As a part of life, we have all experienced some sort of loss. Wether it be a family member, a friend or a pet. They all make an impact on our lives and it is never an easy task readjusting to the loss and it can cause a tremendous impact on your health. Does the process of mourning affect the massage treatment? Yes - mourning is an individual process, so no two people are a like. Sometimes the person may be a little down but overall there won't be too much of a change to the treatment. When people suffer a major loss it can cause some dramatic shifts in your health that will require an adjustment to the massage. The process can be very physically, emotionally and mentally exhausting. Clients usually experience fatigue, headaches, anxiety/depression and body aches to varying degrees. As the mind and heart heal from the loss, clients are usually lethargic as there are many things that feel like are "weighing them down", which in turn wears the body down.
Physical touch through massage therapy can be very beneficial in these situations. It can help alleviate body aches and pain, and can also provide a brief time where they get a break from the situation. Almost like a mental reset can help to rejuvenate the mind and body. Often people who are mourning suffer from insomnia so a massage that focuses more on relaxation can help get a better quality sleep. Over the years when my clients are going through the grieving process I've taken a break from the deeper work and primarily focus on lighter, relaxing techniques. It's almost as though the body has a protective cloak over it to prevent it from getting hurt more. The deeper techniques that challenge these tissues may cause more inflammation and make the soft tissue pain worse, so I usually avoid this form of treatment until the mind and soul have had more time to heal. Keeping an eye on your mental health is very important during these times. Surrounding yourself with loved ones that you feel comfortable expressing your thoughts and feelings, having some quality alone time to process your thoughts and feelings (and even journaling) are both things that can help. If you or someone you know is experiencing a loss and are feeling overwhelmed, that can be okay but if it gets to intense, it might be time to seek help, There are a lot of tools to help provide care in these situations. You can check one out here: https://myicbt.com/home?gclid=Cj0KCQjw1ouKBhC5ARIsAHXNMI_0kp0IA2p_ye5lhFJFjbBULQdwAmR6ZNWyGsscOCaIvyTaJ5mD0HwaAkImEALw_wcB Experiencing loss to any degree is a difficult process, but it's important to know that it will get better with time. Rely on help from loved ones that can support you during these difficult times and you will make it through.
Thank you for taking the time to stop by today and I hope you have a fantastic day!
Reference:
Elements Massage. (2014, August 12). Massage and mourning: Power of touch helps to relieve mental, physical stress during the grieving process. Elements Massage. Retrieved September 16, 2021, from https://elementsmassage.ca/blog/massage-and-mourning.
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