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
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.
Smooth assistance for your needs – our AI assistant is now at your service
You can now find Terveystalo’s AI assistant on our website — a quick and easy way to get answers based on the information available on our site. For now, the assistant is available only on the Finnish‑language section of our website, but you can chat with it in English.
How technology helps relieve mental stress: "When the load is high, the threshold must be low."
Mental health disorders have overtaken musculoskeletal disorders, which had long been the leading cause of sick leave. Work is changing, and the range of sick leave caused by mental health issues has also changed. We must be able to offer new solutions to this challenge.
Extensive data set of 200,000 samples: Nightingale study reveals link between illness risks and sick leave
Data from the Finnish Nightingale study, which is used in Terveystalo's occupational health services, reveals a clear link between lifestyle-related health risks and sick leave. The exceptionally extensive data set of over 200,000 customers shows that people with a low risk of illness had significantly fewer absences, while those in high-risk groups had more absences. The results highlight the importance of preventive healthcare in ensuring work ability and the competitiveness of companies.
Strong identification speeds up your service experience when calling us
Soon you can identify yourself easily and securely before your call is answered. Read below to see how the identification process works.