Stress and anxiety – finding your reset button

A holistic approach to managing stress

We often hear massage therapists describe what they do as treating the whole person.

Professional massage therapists believe that you cannot treat or relieve a person’s feelings of stress and anxiety without treating the whole body. They call this a holistic approach.

In contrast, medicines are often designed to address or treat one specific condition such a paracetamol for mild to moderate pain relief.

But what does ‘holistic approach’ actual mean?

While science has yet to understand how massage works or the effects of massage fully, massage is known to have beneficial effects on stress, depression and anxiety.

We asked professional Massage Therapist Marumi Smith about her approach to helping people with stress related conditions and symptoms.

How does a stress massage begin?

‘I have found that establishing a personal relationship, based on trust and care is crucial to helping people feeling the effects of stress and anxiety. I believe this is where the experience and professionalism of the therapist is very important.

‘Each person has different needs and life backgrounds.

To the extent that a client feels comfortable, we usually begin by talking about their symptoms, allergies, their circumstances and personal situation. This helps me to understand the cause of the stress and anxiety, which may be deep, such as depression after the loss of a loved one. If they are willing and comfortable, they may describe how they feel; their work and home pressures, and things that they may be doing to cope.

‘We discuss how they can help themselves achieve improved feelings of wellness, such as exercise and breathing / relaxation techniques to relieve anxiety. I also like to cover what to expect during and after the massage, in terms of what and how they might feel,’ says Marumi.

Can anxiety and stress present as pain in the body?

For Marumi, the answer is an emphatic yes.

‘I find that stress and anxiety is expressed often in the body through tightness, stiff joints and localised pain. This is why we take a holistic approach.

‘To trained professionals, these symptoms can become apparent through assessing their posture, movement and during the massage itself.’

’It is also important to remember, says Marumi, that massage is not a cure but a relief of pain and stress. In cases of constant headaches or other chronic pain related symptoms, we will recommend they see their doctor just to be sure that there is no underlying illness causing the pain.’

What is involved in massage to relieve stress?

‘Quiet music and avoidance of bright light are important in creating a calm peaceful environment for clients to achieve a relaxed state and for the therapeutic effects of the massage to have the most benefit. The use of aromatic oils can also help with relaxation.

‘When the client is feeling comfortable, we may begin by addressing the points of physical tension, through working on the ‘fascia’ which are a thin band of tissue around the muscle. I have found this a very powerful method of achieving relief from pain and inflammation.

While there are many causes of head pain, to address headaches we often start by concentrating on the myofascia around the neck and shoulders, which can become, knotted, tight and cause aggravated and referred pain. Dry needling may also be a modality used as part of trigger point tension relief therapy on the fascia.

Quite often tension is expressed around the mouth and face, and massage techniques are applied to relax muscles and encourage movement, particular if the movement of the jaw is limited.

We also encourage improved circulation through lymphatic drainage which helps to replenish the lymph system with fresh fluid.

Why do you think people use therapeutic massage?

‘I think therapeutic massage helps people press the emotional reset button.

‘People who are stressed from work and life sometimes just want to have time out from their physical and mental state.

Marumi says massage doesn’t need words. ‘Just like music and art, massage helps people connect, and through touch conveys a positive emotional link, empathy and warmth.’

‘Rather than talking, therapeutic massage provides a space for them to achieve a more relaxed state, and feelings of wellbeing. This can play an important part in helping them remain positive and in managing their stress and anxiety.

‘Being a touch based therapy, the simple act of having a massage which naturally applies warmth through the hands, and often uses hot stones can have a very beneficial effect on their state of mind, and help them forget their worries for a time.

‘For these people, I believe massage is a wonderful way to ease the heart. With half an hour or one hour session, people often go out the door with a more positive attitude, a smile on their face or spring in their step that was not there before.

‘They return time and time again, and that is the most rewarding thing for me because I can see that I am helping them cope with their lives.’

Therapeutic Massage techniques often used to relieve stress

The lymphatic system removes interstitial fluid from tissues by absorbing and transporting fatty acids and fats as chyle, a milky bodily fluid, from the digestive system and white blood cells to and from the lymph nodes into the bones.

Myofascial Dry Needling uses extremely fine needles, to deactivate and release active trigger points.

Trigger Point Therapy involves the compression of trigger points, causing the muscle fibres and nervous system to relax.

Aromatherapy is the application of essential oils combined with relaxation massage

Hot stones warm and relax the muscles, which allows for deeper massage techniques to be applied if required.

Therapeutic massage assists people who seek relief from aches, pains and stress-related symptoms.

Marumi Smith holds a Diploma of Remedial Massage, Graduate Diploma in Health Science (Wellness) and Bachelor Degree in Natural Medicine.

She is a member of Massage & Myotherapy Australia and currently practices at the Epworth Hospital in Geelong.

To find out more about reducing stress and anxiety watch Marumi’s video.