Alaska Institute of Oriental Medicine, Acupuncture & Massage Therapy

Healing Depression Through The Essence Of Touch

A man once told me a quote that I lived by due to the sheer strength and masculinity of it, “I was born by myself, and I’ll die by myself”. It has taken me over 30 years of my natural born life to realize that the quote is actually sad, lonely, heartbreaking, and utterly depressing if you allow it to digest for a moment. After serving over 20 years of military service, countless deployments, dozens of countries visited, interactions with all sorts of cultures, more death than any man should ever witness, I’m shamed to say that I once stood proud and not only believed but lived every syllable of that quote. In the midst of all the catastrophes going on in the world today, a pandemic, police brutality, a corrupt government, poverty, unemployment, and I could go on for days. Actually, that is the root to every single problem if you take a moment to dissected it. What we need as a human race is the exact opposite. We as a human race thrive and survive from human touch. From the moment we are born our functionality and survival rate depends on the touch of the woman who birthed us and gave us life. Throughout our toddler, adolescent, and teenage years how we develop as a functional member of society depends on the values, beliefs, and discipline instilled upon us. But most importantly how much or how often we were touched and showed love and affection. Veterans take their own lives at an astonishing rate of 22 lives per day, solitary confinement inmates are twice  more likely to revisit jail or take their own lives, Alaskan suicide rates are up by 13%, children who experience bullying are two times more likely to commit suicide. I could continue to spray statistics at you, but my heart is to too heavy at the moment. What I will do is direct you to the common denominator in every case, feeling excluded, alone, a lack of interaction, and zero positive and encouraging touch. American culture has somehow taken what we truly need to survive and gave it a different name, and better yet represent a different tone. If I hug my co-worker we must be fooling around, If I smile too much at the checkout I must be flirting with the cashier, If I were to console someone of the opposite sex there’s a time constraint placed on the embracement. Well my fellow Americans, I am here to tell you that particular thought process is wrong as the quote I once lived by. When here are a few fun facts to support the opposite of what the majority believe. Massage/touch calms the mind, massage/touch eases aches and pains, massage/touch relieves depression, massage/touch increases blood flow and promotes relaxation. So how about we do away with all the vices that surround us in the world today and experience a different healthier type of euphoria. Visit your local massage therapist to begin your journey toward better body, soul, happiness, and heart mind. NAMASTE!!