Liz Seal Holistic Massage
The importance of taking care of our mental or emotional health has been highlighted by World Mental Health Day which was last week. Mental (or emotional) health is as precious as physical health, indeed the sharp distinction between the two is misleading. The human body works because it is an integrated unit of mind and body.
Mental and physical health are important for everybody. When our bodies exhibit signs of physical illness, we seek the advice of the medical profession and rely on our doctors and pharmacists to give us some answers and solutions. However, with illness which affects our emotions or our state of mind, seeking help can be much more complicated.
The brain is an amazing and complicated device and many functions of the brain are not well understood. I think this is in part, at least, because each of us thinks differently. The way we feel and expressing our emotions is a unique to each individual. Many developments in the understanding and treatment mental ill-health have been made in recent years, but there is still a great deal of study and development needed.
I do not claim to be an expert in this field, and do not have personal experience of any severe health issues, for which I am extremely thankful. However, having seen several friends struggling with their emotional health I am always keen to learn more, to be better equipped to offer any support I can.
Each of us will have experienced ‘blue days’ or low periods in our lives. When we have times when we feel bad about ourselves, or are dissatisfied with some aspect of our lives, our usual tasks may seem more difficult or not worth the effort. I have felt the benefit of having a chat with a good friend when I have been a bit down, as simply being able to express our troubles can help us to put things into perspective. Gentle exercise such a taking a walk in the fresh air and getting a good night’s sleep can be helpful.
The Other Extreme
If these feelings escalate or take a more severe hold, the symptoms could be sign of a more serious illness, which may need medical intervention. We may also experience a range of physical symptoms including insomnia, lethargy, difficulty concentrating, loss of appetite or the desire to over-indulge. The need to dull the pain or block out our thoughts may lead to the increased use of alcohol or drugs. Heightened stress or anxiety can also lead to an increase in physical symptoms such as aches and pains due to increased tension in the muscles, nausea, dizziness, sleep problems, dry mouth or heart palpitations.
In chronic or severe situations, the help of the medical profession should always be sought. However, there are steps which we can take to try to reduce any symptoms. Understanding and being able to recognise our own triggers and knowing of some techniques which may be able to help us would be a good place to start.
What could help?
Diet may play a key role, so trying to maintain a healthy balanced diet, while avoiding caffeine, alcohol and processed foods would be a good place to start. Maintaining a regular bedtime routine may help to encourage restful sleep. Taking regular exercise has been shown to boost endorphins which can have a positive impact. For many mental health conditions talking therapy has been found to be helpful. Seeking the help of a trained counsellor who could guide and support you may be of great value.
The connection we feel through touch, a hand to hold or a loving hug can be invaluable. Massage using aromatherapy oils to uplift, boost self-esteem, calm the mind, and help to 
alleviate the physical symptoms can be a powerful tool. Using a blend of oils in the home to calm and relax can also be helpful and is as easy as breathing! Inhalation is one of the quickest ways to introduce aromatherapy oils to our system. By inhaling slowly and deeply the oils are absorbed into the blood stream and from there into our limbic system, which controls our emotions.
For more information about aromatherapy and massage, please contact me for a full and confidential consultation.