Posted by toetapper on July 28, 2006, at 12:52:04
In reply to Massage therapy for trauma?, posted by Racer on July 28, 2006, at 1:49:00
Yay! I can finally contribute!
: >)
I'm new here and don't really know anyone or their stories yet, I don't know if your trauma is the same as mine, sexual violence. I have a massage a few times a month, at what had become the worst hour of the worst day of the week for me, and it has helped quite a bit. I have a high need to be touched but have difficulty with physical intimacy, especially the underlying current or expectation of it turning to sexual intimacy, massage offers me physical contact but in a way that is safe, non-threatening, and requires absolutely nothing in return. It took me a while to find the right one but I have had the same massage T for years now, he is intuitive and holistic and has helped heal me in ways no one else could, opening me to simple affection and physical contact with another human being, in much the same way as innocent, affectionate physical contact with my children. Sometimes I like to listen to music, sometimes I like to talk, sometimes I just want total quiet, sometiems I'm angry, sometimes I cry, sometimes I'm aroused, sometimes who knows what. But it's always SAFE. It's an hour of safe space to feel, whether thoughts, emotions, or sensations. It also has opened a way for me to communicate what I want/need to someone without negative repurcussions, like I don't want to roll over today or just work on my neck, and some days I can't even take my shirt off and he's completely accepting of that. He's great.
There are a lot of things I could give up or do without in my day-to-day life, but massage therapy is not one of them!
I hope you give it a try, let us know!
poster:toetapper
thread:671335
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20060721/msgs/671438.html