Massage Is Therapy For People with Depression

One out of every ten adults are affected by depression in the United States (“Massage Can Reduce Symptoms of Depression”).  So if,  on average, every tenth client you see is affected by depression, why is mental health a topic which is rarely talked about?  Only until recent years, has mental health issues been discussed openly in the media, bringing light to the common public audience.  AMTA’s position is that massage therapy can be effective in reducing the symptoms of depression.  Fortunately, many of the common symptoms of depression can be relieved by massage.  

Unfortunately, some people suffering from some sort of depression or anxiety issues do not know it and many clients will not convey that information due to trust issues, social status or past human interactions.  An intake form can definitely let a therapist know if their client is on medication for depression, but it can be missed if a client is not being medicated, doesn’t put that information for personal reasons, or does not know they are suffering from depression.  It is up to the therapist to build that trust level to allow the client to reveal the important information.  A client should tell their therapist so that they can be treated appropriately, however it is easier said than done when one is depressed.  

So, what is depression? Depression is “a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act” (“What is Depression?”). Being depressed is different from being sad or grieving.  It is perfectly okay to be sad when the situation calls for it.  That being said, being sad or grieving can cause a person to go into a state of depression.  Depression can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems and can decrease a person’s ability to function at work and at home.  Symptoms must last at least two weeks for a diagnosis of depression. 

So, what are the symptoms? In major depression, feelings of worthlessness and self-loathing are most common.  Depression symptoms can vary from person to person.  However the following are the more common symptoms a person can have and they vary from mild to severe.  According to AMTA, these include: 

• Persistent sad, anxious or "empty" feelings

• Feelings of hopelessness and/or pessimism

• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness and/or helplessness

• Irritability, restlessness

• Loss of interest in activities or hobbies once pleasurable, including sex

• Fatigue and decreased energy

• Difficulty concentrating, remembering details and making decisions

• Insomnia, early–morning wakefulness, or excessive sleeping

• Overeating, or appetite loss

• Thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts

• Persistent aches or pains, headaches, cramps or digestive problems that do not ease even with treatment. 

Fortunately, for those looking to treat their depression, symptoms often can be treatable when there is a committed and structured approach.  There are different ways of treating depression, however, what might work for you may be different from the next person.  The options include medication, psychotherapy or talk therapy, Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT), and self help with coping.  In regards to medication, antidepressants, which can be expensive, may be prescribed to modify brain chemistry.  Psychotherapy is often used as the sole treatment for mild depression and in conjunction with medicine for moderate to severe forms of depression.  “Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been found to be effective in treating depression. CBT is a form of therapy focused on the present and problem solving. CBT helps a person to recognize distorted thinking and then change behaviors and thinking” (“What is Depression?”).  ECT has been used with major success as well. “ECT is a medical treatment most commonly used for patients with severe major depression or bipolar disorder who have not responded to other treatments” (“What is Depression?”).  It involves a brief electrical stimulation of the brain while the patient is under anesthesia for 6 to 12 visits.  Lastly, self help options can help reduce symptoms of depression.  Options include regularly exercising, quality sleep on a regular basis, eating a healthy diet and avoiding drugs and depressants like alcohol.  

Massage can definitely be included as an additional self help.  Research has shown massage has a substantial effect on the healing ability for the human mind and body for people going through many of life’s challenges.  Research has shown massage can improve mood, reduce stress, and  early studies have shown it can reduce depression in those with chronic pain, in hospice, cancer patients, HIV, pregnant, post-partum, fibromyalgia, and much more.  This makes sense since the benefits of massage include reducing stress, reducing fatigue, increasing energy, increasing alertness, lowering blood pressure, reducing pain, and increasing relaxation which can help with bad sleeping habits.  (amtamassage.org)  The best part is that massage is not associated with a high risk of side effects or unwanted results like some other treatments.

Massage can be greatly beneficial in servicing the mental health of those with depression.  Massage, according to both depression.newlifeoutlook.com’s “Can Massages Help Depression?” and bridgestorecovery.com’s “Healing Hands: How Holistic Massage Therapy Can Help Treat Anxiety and Depression”, can decrease cortisol, increase dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin. 

Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal cortex during times of stress.  It is normal for your body to produce cortisol when stressed, but problems emerge when your body is constantly under high levels of stress and produces high levels of cortisol.  This overproduction is related to poor cell health that may lead to the death of cells and premature aging (“Can Massages Help Depression?”).  Reducing cortisol through massage can boost mood, appetite, and the ability to sleep.

Massage simultaneously increases levels of both dopamine and serotonin (our primary feel-good neurotransmitters in the brain) by up to 30% after a thirty-minute session (“Healing Hands: How Holistic Massage Therapy Can Help Treat Anxiety and Depression”).  When dopamine is low, an individual has an inability to feel pleasure and low levels of motivation, both of which are common symptoms of depression. 

