01/24/2023
Momentary touches, they say — whether an exuberant high five, a warm hand on the shoulder, or a creepy touch to the arm — can communicate an even wider range of emotion than gestures or expressions, and sometimes do so more quickly and accurately than words.
“It is the first language we learn,” said Dacher Keltner, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, and remains, he said, “its our richest means of emotional expression” throughout life.
The evidence that such messages can lead to clear, almost immediate changes in how people think and behave is accumulating fast. Students who received a supportive touch on the back or arm from a teacher were nearly twice as likely to volunteer in class as those who did not, studies have found.
A sympathetic touch from a doctor leaves people with the impression that the visit lasted twice as long, compared with estimates from people who were untouched. Research by Tiffany Field of the Touch Research Institute in Miami has found that a massage from someone you are comfortable with can not only ease pain but also soothe depression and anxiety.
((Of course, context matters; society has rules about whom we can touch, where, and when. Touch can be appropriate and safe, or inappropriate and unsafe. Different people as well as cultures have varying comfort levels and standards regarding touch))
I recently saw a video of a person describing how their debilitating depression affected them. They then went into how during their depressive episode they were unable to work, be social , eat, wash or move, but this small something that helped them out of their darkness and to “feel human again” was , their hair stylist offered a quiet, less busy time for them to come in and just have their hair washed and dried. It then struck me the different reasons people come to get a massage .
People that live with mental health issues, whether it has been ongoing Or caused by a traumatic event it can be overwhelming in all aspects of your life. During these times it can lead you to nonbeneficial coping mechanisms, and maybe a feeling of it being impossible to think of what you can do to feel ‘good’ again,
Ive experienced, as an RMT, treatment on someone that has lost their long time life partner and they realize how therapeutic for their mental health the massage was. I could go on and on about how over the years I saw massage or even just gentle touch therapy has made such a difference in people's lives .
These winter months are particularly hard on us . Mentally and physically.
In saying all of this ; on Thursday February 2nd I will be offering half hour massage treatments concentrated on your emotional , physical and mental health . If you are having a hard time and think massage therapy would help you . Weather or not you have the money or insurance I will see you at no cost . That half hour will be tailored to your needs the best I can . While I'm not a counselor of any type, im here for you . you can feel free to talk, cry or vent about what’s going on or we can be completely silent. Client patient confidentiality assured. We can play whatever music you might want and drift away for that half hour for you, it will be your half hour of mental and physical relaxation in a comfortable judgement free zone . I will be booking with a 15 minute break-in between to try to avoid crossing paths with the people before and after you, in case someone is feeling emotionally drained or anxious .
Feel free to book online for your half hour mental health , registered massage therapy treatment on me .
Any questions or concerns please feel free to contact me.
Take care of you.
-Lesley Young
Book your “Massage for mental health” on:
Kingsbridgemassagetherapyclinic.clinicsense.com
