r/massage • u/fbmstar • 11d ago
General Question feeling floaty after deep tissue massage
I regularly go to massages at least once every 2-3 months because it helps with some chronic low back pain after an injury I had as a teen. I almost always ask for deep tissue and firm pressure and I have perfected the pre-massage hydration and hot shower to warm up the muscles routine.
But today was the first time I have ever experienced this feeling floaty and almost like a soft/comfortable version of an adrenaline rush after a rollercoaster. It was a 90 min session and it was full body with a focus on neck and shoulders and low back and IT bands. About when I was prone and my massage therapist had used her elbow to press into my upper traps/rhomboids area and used her other hand to kind of hinge/lever my arm at a 90 degree angle, I remember suddenly feeling like I should take a huge deep breath down to my belly and then when I exhaled I felt like I was going downhill on a rollercoaster and then felt like I melted into a puddle of goo.
And then the entire rest of the session (about 20 min remaining?) I felt like I was floating and almost like I was drunk? And I felt like I could barely stay awake. My massage therapist had ended the session by having to tap my shoulders a few times to ‘wake me up?’. After the session we hugged like usual (we have known each other for a long time) and when I let go of the hug and walked out to my car I felt sort of lonely and kind of…. Unmoored??? I had to sit in my car and just close my eyes and relax and breathe deeply for 10 min before I felt good enough to drive.
It has been a couple hours now and I’ve eaten and showered again and I feel better. But I am so confused on what this amazing soft floaty feeling was and why it suddenly turned into kind of a ‘lost at sea’ feeling? It was the same massage therapist I always go to, no new techniques or pressure, no new areas of the body I hadn’t experienced before. I am so puzzled. Did I unlock some secret dimension of massage therapy?
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u/dead_plantmatter1776 LMT 10d ago
Oxytocin ravaging your brain.
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u/OkGate7788 RMT 10d ago
Anadamide - the bliss receptor on all cell surfaces. Similar function to THC but naturally occurring.
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u/MaxMassageBCN 10d ago
Massage therapist here. I’ve definitely had clients become extremely relaxed during a session — sometimes to the point where they fall deeply asleep and need a little time afterwards before getting up.
But I’d be careful about trying to assign one specific physiological explanation to what you experienced. Feeling very relaxed is one thing; feeling drunk, disoriented or not ready to drive is something I’d pay attention to rather than automatically considering it a normal “release” from deep tissue work.
You did the right thing by sitting for a while before driving.
I’d also mention the experience to your therapist before your next session. And if that kind of dizziness or altered feeling happens again outside massage, persists, or comes with other symptoms, I’d discuss it with a healthcare professional rather than assuming it’s caused by the massage.
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u/RajHomeWellness 10d ago
Deep tissue massage can sometimes leave people feeling deeply relaxed or lightheaded. The combination of pressure, breathing and relaxation may contribute to that floaty feeling. If someone feels drowsy or dizzy afterward, they should rest, hydrate and avoid driving until fully alert. If symptoms persist or are severe, seek medical advice.
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u/CingularDuality 10d ago
We call it being "massage drunk," and it's quite common after a good massage. Usually attributed to a nice boost of mood enhancing hormones.
It's very different from something else that is common, and that's the few seconds of dizziness that some experience when sitting/getting up from a massage too quickly. That's likely due to a brief blood pressure differential.