Why You May Feel High or Spaced Out After a Massage

Why You May Feel High After Getting a Massage

It's not unusual to experience a "massage high" after a session. You may walk out of the spa or clinic feeling euphoric, blissful, even slightly dizzy almost like you're floating rather than walking. This pleasant altered state of consciousness has physiological explanations behind it.

Natural Chemicals Released During Massage

A number of scientific studies have linked massage therapy to elevated levels of serotonin, dopamine and endorphins. This chemical cocktail produces enjoyable effects similar to a mood-enhancing drug high.

Many therapists target pressure points connected to the parasympathetic nervous system. Activating this system initiates the relaxation response essentially signaling the body it's safe to take a break from the alert "fight or flight" mode of the sympathetic system.

Endorphins

Endorphins interact with the opiate receptors in the brain to naturally reduce feelings of pain and create sensations of pleasure. Massage techniques like squeezing or percussion physically stimulate the release of endorphins throughout the body.

This flood of feel-good endorphins remains elevated even after the massage ends, leaving you feeling euphoric or blissed out in its wake.

Serotonin and Dopamine

Massage also boosts key neurotransmitters linked to improved mood and relaxation. For example, moderate pressure massage increases serotonin levels by an average of 28% and dopamine levels by an average of 31%.

These powerful brain chemicals lift your overall sense of mental and physical well-being when released. You may perceive this as being "high" on the positive sensations.

Other Factors That Contribute to Massage Highs

Beyond spurring a neurological flood of feel-good chemicals, getting a professional massage also creates both a physical and emotional response.

The Power of Touch

Most people spend little time intentionally being touched in caring ways day-to-day. The hands-on contact of a massage inherently provides greater sensory input compared to your average daily experiences.

Having nearly uninterrupted physical touch for 30 minutes to 2 hours naturally produces strong reactions especially warm, soothing massage techniques like Swedish strokes.

Environmental Ambiance

Spas and massage clinics carefully design treatment spaces to instantly cue relaxation through ambiance. Dim lighting, soft music and aromatherapy build upon the massage itself to tell your nervous system it's time to chill out.

This immersive atmosphere makes it easier for you to let your guard down and surrender into receiving nurturing touch. The overall multi-sensory experience facilitates releasing built-up mental and physical tension.

Human Connection

Quality time with a caring massage therapist also provides meaningful human connection we often lack. Feeling "held" in presence and care while communicating any areas of concern establishes rapport.

Being vulnerable yet supported during the largely non-verbal session can feel profoundly moving. Tears or emotions may arise as part of releasing tension or trauma lodged in the tissues.

Transition Back to Reality

After such intimate comfort and safety, the outside world may seem jarring, stressful or unpleasant by comparison. Like waking from a deep nap, you may feel slightly disoriented coming out of the massage cocoon.

Processing complicated emotions combined with feel-good hormones can absolutely make you feel spacey, weepy or extra sensitive after bodywork.

Is It Normal to Feel High After a Massage?

In most cases, absolutely! Any type of massage whether deep tissue, sports, Thai or Swedish massage aims to elicit the relaxation response while addressing areas of concern.

It makes logical sense you would feel muscle tension dissolve along with daily stress melt away thanks to:

• Targeted physical manipulation of contracted tissues
• Soothing sensory inputs
• Neurochemicals stimulating pleasurable sensations
• A caring, meditative atmosphere

In reality, NOT feeling noticeably relaxed and at ease following a massage may indicate it didn't reach therapeutic depth to produce unwinding effects.

Signs of a Healthy Massage Response

While each person processes bodywork differently due to factors like trauma history or innate sensitivity, most share core reactions:

• Reduced muscle soreness
• Loose, flexible joints
• Decreased pain
• Lighter overall tension
• Mental clarity
• Calm mood

You may also notice feeling:

• Sleepier than usual
• Spaced out
• Giddy
• Emotional
• Physically sensitive
• Energized

These and other somewhat "trippy" reactions demonstrate the massage facilitated release from chronic patterns of holding. Consider embracing any positive shift in perception or cognition as your consciousness expanding!

Is It Possible to Get Too High?

Yes, in theory it's possible to have an extreme reaction that feels uncomfortable or alarming if you are very sensitive to touch and bodywork elicits traumatic memories or severe emotional release.

You may perceive sensations of spinning, dizziness, rapid heartbeat, tingling extremities or gastrointestinal distress as very intensified while in a suggestible state.

Communicate any disorienting symptoms to your massage therapist so they can stabilize the remainder of the session to ground you back into your body gently.

Likewise let your practitioner know if you feel emotional flooding so they can slow the pace and use more comforting strokes.

Massage Techniques That Lead to Strong Effects

Although all forms of clinical and spa massage aim to soothe the nervous system, certain modalities have greater likelihood to induce a massage high or make you feel "flooded" compared to classic Swedish massage.

Trigger Point Therapy

Targeting hyperirritable spots within muscle tissues linked to symptoms like numbness or weakness often elicits a pain-pleasure sensation. Having trigger points manually released provokes intense local and referred reactions.

As the therapist applies direct, deep pressure into tender knots, your brain copes by releasing calming endorphins. This can make you feel spacey or tingly afterward.

Sports Massage

Sports massage uses a variety of strong pressures including cross-fiber friction, broad deep strokes and shaking that profoundly affect local areas and whole systems. It smartly exploits your neurological pain gate for therapeutic gains.

The vigorous percussion and limb-pulling involved often makes athletes feel seriously relaxed yet recharged after a sports massage attuned to their training strain patterns.

Shiatsu

In this Japanese bodywork modality, the therapist applies pressure along meridian lines to balance Qi (lifeforce) flow. The potent sequence of palm presses, stretches and rocking motions frees stuck energy and stuck emotions.

As vital energy debris clears, you may alternate between feeling tension discharge via involuntary twitches or shakes followed by waves of euphoria at having stagnation resolved.

Rolfing

Rolfing SI aims to realign the body's segments in relation to gravity by methodically releasing bound up fascia. The sustained deep pressure melts down structural adhesions built up from injuries, surgeries and poor posture.

The intensity of Rolfing work combined with feeling your body reshape itself in real time often produces trippy out-of-body sensations or emotions rising to the surface.

Afterglow: Making Massage Highs Last

While massage chemicals dissipate after an hour or so, you can take steps to extend that sweet spot of relaxation and pain relief from bodywork:

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Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.