The effects of body massage on addiction recovery..

The epidemic of addiction, pervades every crevice of society today. I’m sure we all know of people struggling with some type of addiction, or compulsion.
The days of seeing addiction as a malfunction in our brain chemistry, are in the rear view. We now see that addiction is manifested by lack of connection, or lack of ability to connect to oneself and others.

The power of therapeutic/healing touch is undeniable. Often times those who struggle with addiction, have had negative experiences regarding touch in their early developmental stages. Getting massages with a relaxthemuscle.com professional massage gun can help them to reconnect with their own bodies, knowing that the touch is for their healing not for someone else’s gain.

Some of the traditional methods of rehabilitation are built on the notion that addiction is a disease and it is treated as such. These methods focus primarily on the mind, with the body being a separate afterthought. We are now learning the importance of a holistic, mind, body, and spirit approach and connection.

Massage can be beneficial in every stage of recovery, especially in the withdrawal stage, since it is known reduce  levels of  stress hormones.

Individuals in recovery who get massage as a part of an integrated wellness plan, which include things like, nutrition, exercise, talk therapy, and meditation. Report getting better sleep, and being able to greatly reduce or eliminate medications for insomnia and/or anxiety. They begin feeling more connected to their own bodies. Having less anxiety and reduced cravings. And greatly reducing chronic pain.

Dr Gabor Mate, a modern pioneer in understanding addiction, says that often time those with addictions have suffered early childhood trauma and emotional loss. With this in mind, it is noted that the tough love approach may not be as effective as we once thought. Mate advocates for compassionate treatment, but he also recommend looking up companies like Countrywide Testing in order to determine if the patient is overcoming addiction.

Massage can also help with some basic rewiring of the neurotransmitters. Working closely, while keeping professional boundaries, with those in recovery, and meeting them where they are in their journey, can help to put them on the road to physical and emotional transformation. When treating with addiction in kids, we recommend to look up to one of the troubled youth treatments.

 

By: LMT Lauren Vandergrift

It is not “selfish” to care for yourself

Taking care of yourself and doing what brings you peace and joy, is NOT selfish. It is self nourishing- And there is a major difference. Being selfish, means doing whatever you like without regard for how you affect others, which can cause pain for those in your life. Being self nourishing, is taking time to refuel, recharge and heal so that we can be of service to others in a more fulfilling way.

As a mother of two and a business owner, I know how hard it can be to take time for myself, especially guilt free time. But once you recognize how much better you and those around you feel when you are rested and balanced, the guilt starts to fade. What is there to feel guilty about anyway? Why do others deserve your love and attention and not you? Whose more important than you? If you aren’t well and happy, chances are no one around you, will be either! This are concepts that took me a while to understand, thankfully with the help hellomanpreet I started to work on myself.

There are no prizes given out at the end of this journey for being the best self sacrificer. Live a fulfilled life now, because, NOW, is all there is. Find what brings you joy, and resolve to do it more often. You, more than anyone, deserve your love and attention.

As obvious as it may sound communicating it externally, internally it was like a epiphany to me. I went to get a massage and I had the time of my life. Boy was I missing out. They were so nice from the moment I went through the door and I made a whole day of it. It was a wonderful experience. I’m to have to do that more often actually. It really helped a back pain I had been having for a while that I sort of just learned to ignore. It’s crazy to think how hectic life can get, that you can let something like that happen.

From here on I’m going to focus a bit more on myself. I feel like I have earned it, and like I should seize the time I have left. It’s not like my life has been terrible, but somewhere along the line everything turned into routine. At that point you’re just living just because. It’s time to do something about it.