Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Massage Therapy, Part I

PTSD is an anxiety disorder in which some trauma survivors' brains are unable to turn off the "fight or flight" stress response.  This constant flood of stress hormones produces symptoms such as insomnia, hyper-vigilance, depression and flashbacks.  PTSD sufferers are unable to trust their bodies to send accurate signals of impending danger, and they experience constant danger warnings even when no real time harm approaches.  As we've previously discussed in this blog, massage therapy induces a relaxation response, which can beneficially interrupt the constant PTSD stress response.  This allows PTSD sufferers to begin to feel safe in their own bodies again.  In February's "PTSD and Massage Therapy, Part II", we will explore how the therapeutic alliance between massage therapist and client offers specific benefits to PTSD patients.  For more information on the benefits of massage therapy, please visit the Kiel Unger Massage Therapy website.