How Can Massage Therapy Help the Symptoms of Grief?

Grief and Massage Therapy: How It Can Help?

Grief is something that you carry with you, not just in your mind or your heart, but also in the body. Living with a profound loss creates a unique type of stress, one that weighs you down and makes you want to feel numb all at the same time. Massage is an important way to take care of your body even as your mind and your heart process the loss you have experienced.

The Physical Effects of Loss and Grief

There are many types of loss that can affect you deeply. Loss of a loved one, a job or opportunity, loss of your home in a natural disaster, loss of a pet, a pregnancy, or even loss of your health through accident or illness can leave you shocked and grieving with a stress that is held deep in your body.  You may feel sick, fatigued, numb, or ache all over. These feelings are perfectly normal, but also a sign that you need to take care of yourself.

While you may be inclined to bottle up your grief or ignore your physical condition, it's important to allow your body to relax so you have the ability to process your emotions, as well.

What Benefits Can Massage Therapy Provide to Those Who Are Grieving?

• Releasing stress held in the body
• Promoting healthy circulation
• Releasing muscles to ease pain
• Releasing endorphins to allow mental relaxation
• Creating a safe space where you can feel safe and unwind
• Providing the comfort of gentle touch and consideration
• Promote better sleep

When you are grieving, your body responds. You may feel tension as you hold in your emotions so tightly that you are close to falling apart. Or you may be unable to sleep properly, which prevents your muscles from releasing lactic acid, resulting in aching and burning in every part of your body as you become more exhausted.

Massage can help you treat the physical effects of grief, providing comfort, relaxation, and muscle relief. Massage also aids blood flow and releases endorphins which soothe your nervous system and help you to mentally unwind while giving you back the energy you need to find the other side of your loss.

Soothing Gentle Massages

Grief often leaves you tired, tender, and delicate. Gentle massage provides a soothing touch through key areas of your body. Each motion promotes blood flow, releases lactic acid built up in your muscles, and provides a sense of comforting safety. Massage creates a safe space where your only expectation is to relax and simply let yourself be.

Through soft touch and gentle safety, a person experiencing grief can unwind, allow themselves to process, and perhaps relax for the first time in weeks.

Reiki

Reiki healing is a modality that focuses on smoothing the energy in your body. Reiki helps to release suppressed emotions, creating a safe space for individuals to express their grief during the emotionally charged yet peaceful and safe massage experience. Reiki may help to balance your energy and provide a deep level of relaxation that you truly need.

Acupuncture and Grief

Acupuncture is another type of therapeutic treatment that focuses in relieving pressure in specific points of the body. If you are hunched, slouched, tense, or cannot sleep, acupuncture may provide the physical relief you need to help survive your grief and release tightly held tension.


What Should You Look For in a Massage Therapist When Grieving?

If you are grieving, you may be looking for a different massage therapy experience compared to the typical spa day. Look for a massage therapist who you can feel safe with. You are looking for an experience where you can relax and maybe even release emotions. You want to feel safe if you find yourself crying as your tight grip on your emotions releases, and equally safe to fall asleep if you are able to relax for the first time in weeks or months.

Consider a shorter initial session followed by a longer session if you feel safe and the connection is right with your massage therapist. If you find that massage provides what you need to help process your grief, you should feel comfortable returning whenever you need support and relaxation.


Booking Massage for Grief and Loss

If you are in the process of grieving, massage can help you ease the physical stress and bottled emotions stored physically in your body. The massage therapists of The Wellness Hub in Jacksonville, FL are here to help you process your grief with gentle support and stress-relieving massage therapy. Contact us any time to book your first appointment.

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We are pleased to serve the following Florida communities with massage therapy, chiropractic, organic skincare, acupuncture, red light therapy and more: Jacksonville, Orange Park, Fleming Island, Mandarin, Jacksonville Beach, Nocatee, St Johns, Ponte Vedra and more.

Call Us (904) 512-7551
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