The massage therapy discovery was a result of a bartering community I discovered in a near by town. A happy accident I guess you could call it,
@MrMoonlight . It is set up where participants exchange hours/goods/services rather than cash. It allowed me to dip my toes into several arenas I wouldn't have otherwise had access to. Prior to that, I always thought massage was like getting your nails done, just a luxury that was in no way necessary, which is what I'd been taught from childhood.
Prior to meeting a massage therapist within that arena, as well as my first neurofeedback/acupuncture practitioners, master herbalists, master gardeners, etc., I had only had very unpleasant massage experiences. Leaving me feeling as if I'd been in a bar room brawl the the day after and never really helping me feel relaxed, but rather making me feel on guard even more. Initially I was seeking pain relief, and damn sure didn't find it in those other places, but eventually discovered that relieving the various pains helped me clear mental space to help myself in other ways, too. These were pains that medical practitioners repeatedly told me they could not find the roots of and just wanted to keep masking by medicating rather than eliminating.
I discovered someone who was trauma informed, highly trained, extremely mindful, incredibly patient, and amazingly effective in helping me fully relax and allow myself to be touched by a stranger at my pace with every comfort-inducing tool I needed compassionately in place. It was a very gradual progression in which I started out fully clothed in a tank top and shorts, as I couldn't handle the thought of being nude and vulnerable in any way, shape or form. It took several sessions to finally feel comfortable enough to fully disrobe. I am always in the room alone when I do, and the sheet covers every part of my body except for what is being massaged in the moment. There's no uncomfortable exposure or touch ever occurring that makes me feel uneasy. That was a huge step based on my trauma history.
My initial therapist relocated, but I was twice fortunate in finding one even more attentive to trauma responses/needs, pain relief, and more active in her continuing education across the board, and then some. She provides Swedish, ashiatsu, acupressure, myofascial release, deep tissue, trigger point, craniosacral, and reflexology, as well as having a warming amethyst bio-mat on the table for each session. She also incorporates various forms of sound healing and aromatherapy during each session.
I haven't been able to go the last two and a half months, and counting, because it isn't deemed essential. My body, after a couple years of once a month appointments, or at least once every other month, begs to differ. My fascia is pissed and my functional flow is definitely interrupted. Part of me still feels guilty for being able to experience the benefits at all because I know so many others who suffer worse than I do and don't have access. Another part tries to convince me I somehow earned the right to receive compassionate relief being offered to me via many hellish paths it took to get there. Mental tug of war sucks.
Our governor refers to the professional therapeutic practices as massage parlors, and as we all very well know, language/words can quickly create a judgement call that instantly block a lot of folks from ever learning anything beyond the pre-programmed perception of the terminology alone. Many commenters responding to the article in which he called them that referred to massage parlors as being the old school rub and tug type of establishments, which lead to many others harshly discrediting all of them.
Here's a few links I found helpful that take a look at how massage therapy helps multiple body systems, how it can help ease anxiety and panic disorder, and the trauma-informed massage skills from a massage therapist's point of view, if you're interested:
Effects of Massage on Body Systems: Muscular, Nervous, Circulatory ...
How Therapeutic Massage Can Help Ease Anxiety
These 4 Essential Skills Will Help You Practice Trauma-Informed Massage
