The exact reasons for this are unclear, but the importance of touch in human mental and physical well-being is well-established. Low levels of serotonin and dopamine are linked to anxiety. It also increases serotonin by an average of 28%, and dopamine by an average of 31%. There was also brought about a reduction in depression symptoms.Ī review of previous research found that massage therapy reduces cortisol (the stress hormone) by an average of 31%. A s early as the fifth session (week three), they showed a significant reduction in anxiety symptoms.
People diagnosed with generalised anxiety (almost constant anxiety), received two 45-minute massages a week, for six weeks. Swedish massage is one of the most common types of massage and involves the more traditional, deep tissue massaging. Research has found that five sessions of Swedish massage can significantly reduce the symptoms of anxiety, as well as a reduction in cortisol (the stress hormone). It’s often the way that the things that are super-good for us aren’t always fun to do, but then this happens – and it’s glorious, like, ‘sign me up for the rest of my life’ type of glorious … Five sessions of massage can significantly reduce anxiety.And if you can’t trust science … Important New Insights Into What Works. Here are some discoveries from science that are helping to make sense of anxiety and offering new ways to manage it. Anxiety is so common, chances are that if you’re not struggling with it, someone you know or love probably is. Everyone feels anxious from time to time, but it becomes a problem when it gets in the way of everyday life. This is a great thing when there’s trouble about, but when it happens too often, it stops being a great thing and becomes an anxiety thing.Īnxiety is a physical response, not a chosen one. An anxious brain is super-sensitive to threat, which means that it can often hit the panic button ‘just in case’. Anxiety is driven by a strong, healthy brain that works too hard to be the fearless protector.
We all feel anxious from time to time, but for many people, anxiety is a daily intrusion.