YES! Massage is a wonderful way of feeling a connection with another person, making it an excellent tool for helping someone with depression. Massage gives time to relax and let go, focusing on the breath and the Massage Therapist's touch, giving the brain a chance to ‘reboot’!
Serenity Wellness Massage provides a wellness experience that changes your view of massage from a pleasurable treat to an essential part of your long-term health care. Our approach to massage is therapeutic, working deep in the muscle layers to help you move better, release discomfort, and reduce the need for medication or surgery. We believe massage therapy is one of many alternative services that offer a path to optimal health. Our team of therapists provide integrative massages that combine multiple therapeutic treatments such as myofascial release, deep tissue, relaxation massage (popularly known as Swedish), medical, hot stone, and acupressure points.
The 2020 pandemic has caused an increase in mental health concerns and I have taken additional training on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and trauma inform bodywork. I also understand how financial hardships can become a barrier to finding and maintaining therapeutic services for your mental, emotional and physical well-being. Starting December 1st, 2022, I will be offering a reduced sliding scale fee for on the third Sunday of every month. The following massage therapy services are set at sliding scale for our 45 min and 75 min treatment services only. The sliding scale fee is $70 to $110, additional fees apply with credit card payments.
The holidays can bring on an increased feeling of anxiousness however we are here to provide a space of rest and restoration. You have the peace of mind that each of our Therapist is professionally trained to care for your physical and mental needs.
The Touch Research Institute has conducted the majority of the studies investigating massage for depression. Over the years authors touched on the growing literature describing the biology and neurobiology of massage therapy. The impact of massage as both a therapy for major psychiatric disorders and a treatment for psychiatric symptoms. Massage therapy is significantly associated with alleviating depressive symptoms.
Let’s look at the definition of “depression”.
Depression is a mental illness that entails an overwhelming sense of sadness, loss and hopelessness. These feelings may span from weeks to years, and may sometimes cause the sufferer to despair so greatly they no longer want to live. Depression is generally caused by an imbalance of chemicals in the brain, and may be triggered by a specific physical or emotional trauma.
How Can Massage Benefit Depression?
Massage therapy benefits those suffering from depression in a number of ways. It does so by:
Reducing emotional and physical pain in the body.
Stimulating the release of the feel-good Endorphins, and neurotransmitters such as Dopamine and Serotonin. It does so by applying pressure to the nerve cell receptors underneath the skin which trigger their release.
Creating a calming effect by stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system, reducing the levels of stress-related chemicals such as adrenaline and cortisol.
Altering brain wave activity, generating feelings of relaxation by stimulating alpha brain waves.
Stabilizing blood sugar that when unregulated can trigger mood swings.
Increasing immunity that may be compromised in states of Depression.
Relieving breathing difficulties and improving overall lung function.
Benefits of Massage for Depression
Massage may help those suffering from depression overcome:
Anxiety
Chronic stress
Other benefits of massage for depression include:
Increased energy levels
Reduced stress levels
Improved rational thinking and memory
Feelings of well-being and relaxation
Increased creativity
Mental clarity
Calming and reseting the nervous system is our goal and we achieve this thru breathwork exercises on the table. Increasing the range of motion, stabilizing muscles and joint mobility are just some benefits of our restorative massage services. We look forward to assisting you during this challenging time, see you soon on the massage table!
Help is available by using the following Crisis Hotlines Suicide prevention, domestic violence, and other crisis hotlines for youth, young adults, and their friends and families.
National Runaway Safeline:1-800-786-2929 Speak with someone today
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Hours: Available 24 hours. Languages: English, Spanish.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a network of local crisis centers that are available 24/7 to provide support for youth and adults who are in any kind of emotional crisis. In addition to the main hotline number listed above, there are several other numbers to call depending on your needs:
Spanish Language: 1-866-628-9454
Deaf and Hard of Hearing: 1-800-799-4889
Veterans: 1-800-273-8255
Disaster Distress: 1-800-985-5990
Samaritans Statewide Helpline: 1-877-870-4673
The Samaritans Statewide Helpline is available to anyone in Massachusetts who is need of emotional support. Anyone can call or text the helpline to receive help from specially trained volunteers. Massachusetts high school and college students can also get online support through the IMHear_ program. For high school students, volunteers ages 15-18 are available Monday-Thursday from 6-9PM. For college students, IMHear_ is available Monday-Friday from 5-9PM.
SafeLink: 1-877-785-2020
SafeLink is for anyone who is being affected by domestic violence or dating violence. Volunteers at SafeLink speak English and Spanish, and SafeLink also has a service that can provide translation in more than 130 languages.
Boston Area Rape Crisis Center: 1-800-841-8371
The Boston Area Rape Crisis Center has a 24/7 hotline for survivors of sexual violence ages 12 or older. The hotline is also available to survivors' friends and families, as well as other professionals. TTY: 1-800-439-2370 (ask for the hotline)
The Network/La Red: 1-800-832-1901
The Network/La Red hotline provides support, information, and safety planning to anyone in the LBGTQ community who are being abused, or have been abused, by a partner. The hotline is also open to friends and family, as well as others who work on domestic violence issues in the LGBTQ community. The hotline is available 24/7.
If you would like to schedule a massage therapy session with us, please visit our online scheduling system below!
Disclaimer: This blog is meant for informational purposes and is not to be used as medical advice.