Myresearch, so it seems to be EITHER massage, OR walks. Which seems to say that after a massage, you might want to postpone your walks for a longer time.

MyResearch, your post is very interesting to me because a few years back I had something very similar to what you experienced, right down to the ER visit and anxiety diagnosis.

First of all, an anxiety diagnosis really means, "we don't know what's wrong, but the patient's labs are normal and we only have 15 minutes to get her on her way and get on to the next patient." So you get a diagnosis of anxiety and some pills. It's a repackaging of the Victorian diagnosis of hysteria.

My "anxiety" was totally focussed around my upper back, a very weird uncomfortable feeling that took me a while to pin down as emanating from my upper back, at the place where I have a fat deposit.

At the time I was doing heavy juicing due to a skin cancer. Now I think I managed to deparasitize myself and was dealing with some kind of die-off that was diagnosed as anxiety. Again, this was a horrible feeling that was totally new to me.

So it's possible that the upper back massage is restoring circulation and causing some kind of healing process, or die-off. It seems more logical that the better circulation would be helping your body, rather than Hurting it.

HI U NY, , , , , , , , , , , , I wrote the book on anxiety attacks back in the 70's. Went every where and they all said I was hyperventilating . White clinic in Temple , Texas wanted to do the "you hate your mother routine" and I gave them the middle finger.

Went to a Neurological Surgeon in Little Rock and he put me on Dilantion, which is a epileptic drug. I stayed on this for some 20 years and is the reason I now have osteoporosis. It worked half-ass.

Finally went to another Neuro guy in Birmingham and he put me on dilation. The black outs ceased, but I was still on drugs. Also went to Mayo's twice and they were clueless.

I no longer have these black outs and don't do drugs. I now understand what was happening to me. It was a breathing thing as many suggested, but they had no clue why it happens.

Your body must have oxygen, but it also has to have carbon dioxide. We all breath too fast.

Want to go to sleep PDQ then do a quick inhale of 4 counts, hold it for 5 counts and then let the air out for a count of 7. This will balance your O2 and CO2 where it needs to be. You will fall to sleep like a baby.

At my age, I have been down lots of dusty roads and the reason I have stories to tell. Hope all enjoy and learn from them.

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OOPS, , , , , , doctor in Birmingham took me off Dilantin and put me on XANAX. He said Dilantin was like killing a fly with a cannon.

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I can understand how you feel. I would have a massage and then be sick for a day and a 1/2, similar to the flu. It wasn't always like that, so I don't know what brought it about. The first time, I was confined to bed, the second time, just a day, and part of the next day, but I was so wiped out I couldn't do anything. It isn't worth the experience, so I just stopped. I saw my doc and she said it sounded like a detox. I have candida/mercury issues, and swimming, weights and even walking a long time will bring on the same detox. At one point, when I was very ill, I had panic attacks. I went to a counselor who told me that our bodies can get so low physically that we can have panic attacks in response. I now exercise at a very low level and watch my physical reaction. I also take glutamine before and after exercize; sometimes add N-Acetyl Cysteine and L-carnitine. I also stopped worrying that other people didn't have those issues, since they also don't have mercury, candida, etc. My body will heal in its own time. Blessings!

Actually, I've had this happen several times and because my anxiety level is so high today after a massage yesterday....I began searching for others that had experienced the same thing. I don't "always" have anxiety after, but I think it's typically when I obtain a deep tissue massage.

I haven't been able to pin-point the reason why but I assume it's because of the detox during massage.

Hello Navinita.I read your post with interest, re the massage. I too no longer have massages as the last two I have had caused me to faint and to vomit. They were with different people and venues too. I'm unsure if I could claim stress and anxiety though, and once I recovered I was quite alright. But no more for me!!

