiety, you’ve probably tried dozens of different things to deal with it. You can meditate, exercise, practice deep breathing, and reach out to your support network for help. One effective solution is getting a massage. Once considered an alternative therapy, massage is increasingly being deployed to treat anxiety. As it becomes more common, there will be a higher demand for practitioners as well. If you’re considering massage school in Cromwell, CT, here are some things you should know about the effectiveness massage has shown regarding anxiety and the frequency with which it should be administered.
Anxiety as a Mental Health Disorder
Anxiety is a mental health disorder that affects millions of Americans. It can manifest at any stage in life, but it most commonly appears in the teen years and during middle age and is more common in women than men. Those who suffer from chronic anxiety can worry excessively about problems that affect all of us but can be particularly disabling to those with the condition. Money problems or trouble at work or with loved ones are just a few simple examples that can afflict anxiety sufferers with a restless or irritable feeling and with an inability to concentrate. They’ll often have trouble sleeping and will have tense muscles that exacerbate the sense of feeling on edge all the time. When you receive massage therapy training, you’ll be uniquely qualified to help people when they need it most.
Benefits of Massage Therapy
Massages feel great. That’s why we get them. They provide more benefits than just relief for sore muscles; massages have been shown to be effective in relieving symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress. In fact, studies have shown that massage lowers the stress hormone cortisol and increases dopamine and serotonin. Massages help the patient feel a sense of clarity and focus by giving them a safe and nurturing place to relax and increase their awareness of the connection between mind and body.
A Reduction of Anxiety Symptoms
To get the most benefits out of massage, the patient needs to treat it as part of their therapy in dealing with anxiety. Going for a massage only, occasionally, when you’re feeling depressed isn’t nearly as effective as regular visits. Regular massage therapy for 12 weeks can significantly reduce the symptoms associated with anxiety, with the effects lasting long past the end of the treatment.
If you’d like to help others in their struggle to overcome anxiety, becoming a professional massage therapist is one way to do so. Start your journey to a new career with Cortiva Institute Massage Therapy & Skin Care School. If you have any questions about our programs, including massage therapy certification cost in Cromwell CT, call us today at (860) 667-1886.