Lastly, oxytocin is often called the “cuddle hormone” because it is released during physical touches like hugs, kisses, and cuddles (“Can Massages Help Depression?”). Without this strong sense of belonging, a person can feel isolated, frustrated, and unhappy.  High levels of oxytocin lead to someone feeling connected to the others in their life. Research has shown massage can increase oxytocin. 

Dr. Mason Turner, chief of psychiatry at Kaiser Permanente Hospital in San Francisco, suggests that massage therapy can help treat depression by relieving muscle tension and improving physical health. Massage, he said, helps strengthen your body-mind connection.  “Anything that helps the person connect their mind and body together can be helpful,” he told Healthline.  (“Massage Therapy for Depression”).  Simply put, the healing touch of massage can help you feel yourself grounded in your own body again.  That sixty minutes focused on healing yourself can put you back in the right mindset while also importantly starting the healing process on the physical tolls depression has put on your body.  

Psychotherapy is not available in all communities and may be expensive and time-consuming.  Medicine and ECT are also expensive approaches to treatment.  Social stigma may prevent some individuals from seeking these forms of treatment.  Some individuals just don't respond well to conventional therapies.  Clearly, an easily accessible treatment without bothersome side effects could be helpful, hence massage!

Depression and anxiety can be very serious and massage therapy should not be a replacement for proper medical attention when it is needed.  Clients and therapists both should recognize its limitations.  However, one of the advantages of massage therapy is the ease of access.  A prescription is not needed and one does not typically need to wait weeks or months for an appointment.  Gentle massage should have no detrimental side effects and social stigma is generally absent when a massage therapist is a professional, ethical and trusting person.  Mild benefits are often felt immediately and even greater benefits can come from a series of sessions. All these factors make receiving massages an appealing resource for the person living with depression.

Clients suffering from anxiety or depression should inform their massage therapist so they can be treated appropriately.  Professional massage therapists are expected to respect client confidentiality.  Clients do not need to be embarrassed and do not need to reveal details which they might prefer to keep private.  The achievement of an emotional balance and the physical benefits massage can provide for someone dealing with any type of depression shows us that massage can be a great supplement in the process of overcoming and treating depression. 

Concluding, for many people with depression, there is a feeling of worthlessness, anxiety, restlessness, loss of interest in activities once loved, and chronic pain amongst many other common symptoms.  Massage cannot cure depression, but a therapeutic massage can be effective in reducing symptoms of depression.  Massage can treat physical problems through a direct interaction with the body. The mental health aspects are a bit less direct but still profound. Massage will change and disrupt the chemicals that are distributed throughout the body in the brain.  Most notably, massage interacts with cortisol, serotonin, oxytocin, and dopamine.

If you have depression, massage therapy probably will not cure your condition. However, it may help relieve the physical symptoms associated with it. For example, massage may help alleviate sluggishness, back pain, joint pain, and muscle aches. It can also help relieve fatigue and sleeping problems.  The effects on the mental state of a person with depression is a little harder to prove, but research confirms the position that: 

“The emotional balance massage provides can be just as vital and valuable as the physical benefits. Massage provides a safe and nurturing place for individuals to relax, refocus and find clarity. It can increase awareness of the mind-body connection. Massage can generate confidence and enhance self-image and self-worth.  Safe nurturing touch helps fulfill the need for human contact, such as the comforting touch we once received at birth. For some, massage is the only caring touch they may receive. Massage can be considered an hour-long hug, providing you with a nurturing safe place to rest physically and emotionally” (“Can massage relieve symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress?”).

Works Cited

Dabel, Tyler. “Healing Hands: How Holistic Massage Therapy Can Help Treat Anxiety and Depression.” Bridges to Recovery, 26 Dec. 2018, <www.bridgestorecovery.com/blog/healing-hands-how-holistic-massage-therapy-can-help-treat-anxiety-and-depression/>.

Parekh, Ranna. “What Is Depression?” Psychiatry.org, 2017, <www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/what-is-depression>.

Patterson, Eric. “Massage for Depression: The Benefits of Massage for Treatment of Depression.” NewLifeOutlook, 19 Oct. 2017, <depression.newlifeoutlook.com/massage-depression>.

“Can Massage Relieve Symptoms of Depression, Anxiety and Stress”. MayoClinicHealthSystem <https://mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/can-massage-relieve-symptoms-of-depression-anxiety-and-stress>.

“Massage Can Reduce Symptoms of Depression.” American Massage Therapy Association 2011, <https://www.amtamassage.org/approved_position_statements/Massage-Can-Reduce-Symptoms-of-Depression.html>.

“Massage Therapy for Depression.” Healthline, <www.healthline.com/health/depression/massage-therapy#uses>