Can Massage Therapy Help with Depression?
I love going to my monthly massage sessions. I’m a member of Massage Envy, which is a chain massage service that has locations all throughout the US now, and they offer discounted massages with a monthly fee, for less than what it costs at most independently run massage businesses. The charge is usually about $40 to $50 per month, depending on where you live, and also you must pay them a gratuity (this is only fair).
I do tip generously, because I think that part of the way they can offer it cheaply is by you, the customer, making up the difference in your tipping. What’s an extra five bucks to someone that offers you a priceless service, I figure? Especially if they do a good job.
I believe personally that massage helps to elevate my mood, but research as to whether it can help patients with depression is still doubtful. I think that if you are a generally mentally healthy person, you can benefit with a lot of anxiety reduction from massage, and reduction of anxiety definitely contributes to an overall sunny outlook on life and a generally better attitude toward life.
It also helps you deal with the not so fun stuff that comes your way, like stress and family and friend situations that many times impact your overall happiness quotient. I love the fact that my sometimes unbearable back and neck pain from two car accidents and sitting for long ten hour days at my desk job are alleviated by my monthly massage visits. It is something that makes me happy just to think about, and also something that I look forward to every month.
To me, a massage IS happiness, so I find it hard to believe that it may not help lift depressed patients into a better mood. I do not think that it’s a cure all for depression though, no not at all, that requires many different things like exercise, phsychological counseling and other therapies that work together to treat the condition in a comprehensive way. I know I myself will never give up my massages. They are an escape from reality, they feel great, and you feel like a million bucks for the next few days because all the tightness in your body goes away.