Massage Hangover??

For the past few years, I have given myself a gift for Christmas - a massage. I usually schedule it for right before Christmas, like the 23rd or something like that. Massage is something that I absolutely love - it's my one big indulgence for myself. This Christmas, I decided that I would give myself a bigger gift this year, and sign up for one massage per month. So far, I've had my Christmas one, and then one in January and now my February one was done just recently. I found a massage therapist that I love - Barbara. It's nice going back to the same person because they have your chart and they remember what you like and don't like, and what areas to concentrate on. She now even remembers that I like the room warm!


Well, since I have never had this many massages in this short of time (3 of them in 3 months), I guess I never noticed patterns in how I feel after a massage. But now I do....for instance, most people who get massages are told to drink a ton of water after the treatment, in order to flush out the toxins that the therapist released by working your muscles. Pretty basic. You will even physically feel like you are sore the next day - like you were working out and your muscles are kind of achy. Got it.

But I am also noticing that I am an emotional wreck for up to 2 days after my massages. I have heard in the past that some people cry during a massage, but I had never experienced that before.....until now. I didn't cry in my recent massage, but for the last two, I have cried on the way home, despite my body feeling wonderful. I am just on the verge of tears every minute during the day or so after the massage, and I'm crabby, sad, depressed, anxious, etc. How could this be after having such a therapeutic, wonderful, relaxing massage (and I get a deep tissue massage - very intense and sometimes painful, but it's a good pain - lots of breathing, kinda feels like physical therapy for part of it!)?? Now I'm starting to wonder if the 'toxins' that are released from the muscles aren't just physical toxins, but emotional baggage that I've been storing up as well. For the most part, my monthly massage is the only physical touch that I experience (except for cuddling with my dog, Maggie), so maybe that is what is evoking such an emotional response? I'm just not sure and it makes me worried if I'm keeping that much trapped sad emotion in my body all the time. I guess it's good to get it out often with a massage, but it has got to be affecting me negatively to have that in my system all the time..........Anyone have any input on this subject??


Here's a blog post from a Licensed Massage Therapist (Sierra Kennedy, LMP) who talks about this very thing:

Massage Blues - What happens after a massage?
By sierra on Jun 6, 2007 in healthly living, Deep Tissue, Massage

I just had a new client come in and tell me that after every massage she’s ever gotten, she’s felt crappy the next day. I responded to her with this:

It rather depends on what it means to you to feel “crappy” because it is true that massage often leaves one feeling tired or worn out. Many people say that the next day - a deep massage will feel like they worked out the day before.

Even very “light” techniques like Cranio-Sacral (which I am getting certified in this year - yay!) and Reiki can leave a person feeling emotionally and physically “crappy” as well.

A classic Swedish massage is like 7 miles of hiking to the circulatory system because of all the stuff that gets all loosened up during the massage. Later on, all that released lactic acid, waste products, chemicals and “other” just get processed out of the body for the next day.

During deep tissue - deep pressure is applied to sore spots and so the area can feel sore and “worked”.

It is a common concern how the body feels, reacts and how the emotional state of a body will be after receiving massage. It is very common to have the experience of cold-like symptoms, fatigue, irritability and even crying or emotional release after the massage.

I always suggest to my clients that they drink water - lots of water - the following 24 hours after their massage. That way the circulation of fluids and the healing process, in general, is helped along because it dilutes and flushes the entire system.

It is often a good idea to avoid coffee, alcohol and heavy greasy foods after a massage.
Always check in with yourself after a massage, for emotional disturbance. I find the most common “emotional” stuff that comes up after a massage is just irritability and sadness for no reason. This is totally natural. It’s just the combination of the chemicals and hormones that were sitting in your tissue that have been released to be cleaned out AND the emotions that may have been “stored” in places that were released and relaxed during the massage.

If you ever have issues after a massage, call your massage practitioner. They know what’s going on and they will have the information to help you understand what’s happening.

Don’t let the downside of massage keep you from getting one. The freedom from pain, pattern and holding is far worth the 24 to 36 hours of slight discomfort that comes after a massage.