Suffering Loss: How Massage May Help Those Who Are Grieving

By Elizabeth Serrell

We all experience loss in life. Whether it is the loss of a friend or family member, the loss of a job, an ended relationship, financial loss, the loss of health, or another life-changing circumstance, it affects the entire body in a profound way and can take an emotional AND physical toll. It is not uncommon for those who are under extreme stress or experiencing grief to start losing their hair and to display other physical symptoms of what would appear to be an emotional issue. The body, mind, and soul are irrevocably intertwined and need to be looked at from a holistic point of view, for it is certain that whatever impacts one will surely impact the others.

Being a licensed massage therapist does not mean we are qualified as grief counselors, psychologists, or other mental/emotional health workers, and those in need of professional help should be referred to the proper expert. However, our work encompasses many different areas and affects not only the physical, but emotional health of our clients.

I have been privileged to witness firsthand the tremendous impact that massage can have on those suffering loss. Earlier this year I worked with a female client who would come in on a weekly basis for basic relaxation massage and barely had a tense muscle in her body. That quickly changed as the health of her terminally-ill husband deteriorated and she went through the pain of his death. The stress and emotional toll became evident in her physical body - causing muscle tightness, constrictions in her fascia, and inflammation of her sacral ligaments. Frequent massage and chiropractic adjustments helped her to cope physically, and I believe that massage also helped her emotionally as well. After the loss of her husband, massage sessions would often involve subtle emotional release as evidenced by sighing and occasional tears. Massage assisted her emotional well-being to be able to relax and let go of some of the grief and stress of that time while experiencing a caring touch that might otherwise be missing in her life.

Another client started getting massage MORE frequently after losing his job, despite the seemingly unnecessary financial burden at a time when most would say he should be cutting back. The added stress and tension, along with a desire to take care of himself, brought him in for the relaxation of a full-body Swedish massage with Neuromuscular Therapy on his shoulders and neck to work out the stress-induced knots and trigger points. He obviously viewed massage as more than just a luxury and it helped to brighten his outlook on life in the otherwise gloomy face of being unemployed.

Working with these clients brought invaluable personal meaning to the oft overlooked, emotional impact of massage. Indeed, studies have shown how massage may help with grief and emotional difficulties, lending much needed support during hard times and improving emotional health (1, 2). While some people embrace change, the majority do not deal with it well, especially unplanned and sorrowful transitions. Although everyone experiences and deals with grief in a slightly different way, the benefits of massage to those who are suffering can be quite pronounced.

References:

1. "Soft Tissue Massage: Early Intervention for Relatives Whose Family Members Died in Palliative Care", 2010, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20492048
2. "Research Shows Massage Therapy Benefits Older Clients in Many Ways", 2011, http://www.massagemag.com/News/massage-news.php?id=11141&catid=1&title=research-shows-massage-therapy-benefits-older-clients-in-many-ways

07/14/2011

Elizabeth Serrell is a licensed massage therapist and member of the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork. She has received her Occupational Associate of Science in Therapeutic Massage with a 4.0 GPA. She is the owner of Enduring Health Massage Therapy in Port Charlotte, Florida. Her company website may be found at http://www.enduringhealth.massageplanet.com.

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