Can you release trauma through massage?

Author: Michael Wintheiser  |  Last update: Monday, August 4, 2025

Massage therapy, the manual manipulation of soft body tissue to promote health and well-being, can provide relief from physical, emotional, and mental stress, and decrease levels of depression, anxiety, irritability, and other symptoms associated with trauma exposure (Collinge, Kahn, & Soltysik, 2012).

How to remove trauma from the body?

How to heal trauma in the body
  1. Cognitive processing therapy. Cognitive processing therapy (CPT) is a common therapy option for healing trauma. ...
  2. Prolonged exposure therapy. ...
  3. EMDR. ...
  4. Somatic Experiencing (SE™) ...
  5. Certain types of talk therapy. ...
  6. A movement practice.

How do you know your body is releasing trauma?

Signs your body is releasing trauma can sometimes be subtle or surprising, but recognizing them is key for moving forward in your healing journey. Here are some signs to look for: Sudden emotional outbursts such as crying or laughter. Changes in physical health, like reduced muscle tension or headaches.

What is trauma discharge massage?

Trauma Discharge Massage Therapy is massage that soothes a stressed-out nervous system. It uses techniques that are more deeply relaxing than standard massages and helps the entire body systems to regain a level balance.

Can massage release grief?

Grief massage helps a person heal by allowing them to shift out of the stress response and into the relaxation response. Following a major loss, grieving individuals often find it very difficult to relax on their own. Here's where a massage therapist can help. Massage Helps People Cope with the Loss of a Loved One.

Peter Levine's Secret to Releasing Trauma from the Body

Can massage release trapped emotions?

The short answer is: Yes, absolutely. Massage therapy alleviates physical pain and promotes relaxation. Massage therapists often target areas of the body where tension and emotions may be stored, which can trigger their release.

What part of the body holds grief?

Where do we hold grief in our body? Grief affects the entire body, including the organs, skin, brain, and tissues. It can create issues with muscle tenion, sleeping difficulties, and affect how the brain and body process information and emotions.

Can massage bring out trauma?

Emotional Intensity Trauma massage therapy can sometimes be emotionally intense. The release of stored trauma can bring up strong emotions, which may be overwhelming for some individuals. Not a Standalone Treatment While beneficial, trauma massage therapy should not replace traditional treatments like psychotherapy.

What massage technique releases trauma?

Somatic massages help you release trauma in your body by working with the nervous system. When you receive a somatic massage, the therapist will work to release any patterns of tension that may be stored in your body. This can help to break down any barriers that have been preventing you from processing trauma.

Is it normal to release during massage?

Massage and Emotional Release: It's Totally Normal! When you think of massage, common assumptions would be that it's relaxing, peaceful and restful. And these are all true, but there are other emotional releases you might experience - and they're totally normal.

What part of the body is trauma stored?

This can happen anywhere in the body, and for trauma survivors, it is most commonly held in the core of the body, the stomach, abdomen, and low back, as well as the upper torso, chest, shoulders, and spine.

What does coming out of trauma feel like?

Initial reactions to trauma can include exhaustion, confusion, sadness, anxiety, agitation, numbness, dissociation, confusion, physical arousal, and blunted affect. Most responses are normal in that they affect most survivors and are socially acceptable, psychologically effective, and self-limited.

Is crying releasing trauma?

Crying or Laughing: Unexpected bouts of crying or laughter can be a physical sign your body is releasing trauma. These emotional releases are natural and therapeutic. Mood Swings: Fluctuations in mood, such as feeling elated one moment and sad the next, can indicate that deep-seated emotions are being processed.

Can working out release trapped emotions?

“Because you're eliminating those distractions, it can open up space in your brain to focus on emotions.” A related theory is that the physical release of exercise could lead to an emotional release of buried or unprocessed feelings, said Sacco.

What are the 7 stages of emotional healing?

But in my experience, emotional healing happens in seven stages: awareness, acceptance, processing, release, growth, integration, and transformation. We don't move through these seven stages in a straight line, but we do pass through them all eventually on the path to healing.

How do you release trauma from the body?

Mindfulness and relaxation techniques

Meditation encourages relaxation and mindfulness, helping individuals process and release trauma. Breathing exercises, such as deep breathing, diaphragmatic breathing, or box breathing, can calm the nervous system and reduce stress through deep breath.

Can a massage cause an emotional release?

Getting a massage is often associated with physical relaxation and pain relief, but did you know that it can also trigger emotional release? While it may come as a surprise, experiencing an emotional release during a massage session is a natural and therapeutic process.

Does tapping help release trauma?

Created by Gunilla Hamne and Ulf Sandstrom, the Trauma Tapping Technique is considered first aid for trauma. It is easy to learn and has the advantage of being primarily non-verbal. The process is a neurological intervention that helps the body quickly re-regulate itself should it get triggered or activated.

Why did I cry during a massage?

Why Do We Cry During Massage? As massage therapy relieves physical tension, it can also unlock emotional stress stored within the body. This release may unexpectedly manifest as tears, highlighting the deep connection between our physical and emotional states.

What is the best massage for emotional trauma?

SER is a form of CranioSacral Therapy1—a method established by osteopathic physician John E. Upledger—centered around the belief emotional and physical trauma can have long-lasting effects on our muscles and joints. SER bodywork can help release those damaging tensions, both physical and mental.

Can massaging too hard cause damage?

In rare cases, deep tissue massage can lead to nerve damage. This usually happens when too much pressure is applied near a nerve or when a nerve is compressed for an extended period. If you experience numbness, tingling, or sharp pain during your massage, speak up right away.

Where is sadness stored in the body?

The resulting body maps suggest that people often feel: anger in the head or chest. disgust in the mouth and stomach. sadness in the throat and chest.

What is the hardest death to grieve?

Bereavement can certainly be painful whenever it occurs, but many feel that the experience of losing a child is by far the worst 27,72 because it conflicts with our life-cycle expectations.

How do you release grief from your body?

Participate in mindful movement every day. Taking the time to be active every day can help relieve the physical pain of grief. Mind-body activities (like yoga, tai chi, or qigong) can be particularly helpful in relaxing the body and reversing the effects of stress and anxiety.

Previous article
Is it better to lean bulk or dirty bulk?
Next article
How realistic is it to lose 50 pounds in 3 months?