Massage, the Nervous System, and Eating Disorders

This is a tender topic. And it matters.

Massage can be deeply supportive for people healing from eating disorders. It can help reconnect someone to their body, calm the nervous system, and offer a sense of safety in physical presence.

And.There are important considerations.

When someone is actively struggling with an eating disorder, especially anorexia or bulimia, the body can be under real physiological stress. Electrolyte imbalances, low sodium or potassium, dehydration, low blood pressure, cardiac strain, and fragile tissues are not always visible. A person may look “fine” and still be medically vulnerable.

Deep or aggressive pressure is not always safe in these cases.

Massage increases circulation, shifts fluids, and activates the nervous system. In a compromised body, this can lead to dizziness, fainting, heart rhythm changes, nausea, or feeling unwell after a session. That’s not healing. That’s overload.

Paying attention to the body I am working on is crucial.It’s often why I lighten up on pressure, adjust the session, or choose not to offer a specific modality at all. That decision is never about withholding care. It’s about offering the right care for the body in front of me, in that moment.

Trauma-informed massage is about listening to the whole body, not pushing through it.

If you’re in recovery, curious about bodywork, or unsure where you fall, know this:You deserve care that meets you where you are today.Not where you think you “should” be.Not where your mind says you need to push harder.

Gentle, grounding, nervous-system-focused work is often the safest and most supportive place to start.

And if you’re a client reading this, honesty matters. Not because you’re in trouble. But because your safety matters more than pressure, depth, or intensity.

Your body is not something to conquer.It’s something to come home to.

Healing is not force.It’s listening.

Why Eating Disorders Impact the Nervous System

Eating disorders are not just about food. They profoundly affect the autonomic nervous system, which controls heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, temperature regulation, and stress responses.

When the body is under-nourished, dehydrated, or metabolically stressed, it often lives in a constant state of survival. This can look like:

• Hypervigilance or shutdown

• Difficulty relaxing

• Increased pain sensitivity

• Dizziness or fatigue

• Cold intolerance

• Cardiac strain

Massage therapy directly interacts with these systems. That is why how massage is delivered matters just as much as whether massage is received.

Massage Can Be Supportive — When Done Trauma-Informed

Trauma-informed massage therapy can offer meaningful support for individuals in eating disorder recovery by:

• Supporting nervous system regulation

• Offering safe, non-judgmental touch

• Improving body awareness without forcing connection

• Encouraging parasympathetic activation

• Reducing stress and muscle guarding

But massage therapy is not a treatment for eating disorders.It does not replace medical care, nutritional support, or mental health treatment.

Massage is supportive care.Not corrective care.

Why Pressure, Pace, and Modality Matter

Clients sometimes believe that deeper pressure equals better results. In bodies impacted by eating disorders, that belief can actually increase risk.

Deep pressure or aggressive techniques may:

• Stress an already taxed cardiovascular system

• Increase the risk of fainting or nausea

• Cause bruising or tissue irritation

• Overstimulate the nervous system

Choosing lighter pressure, slower pacing, or declining certain modalities is not a lack of skill.

It is skill.

Trauma-informed massage prioritizes safety over intensity and listening over performance.

Massage Is Bodywork, Not Talk Therapy

Massage therapy does not involve processing emotions, discussing food behaviors, or unpacking trauma stories.

If emotions arise during a session, the role of the massage therapist is to support grounding, breath, and physical safety, not exploration or analysis.

Massage therapy can complement recovery.It does not replace therapy.

Clear boundaries protect clients and therapists alike.

When Massage May Need to Be Modified or Paused

There are times when massage may need to be adjusted or postponed, including:

• Active medical instability

• Significant electrolyte imbalance

• Frequent dizziness or fainting

• Cardiac symptoms

• Severe restriction without medical oversight

Saying no in these moments is not rejection.It is care.

Trauma-Informed Massage at Rebel Wellness in West Des Moines

At Rebel Wellness, trauma-informed massage therapy is grounded in nervous system awareness, ethical responsibility, and respect for the body’s limits.

Sessions are never about pushing, fixing, or conquering the body. They are about creating conditions where safety and regulation can begin.

For clients with a history of eating disorders, the most healing experience is often being met with patience, respect, and choice.

Your body does not need to be forced into healing.It needs to be listened to.

Looking for Trauma-Informed Massage Therapy in West Des Moines?

If you are seeking trauma-informed massage therapy in West Des Moines, Iowa, Rebel Wellness offers body-centered, nervous-system-focused care grounded in safety, consent, and integrity.