Somatic Approaches to Relieving Anxiety and Healing PTSD: The Role of Myofascial Release
By Ana Brown, B.A. Psychology, Mental Health Content Writer & Reviewed by Dr. Pascale Piron, Psy.D., M.A., LCPC
May 16, 2025
The power of Myofascial Release therapeutic techniques - Emotional healing for the body and mind by reconnecting and calming the nervous system.
My Dad was an amazing oral surgeon and a very intuitive doctor. Although specialized in a specific area of the body, he never considered any of his patients’ symptoms as an isolated issue. He treated the body as a connected system and not just isolated parts. He cared deeply for his patients and had great bedside manners by giving them extra time to process fear and decrease stress, in turn their bodies responded by feeling less physical pain. He knew everything in our system is connected and cannot function properly if one area is affected. I learned from him that our emotional experiences and how we process them can directly affect how our bodies physiologically respond, it’s the body and mind connection reaction chain. Our whole system, body and mind, is connected and trying to function in harmony. Think of an orchestra with all musicians working together to perform a song perfectly, but if one musician fails, the whole performance is affected. This is what the myofascial system is to our body, a bridge that connects organs, muscles, bones and nerve fibers.
According to the National Library of Medicine the fascia is defined as:
“Fascia is made up of solid (muscles) and liquid (blood, lymph) elements and components. The myofascial system comprises muscle tissue and connective tissue. There are other fascial organizations within the myofascial system, such as the nervous system and vascular tissue and the lymphatic system. Nervous system tissue and the resulting terminations are fasciae. The myofascial system can be a source of pain and functional limitations by creating symptomatic pictures that are not always clear and easy to frame."
When we experience trauma, anxiety, depression or any life event that affect our mental health, our bodies respond with a set of physical symptoms, indicating it's time to get help. These symptoms include but are not limited to headaches, fatigue, sleep disturbances, changes in appetite, muscle tension, aches or pains.
WHAT IS MYOFASCIAL RELEASE THERAPY
Myofascial Release is a manual technique used to release tension in the fascia (connective tissue) that surrounds muscles, organs and nerves. The therapist uses their hands to locate and release trigger points applying gentle pressure. It improves mobility in several areas including legs, shoulders, neck, arms and back.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRADITIONAL MASSAGE AND MYOFASCIAL RELEASE THERAPY
While both techniques focus in general on relaxing muscle tension, traditional massage uses different strokes such as effleurage (long gliding strokes) and strong pressure kneading including the use of oil and lotions while Myofascial Release therapy applies more of a gentle pressure in specific points of the body releasing tension in the fascia (connective tissue around muscles and bones). Another difference is the main purpose of both techniques whereas traditional massage promotes relaxation and reduces levels of stress, while myofascial release targets the restriction in the fascia causing pain and limitation in our range of motion.
WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM MYOFASCIAL RELEASE THERAPY
According to the Cleveland Clinic people experiencing the following conditions may benefit from Myofascial Release Therapy:
Physical trauma: car accidents, neck strain or common falls
Scarring; frozen shoulder, burns or surgery
Inflammation: bursitis, osteoarthritis or plantar fasciitis (heel pain)
Compressed nerves: herniated disks or carpal tunnel syndrome
Repetitive stress injuries: heavy lifting, poor posture, athletic injuries
Low back pain
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder
Fibromyalgia
Chronic headaches
Stephen Wuest owner of Enlightened Body in Chicago, IL is a licensed massage therapist with 30 years of experience and 8 years in Myofascial Release therapy. In addition to obtaining his licensure, Stephen was a Buddhist monk for 14 years and has completed a traditional 3-year meditation retreat. He brings a wealth of knowledge to his holistic approach to healing the mind and body with Myofascial Release therapy. He explains how Myofascial Release calms the nervous system:
“When we're stressed, anxious, or angry, our breath becomes shallow, our muscles tighten, and our minds feel scattered. From my Buddhist training, I've learned how closely the breath and mind are linked and how vital it is to reconnect. Myofascial Release supports this reconnection by calming the nervous system. It helps shift us from the fight-or-flight stress response into a state of rest and healing. In this relaxed state, we're better able to breathe deeply, feel more grounded, and truly listen to what our bodies are telling us. Many of us go through life disconnected from our physical selves, not realizing how daily stress and repetitive movements quietly shape our discomfort. But in this work, I often see clients grow more aware. They begin to sense what their bodies need, and they naturally start adjusting the habits that create pain. That's when healing begins."
WHAT IS SOMATIC EXPERIENCING (SE)
Developed by Dr. Peter Levine a world renowned psychotherapist and researcher, Somatic Experiencing is a therapeutic approach that helps us release trauma by awareness of our bodily sensations and emotions. This type of therapy increases resilience and promotes a better sense of safety. Somatic Experiencing is often used in conjunction with Myofascial Release to relax the nervous system by releasing physical and emotion tension caused by trauma.
There is no denying that although stress and trauma may be processed in our minds, our bodies also produce significant responses to these events. Sometimes we ignore what our bodies are trying to communicate to us, through physical illnesses, aches and pains. We rush to quick fixes that in the end may result in more ailments.
“We have learned that trauma is not just an event that took place sometime in the past; it is also the imprint left by that experience on the mind, brain and body." - Bessel Van Der Kolk
We can't avoid the common stresses in life, but we can listen to our bodies and seek professional help when it gets overwhelming. Healing doesn't feel the same for everyone, but trauma does affect all of us. Don't go through it alone. We are all connected. Let go of the pain by releasing the past and focusing on the best is yet to come.
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, always seek professional help immediately. Please call 911 or the suicide prevention lifeline at 988 or go to your local emergency room for immediate medical attention.
Be kind. Be brave. Be well.
Always with love,
HELPFUL LINKS
American Psychological Association
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - Call or text 988
Crisis Text Line - text HOME to 74141
DISCLAIMER
The content of these webpages and blogs and information provided is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health condition. Seek professional help immediately if you are experiencing a mental health crisis or any other medical condition.