I found this helpful post on Complementary Therapy for Addictions.

It’s great because it sheds light on one more, often under-recognized, group that can and should regularly benefit from massage and touch therapy. Check it out.

MASSAGE IN THE RELIEF OF THE EFFECTS OF ADDICTION
Anyone who is trying to come off drugs will benefits from a regular massage. Drug addicts often suffer from a tremendous sense of shame; they know that they have disappointed everyone, they feel ostracized and untouchable. The fact that someone is prepared to give them some attention and to touch them helps them regain both their self-esteem and their desire to get well. For once their bodies which they have so abused, are receiving attention and realize that there are other ways of feeling good apart from taking drugs. As one girl said “I didn’t think it was possible to feel high without drugs.” By relaxing and experiencing a new form of pleasure, drug addicts are able to remember their pre-drug days, and regain respect for their bodies. The mother of one addict said that having a massage was the turning point in her daughter’s recovery.

Drug addicts tend to lead unhealthy lives. Their circulation is bad and they suffer from cold extremities. Massage improves the circulation and makes the body feel more alive.

Heroin is a total muscle relaxant and nerve sedative. When an addict withdraws he loses the ability to relax, and so becomes extremely tense. One ex-addict said “I felt terrible when I was withdrawing, and didn’t think anything apart from heroin would help. I was delighted to find that after having a full body massage my body felt totally at ease. The shivering stopped and I felt warmer. My muscles stopped cramping and my nerves weren’t jumping around so much. I also felt much less depressed ands for a few minutes the world didn’t seem so awful.” She found massages so beneficial that she decided to learn how to massage, so that she could help other people in the same situation. She went to courses and found that being able to help someone else greatly improved her self-esteem.

Thanks to Claire Maxwell-Hudson’s COMPLETE BOOK OF MASSAGE.


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