How Does Massage Benefit My Recovery?

Nothing about recovery is easy, and managing the stress of change is part of the process. From changing daily routines and new experiences to embracing new hobbies and personal spiritual practices, recovery is a time of transformation on many levels. 

However, these stresses can be challenging. Balancing an individual’s needs and comfort with the influx of new experiences creates the best approach to a balanced, sober life. Massage can help create this balance, providing a space for relaxation and comfort and encouraging an active therapeutic role in an individual’s journey to sobriety. This makes it a powerful resource for those navigating any stage of the recovery process. 

Recovery is a personal journey, and no two paths to sobriety are the same. Each individual can find personal and spiritual healing in many different approaches. Massage is just one opportunity available. While some may resonate with its healing potential, others may see more significant benefits from other strategies. 

Working with professionals and discovering each individual’s personal best practices is part of the malleable recovery journey ahead. However, an individual may also find benefits in unforeseen strategies. Being open to new experiences and exploring the various therapeutic opportunities available can empower individuals to make the most informed, effective decisions about their own developing strategies.

Massage may seem like a pampering approach to recovery at first. However, it has a number of direct benefits for those utilizing its dedicated therapeutic value. Embracing massage in a recovery mindset can open an individual to its potentially transformative effects. 

Stress is commonplace in all walks of life. Regardless of an individual’s age, profession, financial status, or any other factor, stress is a universal experience. However, stress can be exceptionally prevalent for those navigating their recovery journey, bringing feelings of anxiety, depression, or urges and cravings to re-engage with destructive addictive substances. Finding ways to reduce stress and provide the mind and body with a moment of respite is paramount for embracing a healthier, sober lifestyle. 

Massage can promote this feeling of relaxation by easing muscle tension and facilitating a more relaxed state of mind. This approach can even help an individual alleviate emotional stresses for a more effective sleep cycle. 

However, these feelings of relaxation are not limited to the masseuse themself. They can be applied to an entire massage environment catered to the idea of a serene, natural, and calming experience. This can create a safe and relaxing space to relinquish an individual’s stresses and promote a feeling of personal and spiritual calm. 

Learning to be mindful of thoughts and body is a powerful skill in recovery. Recognizing how an individual’s body reacts to certain stimuli — such as an increase in heart rate or breathing — can help them recognize stresses and identify personal triggers. 

Massage can help an individual be more mindful of their own body as they focus on relaxing specific muscles, manage their breathing, and even track their feelings of touch in a safe environment. Identifying tension in the body and recognizing how it may translate to feelings of anger, frustration, or stress is a powerful realization. Massage can help an individual process these feelings for a healthier emotional state. 

Substance abuse can stem from an abundance of sources. For those utilizing addictive substances to cope with chronic pains, massage can be a powerful technique to address these needs while maintaining sobriety. 

Recovery from addictive substances affects the entire person. Using strategies pertinent to each individual’s needs beyond the desire to cease substance use can promote the healthiest approach to a sustainable, sober future. Reducing pain can be instrumental in transforming how an individual views the use of alcohol and other substances. 

Relaxation is incredibly beneficial to recovery. Feeling physically relaxed can translate to a calm emotional state, helping each individual open up about their struggles or challenges more readily with trained professionals in a center for alcohol and drug treatment. Massage can promote this healthier, more honest, and relaxed emotional state that can facilitate effective and necessary conversation while deconstructing barriers that difficult feelings like vulnerability or reluctance may otherwise present. 

Massage involves a degree of trust, and using massage to promote a healthier approach to social skills and relationships is instrumental in establishing a newfound social life. Feelings of trust and being willing to let down an individual’s physical guard in a safe space can promote a healthier willingness to engage with social groups. This encourages better relationships in recovery and an openness to explore new relationships and communities. 

Massage can be a powerful resource for those navigating recovery at any stage, from detox and residential care to ongoing outpatient treatment. We at Hawaii Island Recovery champion the idea that each individual has the opportunities and resources available to construct their own best practices in sobriety, which bolsters your sense of identity and comfort while challenging the effects of addiction on your life. Our rehab in Hawaii offers a combination of practical, proven strategies — from individual and group therapy to experiential approaches and natural healing — all supported by Hawaii’s unique blend of spiritual and cultural acceptance. Our professionals will work with you to create a personalized recovery strategy while supporting you with an understanding, sympathetic community. For more information on how we can personalize your time with us, or to speak to a caring professional about your unique needs, call Hawaii Island Recovery at (866) 390-5070.