I am so glad I found this forum...this just happened to me this week...had a deep tissue massage for an hour three days ago because of neck and shoulder pain from sleeping wrong. During massage felt good except for a couple of times was a little tender so I ask the therapist to go lighter and she did....felt really thirsty during it and drank water before it....when it was over was lightheaded and drank several glasses of water....had to rest when I got home...nauseated, weak, and tired feeling...next couple days still feel some of it almost like my blood sugar is low...not diabetic..also feeling a lot of anxiety even when im relaxed....it really has messed me up and I have had a few massages before more just for relaxing and not deep tissue and have always enjoyed them but it this one....I hope it goes away soon and I'm still sore in several areas still!!! :(

The typical thing that causes anxiety attack is a deficiency of an amino acid called gaba. The brain has various neurotransmitters which serve different functions. When you need to relax the neurotransmitter that helps calm your nerves is gaba. People with a gaba deficency are nervous, filled with anxiety , have a heightened sensitivity to pain and are worried frequently. In short, unable to feel safe and properly relax. Doctors just say oh you are depressed! well we got a pill for that! Yeah right.

Well naturopaths do too, its called probiotics. Huh? what do probiotics have to do with depression and anxiety? Well, gaba the amino acid the body uses as a neurotransmitter for relaxation is made right inside the body by our little buddies inside our intestinal tract. Lactobacilli rhamnoses is a strain of intestinal bacteria that has a dramatic impact on our mental health. Yep, this sounds really strange until you realize it's the bacteria that make gaba for us. When we have poor gut flora with an absence of lactobacilli rhamnoses we develop a deficency of gaba. When that occurs we get chronically nervous and begin having anxiety attacks. Who would have ever thought proper intestinal bacteria would be so important. As a first aid measure additional gaba can be taken to supplement the meager production of your intestinal bacteria. This has the effect of calming a nervous person in just a matter of a few days. Many people have committed suicide because they were gaba deficient. What a shame when gaba is available at most health food stores for cheap. Now, a better long term solution is to replace the lactobacilli rhamnoses strains which create the gaba naturally. So remember to take your probiotics! For best results always see your naturopathic doctor as your total body health needs to be taken into consideration. The healthier you are, the happier you will be.

I have the same exact thing for about a month now after a massage. Did you find a solution?

I've had panic attacks before and can tell when one is coming on.

I was trying to push this deep knot out of my back and suddenly felt like getting sick. I thought this is what the start of a panic attack feels like but it felt so good I didnt stop and the next thing I know I'm having a major panic attack.

I am feeling this NOW... hence, the reason why I had to Google shortness of breath after a massage...

Wow! This is crazy! I had a deep tissue massage yesterday and last night had a panic attack. I had heart palpitations and a racing heart and the same feeling of hard of breathing.

I have had panic attacks two years ago, but never since. All of the sudden, after a massage, I had a panic attack. I can't contribute this to anything else.

Has anyone ever thought that it could be the essential oils used in the massage that leaves you feeling this way? Anything put on the skin is absorbed into the system and it does tend to be alot that they use and covering your entire body. Just a thought. I would like to know opinions on this.

I always feel crappy the night I get a massage. I am exhausted but cannot sleep because my body is so jittery and everytime I fall asleep I am awaken by jittery nerves. I feel like if I fall asleep I will never wake up type anxiety. My heart does flip flops. I get dizzy like room spinning dizzy. It's hard to drive home after. I do take a beta blocker for POTS.All of this usually goes away after a day or two.

I do feel while I am getting the Swedish massage that I do not want it to end though!

I also suffered these same symptoms after massage due to the toxins being released from the tight knots in muscles and your lymphatic system. I have had complete remedy from drinking LOTS of water following the massage to flush these toxins from the system. I probably drink 3-4 litres throughout the day after a massage.

Hope this helps you like it did me!

Mick.

A number of years ago I had an hour-long deep tissue massage. When I got home I started throwing up on and off for 24 hours! I felt horrible! Turns out I hadn't drunk any water AFTER the massage. So, simplistically, what happens during a massage is that lots of toxins are released from your muscles and basically float around your system. Drinking lots of water will flush out these toxins.

Now, I'm not sure if the essential oils could have affected you. You might want to discuss this with your massage therapist and get her opinion (maybe google this issue for possible side effects?).

Bottom line bring a liter of water with you to your session and drink, drink, drink!

I just had a massage (last one was a year ago) and I too felt very panicky afterwards (and glad I found this post). Shortness of breath, and as if there's a concrete block on my chest. I only had a panic attack once in my life (about 10 years ago) so this is very strange. The masseuse did a mix of techniques which I thought was very strange and at one point, she was sitting on top of me and kneading...perhaps the pressure of another body on top might have triggered it...Who knows...

