Can Reflexology Help with Anxiety?

I often get asked, “can Reflexology help with my mental health problems?”. The answer is yes!

Reflexology and massage can be effective for stress relief, anxiety reduction, improved sleep quality, to stabilise mood and maintain good overall physical and mental health.

A word of caution: this follows with the important caveat that Reflexology is not a magic bullet and any anxiety, stress, or depression a person has won’t go away over night after one session.

Reflexology and massage are not “cure all ills” one hit wonders, but in terms of supporting a client on their journey to good mental health, any form of self-care is essential.

Enter, Reflexology and massage.

If you want to find out a bit more about reflexology, we have a great little article here: What is Reflexology?

 

What is Stress?

 

Stress and anxiety often go hand in hand, and as a vicious feedback loop, one very much feeds the other.

Before I explain how Reflexology can reduce stress and anxiety, it’s important to understand the mechanism of stress within the body.

How do stress and anxiety affect the body?

When we feel stressed or anxious, the sympathetic nervous system is activated and puts the body into fight, flight, freeze mode. This is a normal protective response to threat.

Once a threat is identified, the adrenal glands secrete adrenaline and cortisol into the blood. These hormones give us everything we need to run away or fight.

Cortisol metabolises sugar into glucose to be efficiently used by muscles; whilst adrenaline increases alertness and increases the heart rate to pump blood around the body faster to deliver glucose to the muscles.

However, modern day threats rarely require us to run away or fight for survival.

 

The Effect of Stress and Anxiety on Physical Health

 

Because there is no need to run away or fight, the stress hormones are not properly utilised and stay in the body.

Over time, adrenaline and cortisol build up in the body. This can lead to health implications, such as:

• High blood pressure
• Impaired immune system function
• Digestive issues
• Heart problems
• Weight gain.

 

How does Reflexology Reduce Stress and Anxiety?

 

Reflexology and massage relieve stress by activating the parasympathetic nervous system. You may have heard this called “rest and digest”.

Once the body knows that it no longer needs to be on high alert, it begins to relax.

Wonderful things happen during relaxation:

• The digestive system functions better
• Muscles begin to relax.
• Heart rate decreases.
• Blood pressure comes down.
• The body processes and removes toxins.
• The body repairs itself.

Another powerful way Reflexology and massage relieve stress comes from the physical touch. Skin to skin contact from Reflexology and massage releases the hormone oxytocin, which stimulates the release of additional stress relieving endorphins dopamine and serotonin.

These feel-good hormones released in the brain provide pain relief, reduce anxiety and stress, and reduce levels of cortisol in the body. Endorphins help us to feel calm, positive and safe.

 

Conclusion

 

Reflexology is a holistic practice that provides an opportunity to relax and reduce stress levels. It is a safe, non-invasive, and natural way to reduce stress and improve overall wellbeing.

This ancient practice has been found to be effective in reducing stress and providing relief from a variety of stress-related ailments.

If you are looking for a natural and safe way to reduce your stress levels, reflexology may be a good choice for you.

Looking for some reflexology in Harrogate? Look no further, get in touch now.