Touch relaxes and reinforces a sense of security
When life is under a lot of strain or your sense of security is shaky, a gentle touch is a great way to help you recover. Psychologist and trained massage therapist Minna Nevala from Terveystalo Rela massage therapists explains how touch promotes mental well-being.
We need to be touched throughout our lives. It is the first sense we develop and the sense that will stay with us the longest.
- We know how important touch is to a child's development. Among other things, a parent's reassuring embrace strengthens a child's sense of security and builds a foundation for self-esteem. The power of touch also lasts throughout adult life: a hug from a loved one makes us feel secure and offers nurturing experiences, even if we didn't get enough touch as a child," says Minna Nevala, a psychologist and trained massage therapist at Terveystalo Rela.
The healing effect of touch is based on biology
The human being is a physical and psychological entity: touch has a powerful effect on our minds through the nervous system and hormones, relaxing and relieving pain, among other things.
- Massage, for example, is a good way to activate our parasympathetic or calming nervous system. This kind of soothing touch activates in particular the so-called vagus nerve, which signals the state of our body to the brain and triggers recovery. This is very tangible in the massage: the client's breathing becomes steadier and the body relaxes. Blood pressure drops for a moment. Many people stop talking at this point," laughs Minna Nevala.
In addition to massage, good ways to activate the parasympathetic nervous system include walking in the woods, consciously calming your breathing or meditating.
Touch is particularly helpful when you feel stressed or anxious
In addition to activating the parasympathetic nervous system, touch increases the secretion of pleasure hormones.
- Massage or other gentle and soothing touch releases pleasure hormones such as oxytocin, the so-called attachment hormone, dopamine, the pleasure hormone, and serotonin, the happiness hormone. At the same time it lowers cortisol or stress hormone levels.
The healing power of touch is particularly worth trying when you feel stressed or overstimulated.
- Massage, for example, is the perfect remedy for stress, as it not only calms the mind but also the body by relieving muscle tension. Muscle tension is one of the regulators of stress and when you can relieve it, the brain gets the message that you can let go of your worries. However, if the overstress is prolonged, it's a good idea to keep a low profile and contact mental wellbeing professionals," Minna adds.
Your own touch can also help - try these to calm your mind
- Stroke your own arm
- Give yourself a hug
- Petting a pet
- Take a moment for yourself and book an appointment with a masseuse, for example.
Terveystalo Rela massage therapists are available all over Finland and you can easily book an appointment online.
Latest articles
Occupational health Therapies at the Forefront – operating model reformed mental health support for staff in Oulu
Mental health and behavioral disorders were a cause for concern in the city of Oulu. Sick leave was on the rise, and the phenomenon was evident not only in statistics but also in the everyday life of work communities. When the Therapies to the Forefront operating model became available for occupational health services, Oulu seized the opportunity. The goal was to build a completely new way of thinking about mental health support and to provide tools for every employee to promote their own well-being and coping. The achievements of the first six months show that the solution was the right one: a 10% decrease in mental health absences is the result of a comprehensive cultural change.
The Finnish debate on sick leave is broken
Misconceptions about sick leave are more persistent than the flu virus. According to leading occupational health physician Anita Riipinen, it is time to correct this misconception.
Terveystalo succeeded in its ambitious goal of reducing mental health-related absences: savings amounted to approximately 100,000 working days and EUR 42 million.
At the beginning of 2025, Terveystalo committed to achieving a significant reduction in mental health-related sick leave among its occupational health customers. Focusing on the prevention of mental health disorders and rapid, effective treatment yielded results that exceeded the target. Mental health-related sick leave fell by 7%, which resulted in a total of approximately 100,000 additional healthy working days and savings of nearly EUR 42 million for occupational health customer companies.
Sick leave on the decline: what does the data for 2025 tell us about the work ability of Finns?
Terveystalo's Näin Suomi voi* material reveals several positive changes in Finnish working life. In 2025, Finnish employees had fewer sick days on average than before, and more and more people got through the whole year without a single day of absence. Absences due to mental health issues, which had been a cause for concern for a long time, also decreased significantly. The data shows a change in work ability management: problems are addressed earlier and returning to work is supported more actively than before.
What is metabolic age and why should you care about it?
A new laboratory study by Terveystalo reveals how your body is aging. Metabolic age makes biological aging visible.
Research result: Evaluating the effectiveness of healthcare requires sufficiently sensitive indicators
When developing healthcare, the focus is usually on effectiveness and measurable evidence. From the perspective of the individual patient, it is important to understand whether the treatment will bring them real benefits, rather than just more procedures. From the perspective of society, it is important to know where limited resources should be allocated.