One in six British people are struggling with a recognised mental health issue in any one week. 75 per cent of these do not get the treatment they need. All age groups are affected, and especially amongst the young. Stress, anxiety and depression are seen as mental health illnesses, but they are not. The recent pandemic has raised anxiety levels drastically.
What most people don’t realise is that 91 per cent of our mind is unconscious, how we create our reality on a moment by moment basis is unconscious. Mental Wellness Education teaches us how our unconscious works and how we create our reality. With self awareness and self esteem, you can go out into the world and be yourself. After lockdown it is impossible not to have any profound effect on the way we think and feel. Study after study has proved that in order to have a happy productive life, as long as our basic needs are met, and have enough over to enjoy ourselves, we are not happier if we live in a million pound mansion or in a dwelling suitable for our basic needs. The benefits of the lockdown proved the important things in life that lead to happiness are spending quality time with family and friends. A study published in the journal depression and anxiety found participants who received regular massage therapy for twelve weeks had a fifty per cent reduction in anxiety symptoms, and the benefits were long lasting. Symptom reduction remained at fifty per cent at the twenty six week mark even after the therapy had ended. In addition to its calming effects, therapeutic massage therapy can help alleviate the symptoms of anxiety, including muscle tension and sleep disturbances . Visualisation techniques, eg imagining yourself in a beautiful place, feeling relaxed and visualising the toxins being released as you have your treatment helps accelerate The healing process, The mood enhancing benefits of massage therapy are probably related to changes in EEG activity, decreased levels of cortisol and increased activity of the parasympathetic nervous system, which acts automatically to calm the body and brain during stress. Therapeutic massage also improves attention and enhances the body’s immune response by increasing the activity of natural killer cells. Functional brain Imaging studies show that changes take place in many areas of the brain involved in regulating emotions and stress response including the amygdala and the hypothalamus. “Massage Therapy Research Review” by Field (Field 2014).
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Linda Kelham
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February 2021
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