Stress is a catalyst for nearly every
massage you schedule, whether
you know it or not. Physical pain
and injury; emotional challenges
of anxiety, depression, or sadness;
and mental demands of a high-
pressure job or an excessively
busy life are all common stresses
we bring to the massage table.
Yet, every one of us is different in how
stress looks to us and feels to us. What
works to reduce the effects of stress for
one person may not work for another. A
large part of the massage therapist's job
is figuring that puzzle out. A large part
of your job as a client is understanding
how the stress response affects you
and being able to identify its effects.
Stress Defined
MedicineNet.com defines stress this way:
"In a medical or biological context, stress is
a physical, mental, or emotional factor that
causes bodily or mental tension. Stresses
can be external (from the environment,
psychological, or social situations)
or internal (illness or from a medical
procedure). Stress can initiate the 'fight
or flight' response, a complex reaction of
neurologic and endocrinologic systems."
1
Note
1. MedicineNet.com, "Medical Definition
of Stress," accessed February 2019,
www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.
asp?articlekey=20104.
Understanding Your
Stress Response
By Cindy Williams
