26/01/2026
Stress can have such a detrimental effect on our lives, whether it's a real issue such as money worries or an imagined fear of something going wrong in the future.
In moments of immediate stress, our bodies prepare for a fight or flight response; but what about the low-level but day-to-day ongoing stresses that eventually just grind us down? The ones we can't fight or run away from?
Symptoms of stress can manifest as loss of appetite, a churning stomach, a racing heart, diarrhoea, trembling, insomnia and sweating.
Left untreated, stress can develop into high blood pressure, abdominal pain, migraines, depression and even stroke and cancer.
Massage can help treat stress in several ways -
- it is a treatment that relies on touch (one of the most neglected senses); the touch sustained through massage can boost self-esteem, and comfort anyone feeling lonely or bereaved,
- it boosts the immune system which is weakened by constant stress, stimulates the circulation and lymphatic system, increases energy levels and induces calm in both mind and body,
- it releases endorphins, the pain-relieving happy hormones,
- it stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system which slows the body down, encourages deeper breathing, lowers heart rate and switches digestion back on,
- it relaxes all the systems of the body which either shut down or speed up when stressed, and helps with stress-related conditions such as insomnia, headaches, backache and constipation,
- it helps treat depression and symptoms such as low self-esteem by boosting wellbeing which, in turn, increases self-worth, and
- it stimulates the body's natural ability to repair and renew at a cellular level.
I am based from my therapy room in Butleigh, Somerset, where I specialise in women’s health and wellbeing.
Please send me a message via my page or email me at fika.massage@hotmail.com if you would like to book a treatment 💆🏻♀️💆🏻♀️