Back 2 Hands Massage

Stress Relief & Massages

Aug 03, 2021

Stress is a completely normal part of life. In truth, it’s an innate survival mechanism that has allowed the human race to not only survive but also to thrive. 


During the days of hunter-gatherers, stress helped humans fight or escape threats such as predators. However, in the modern world, chronic stress is all too common, and can eventually lead to various debilitating health conditions, including chronic pain. 


Luckily, there are various stress relief remedies, such as, for instance, massage therapy. So, how does massage therapy help relieve stress? And what impact can stress have on your body and your mind? Let’s find out!

How Stress Affects Your Body

If you’re dealing with chronic stress, you might feel irritable, anxious, and depressed. Along with these emotional symptoms, you might have headaches, trouble sleeping, fertility issues, weakened immunity, cardiovascular problems, digestive issues, and more.


So, what’s going on?


When you feel stressed, your body releases cortisol and adrenaline to help you face a perceived threat. These hormones cause your heart to speed up, which increases blood flow to muscles and other areas of the body that need it. When the perceived threat disappears, usually, everything goes back to normal.


However, if the source of stress is ongoing, the stress response becomes ongoing too. Your heart continues to work in overdrive. Your blood vessels constrict, which increases your blood pressure and can lead to cardiovascular and heart problems.


Thus, your risk of stroke or heart attack increases.


Your digestive system also takes a hit. As a result of hormonal surges, accelerated breathing, and a rapid heart rate, you might experience heartburn or digestive upset.


Your muscles also become tight, leading to headaches and migraines, and an inability to truly relax.


If chronic stress carries on long enough, fertility issues might arise due to hormonal imbalances. Men may experience erectile dysfunction, and women may experience irregularities in their menstrual cycles.


On top of this, your body becomes less effective at fighting off foreign invaders, meaning you might get sick more often or might take longer than usual to bounce back after illness.

How Stress Affects Your Mental Health

Long-term stress may also increase your risk of developing depression or anxiety disorders. It can also impact the hippocampus and frontal lobe of the brain, impacting memory, attention, and problem-solving. When under chronic stress, you might experience confusion, trouble concentrating, difficulty learning new information or tasks, and problems with making decisions.


You might feel frequently irritable, frustrated, angry, and socially withdrawn. Luckily, benefits of massage therapy include reduced stress and helping the body and mind relax. Keep reading to find out how.


How Massages Help Relieve Stress

Massage therapy is a wonderful way to combat stress in your daily life. It does this by releasing endorphins in the body, decreasing muscular tension, and reducing the stress response by promoting relaxation.


In fact, one study uncovered that just 10 minutes of massage can help a person relax and de-stress. Other research has found decreased cortisol levels in individuals following a massage. 


If you’re wondering what type of massage is best for stress, our team at Back 2 Hands recommends Swedish massage therapy, which involves circular, kneading, and long-stroke movements, helping to guide your body toward a more relaxed state.

If you’re ready to book your massage appointment and obtain all the incredible benefits that come with it, call us at 647-217-9600. At Back 2 Hands, we have a variety of massages to choose from. Whether you need to relax and unwind from the daily grind or you need help bouncing back after an injury, we are here to help.

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