How Massage Therapy Can Support Depression and Anxiety

Healing doesn’t always start in the mind. Sometimes, it begins with the body.

Many people think of massage as a way to release muscle tension or treat pain, and it is. But for those living with depression or anxiety, massage can also be a deeply supportive part of emotional healing.

At Intention Wellness, I offer bodywork that goes beyond technique. I hold space for the full experience~ your stress, your story, your nervous system. You don’t have to explain everything. You don’t have to feel “better” before you come in. Your body already knows what it needs. My work is to help you listen to it.

Massage Therapy and Mental Health: What the Research Says

Scientific studies continue to show what many clients already feel after a session: massage therapy can significantly reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and emotional overwhelm.

• A 2010 meta-analysis published in Depression and Anxiety found that massage therapy provides immediate relief from depressive symptoms, with results comparable to other complementary treatments like exercise or relaxation therapy.

• Research in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry shows that massage decreases cortisol levels while increasing serotonin and dopamine, neurotransmitters closely linked to mood, motivation, and well-being.

• A study in The International Journal of Neuroscience found that massage increases levels of oxytocin, a hormone tied to feelings of safety, trust, and connection, while reducing heart rate and anxiety levels.

How Massage Supports Depression and Anxiety

1. Restores a Sense of Safety

Anxiety often keeps the body in a high-alert state. Depression can create disconnection or numbness. Gentle, intentional touch in a safe setting helps restore a sense of physical and emotional security, without the need for words.

2. Regulates the Nervous System

Massage calms the sympathetic nervous system (fight-or-flight) and activates the parasympathetic system (rest-and-digest). This shift allows the body to move out of survival mode and into a state of healing, rest, and emotional processing.

3. Reduces Physical Symptoms

Anxiety and depression are not just mental—they live in the body. Chronic fatigue, muscle tension, shallow breathing, and jaw clenching are all common. Massage helps ease these patterns and supports deeper, more restful sleep.

4. Encourages Mind-Body Connection

For clients navigating mental health challenges, being present in the body can feel unfamiliar or uncomfortable. Massage offers a gentle pathway back to embodiment—reminding the nervous system that it’s safe to feel, breathe, and be.

Therapeutic Presence Matters

At Intention Wellness, my approach isn’t rushed or clinical. It’s attuned. I meet you where you are, whether that means a deep-tissue session to move stuck energy or a restorative massage that allows you to finally exhale.

You don’t have to “do” anything in a session. You get to simply receive.

You Are Not Alone

If you’re navigating depression or anxiety, know this: you are not broken, and you are not alone. Therapeutic massage can be one part of a supportive care plan, alongside therapy, movement, and other practices that honor your whole self.

When you’re ready, I’m here to hold space for your healing.

Book a session at intentionwellnessatsuntherapy.com, or explore more on the Wellness Blog.