How To Ward Off Spring Depression With Deep Tissue Massage

Learn how a deep tissue massage can keep those springtime blues at bay.

Well, Anchorage — we did it! Breakup is finally here.

As the days grow longer and the ice and snow melt, it's natural to assume that everyone in town is celebrating the warmer days and brighter sunshine. 

Yet, for many, breakup season can also bring feelings of sadness or melancholy, commonly known as spring depression.

Amidst our changing landscape, you might struggle to match your internal experience with the external world's jubilant tone (not to mention the enthusiasm of tourists!) 

As anyone who has ever experienced depression before knows, it’s an uncomfortable place to exist, even if only briefly.

This is where a deep tissue massage can be a powerful ally, offering substantial and immediate benefits for physical and mental health.

In today's blog, we'll explore how deep-tissue massage can alleviate symptoms of spring depression and help you make the transition from Winter to Spring.

What Is Spring Depression?

Spring depression is a lesser-known condition than its winter counterpart.

It’s common to hear about seasonal affective disorder (SAD) during the winter months, but some studies have found that seasonal depression is actually not more common in winter.

In fact, one study out of Rochester, Minnesota, found that more participants were diagnosed with depression in the Spring than in winter. So, if you're feeling blue, "off," or just… lost… this time of year… you're not alone.

Spring depression is often characterized by symptoms such as low mood, anxiety, lethargy, and social withdrawal.

Here are three reasons this seasonal slump arise:

1. Hormonal Imbalances Can Cause Spring Depression

As the days grow longer in Alaska, the increased light can cause shifts in your body's production of certain hormones, including melatonin and serotonin.

Melatonin regulates sleep and can be disrupted by more daylight, affecting sleep patterns and mood.

Serotonin, also called the "feel-good" hormone, is influenced by sunlight and can impact mood, appetite, and sleep patterns.

2. Spring Depression Can be Triggered By Reflecting On the Year Gone By

As the light shines, many of us are doing spring cleaning projects and taking stock in our lives. You may be reflecting on how far you’ve come with goals you set for yourself at the beginning of the year.

This can often (if not usually!) lead to a sense of disappointment. If you’re not as far along as you had anticipated, it’s important to be gentle on yourself and remember — we are all a work in progress!

3. Spring Depression Can Be Caused By Coming Out of Hibernation

Going from extreme winter darkness to the opposite of almost constant daylight is a process. In the winter, Alaskans have an opportunity to hibernate and, in a sense, hide. Everything goes quiet, and we can go inward.

Suddenly, spring comes, and so do millions of tourists. The streets get busier, the airplane noise gets louder, and you may feel more pressure to participate in activities after a quiet winter of solitude. Perhaps you’re even returning to a seasonal work position.

Alaska is unique, and for some, summer is both a joy and a burden. It's okay to give yourself time to adjust and remember that you will.

But, if you want faster relief, massage therapy may help.

The Healing Touch of Deep Tissue Massage

Deep tissue is a massage therapy technique that focuses on aligning and strengthening deeper layers of muscle and connective tissues, and it can play a role in alleviating symptoms of spring depression.

Your Anchorage massage therapist uses pressure and deep, slow strokes to target your muscle's inner layers, which can help foster a full-body reset, especially in the springtime. Think of it as spring cleaning for your body.

Here are 6 specific ways deep tissue massage can help:

1. Stress Reduction

Deep tissue massage lowers stress hormones and boosts endorphins, your body's natural mood elevators. This hormonal adjustment can significantly uplift your mood and offer relief from depression. Yes! Massage therapy actually changes your brain hormones and can give you instant relief from depressive symptoms.

2. Improved Sleep

If you've ever struggled with depression, you probably know all too well that it can cause sleep disturbances. Deep tissue massage can help normalize sleep patterns by fostering relaxation and reducing muscle tension, helping you sleep soundly and wake up feeling refreshed.

3. Enhanced Circulation

Deep tissue massage improves your blood flow. This means more oxygen and nutrients are delivered to your tissues, which helps elevate your energy levels and gives you more motivation.

4. Release of Muscle Tension

Spring usually involves increased activity, which may exacerbate muscular strain and contribute to physical discomfort or pain. Deep tissue massage helps relieve this tension, aligning the body more closely with a state of physical ease, which can positively impact your mental health.

5. Emotional Release

Deep tissue massage can also help with processing emotions. Working intensely into your muscle fibers can help release pent-up emotions trapped inside the body, offering a sense of rejuvenation and emotional clarity. This can be especially poignant after a long Alaskan winter.

6. Feeling Cared For

The act of allowing yourself to be cared for by your massage therapist also boosts the hormone oxytocin in your brain, promoting feelings of contentment and reducing anxiety and stress.

Now you know the many reasons why a single session of deep tissue massage in Anchorage can transform your mental health and give you the reset you need to transition from Winter into Spring more comfortably and with a more positive outlook.

Deep Tissue Massage Techniques

Deep tissue massage involves specific methods to address tension and underlying issues in your muscles and connective tissues. 

This type of massage aims to reach the sub-layer of your muscle and fascia, the connective tissue that holds everything together. 

Additionally, while Swedish massage focuses on gentle and flowing motions, deep tissue goes… well… deeper.

Here are a few of the techniques our massage therapists use during a deep tissue session:

Slow Strokes:

When you get a deep tissue massage, your therapist uses slow, steady, deliberate strokes that focus pressure on your muscle layers, tendons, and other tissues deep under your skin. 

Direct Pressure:

Your therapist may apply pressure with their fingers, knuckles, and elbows, sometimes moving across the grain with the muscle rather than along with it. This technique can help loosen muscle tissues, release toxins, and circulate blood and oxygen properly, which helps ensure that hormones are distributed evenly throughout your body.

Friction Techniques:

Your therapist may apply pressure along the grain of your muscles to generate friction between your muscle fibers. This technique helps break down adhesions and relieves chronic muscle tension or injury pain, which can often be tied to your mental health.

At Anchorage Massage Therapies, we take a holistic approach to our client's physical and mental health and believe in the body-mind connection.

By working with the body, you can help ease the mind.

Many of our clients report feeling more peaceful after a deep tissue massage and experiencing a sense of emotional relief that they weren't anticipating — but found very welcoming and comforting.

What To Expect When You Book a Deep Tissue Massage

Deep tissue massage sometimes has a reputation for being painful or intense. But this doesn't have to be the case, and it certainly isn't at Anchorage Massage Therapies.

Yes, you can expect more pressure when you book a deep tissue massage than regular massage therapy or a lymphatic drainage session – and while the pressure may feel more focused, it should not be painful. 

If you experience discomfort during your session, please let your therapist know immediately so they can adjust their technique.

Our therapists are dedicated to your well-being. They will tailor the session to your needs, ensuring a beneficial and therapeutic experience.

Give Your Mind and Body a Spring Reset With Us

As you already know, everything in Alaska is wild, including our seasonal changes.

As we embrace breakup season and the transition from Winter to Summer, it’s important to remember that our well-being and routines might also need adjustment.

If you're experiencing spring depression, deep tissue massage may offer relief to rejuvenate your mind and body and give your symptoms some relief.

Our Anchorage massage therapists are dedicated to helping you navigate every season with personalized, attentive care.

Embrace this Spring's full potential by allowing yourself the healing touch of a deep tissue massage. Book an appointment today, and let us take care of the rest. As always, we've got you, Anchorage.