I have had several massages in the past and had never experienced this until today, I got 11/2 hour deep tissue massage done by a male. I started experiencing anxiety about 2 hours after the massage, I could feel my heart racing, a deep knot in the chest/upper stomach area and started getting scared. I started researching on line and found this site, I am currently drinking lots of water hopefully that will help flush the toxins out.

Hello,

I also expeienced stres n depression after masage. I told it to my mother she laughed at me and nothing like this hapnd after masage. But I hv these felling after masage.

Same feelings just want to breath in open air and start to walk.

Does anybody know why and how it hpnd?

I got a one hour deep tissue massage one time, I went to get up and was dizzy, I felt so ill I dragged myself home and went to bed and just felt nauseous spaced out and sick. I read that the massage releases some toxin from the muscles into the blood stream which is why you feel sick. Not sure exactly but wont be getting a one hour massage again.

After a massage you are to drink 8 ounces of water to flush out toxins or take a Epsom salt bath.

Just had a deep tissue massage last night with a new massage therapist. He really focused on my neck and upper back/shoulder. It felt wonderful but at times painful. He told me to also breath deep. Afterwards I did feel light headed and must admit I did not drink as much water as I should have. About 2 hours later I could feel my anxiety kicking in. Today I woke up in a full anxiety attack. Hoping that by tomorrow I feel better.

I faced the same problem last week .....and I was with a thinking that may be my nerves are opening up as I have many blood clots in my body after my delivery to clear out those clots I decided to take massage but I felt shot of breath everyday and I used to drink hot water every time when I used to be thirsty then my body started feeling lighter and the issue of breathing was also solved.

This thread has been so relieving to read. I too have been having the same symptoms. I moved to honduras for work and was finally able to afford to see a masseuse on a regular basis. Started going 3 times a week because of an accident in the gym 4 years ago.

It always seems to happen as I lay down to go to sleep. Heart will start to race and then panic makes everything worse. Or sometimes heart beat is normal however as I'm falling asleep I immediately wake up because I feel as though I stopped breathing.

I already contributed it to the massages from other things I've googled but it's still happening and decided to change up my Google search words and found this.

My body was in such bad shape that I was even having very bad vertigo. At this point whenever I feel the vertigo coming I am able to hit some points around my head and it instantly goes away only to pool up in my neck.

So glad I found this site. I have had plenty of massages but I just started to get deep tissue hot stone massages. Got my first male masseuse who really got the knots out. But I think the toxins in my shoulder and neck knots helped take someone who never had anxiety into a two week spiral.

I knew it was the massage immediately after.

Things that have worked for me are: No coffee or caffeine, avoiding sugar, and drastically increasing my water intake. A couple of glasses may not work. I contacted my doctor when it started happening and she recommends a lot of water. She asked about the intensity of the massage and it was definitely intense. I now drink a half gallon to a gallon every day (I'm a heavier woman so less would be fine depending on your mass).

I also oil pull (Google )with coconut oil once or twice a day & Take Epsom salt baths at least once a week. I look for every opportunity I can to detox because toxins are just floating around in my system. Some weight lifting may be ok but cardio is not an option for me right now.

After a month, I'm seeing huge improvements in my mood. I'm at about 75%. I can't wait to be fully restored.

I've had lots of massages in the past but not the anxiety afterwards.

But, I too had this happen after a deep neck/shoulder massage yesterday and know to drink lots of water, preferably with lemon to help with the detox.

Important to remember that the tightness that we go for the massage for in the first place is because we are holding on to something (unless it is because of an accident), some emotion or trauma. The massage will not only release the tension and toxins that have been stored BUT also the emotions. We got good massages and were at a point to let go of whatever we have been holding on to. It's part of the process. Hang in there and know that the healing is working. The release of toxins can confuse the brain to think that something is wrong and trigger the anxiety.

Tapping (EFT) and Yoga Nidra (a guided meditation not like the exercise yoga) are VERY helpful for anxiety and there are lots of videos on Youtube. Journaling (and not reading it back over) is another helpful tool. Reiki too.

Breathe.

My guess is the massage caused some detoxing. Lymphatic ..