Anxiety, Pleasure, and the Power of Touch - Reclaim Your Body

At Sensual Bodyworks, I feel privileged to have helped support many people as they seek to reconnect with their bodies and their sense of pleasure. The words you’re about to read come from one of my clients — someone who has lived with anxiety for many years, and who found their way to sensual massage as part of a wider journey of healing and self-compassion.

They’ve kindly allowed me to share their honest, deeply personal reflections, in the hope that it might resonate with others who feel the weight of anxiety on their relationships, their sexuality, or their self-esteem.

I’m sharing this not just as a practitioner, but as someone who feel pasionate about creating safe, gentle spaces where you can begin to take back control of your body and pleasure — entirely on your own terms and at your own pace.

From Anxiety to Acceptance: One Client’s Path to Pleasure

An anxiety disorder can affect all corners of your life, professionally, socially, relationships with family, friends, colleagues, finances, self-esteem. But one area that that can be overlooked is our relationship with sex and pleasure. Anxiety can put us on high alert and when an anxiety disorder is present, that state of high alert can feel constant and all consuming. Just the day to day experience of an anxiety disorder can take up so much brain space and can make the idea of experiencing any kind of pleasure, including sexual pleasure, seem like an added thing we just don’t have capacity for.

For me personally, I’ve felt for a long time that a relationship was not safe for me. I have enough trouble dealing with an ‘anxious brain’ and I didn’t want to factor anyone else into that equation. I was worried about how the limitations of my condition would impact the other person and make them not want to stay around. So I ended up in situations where the primary factor was sex but with that came no compassion or understanding of what I might need even in a casual situation. Some time ago, I decided that sexual pleasure could only be something I experienced alone, through masturbation.

Then I found sensual massage. Sensual massage has given me the opportunity to explore my body with another person in a completely safe space and experience the healing benefits of touch. Those living with anxiety disorders are vulnerable to social isolation and loneliness where lack of touch and connection can be the norm. Through sensual massage, I’ve managed to find a peace with my body and even begin the journey of rebuilding my fragile self-esteem.

As with all mental health conditions, it is hugely important that you seek support if your emotions are overwhelming or you feel unable to cope. My journey to sensual massage was part of a holistic recovery with support from professional practitioners. Sensual massage can be part of the journey but should not be used to replace professional help if it is required.

Find the right approach for you

If these words touch something inside you, and you feel curious about how sensual massage might support your own journey to feel more at home in your body, I'd love to hear from you..

If you would like a confidential conversation about how we could work together. I offer an introductory call without cost or obligation, and there is never any pressure — just a genuine wish to help you.

Sensual massage can be a meaningful piece of your puzzle, but it’s not the only path. Some other options include:

Professional mental health support

• Counselling or psychotherapy - Find a qualified therapist who feels like a good fit. This might be CBT, person-centred, integrative, or another approach that helps you explore anxiety, low self-esteem, or intimacy concerns.

• Sex therapy - A specialist can help you safely explore how anxiety affects desire, arousal, or your ability to relax into pleasure.

• Trauma-informed therapy - For those with past trauma, approaches like EMDR or somatic therapies can help gently process what’s held in the body.

• Speak to your GP or psychiatrist - If anxiety feels overwhelming or unmanageable, medical support (including medication) can be an important part of care.

  
  

Body-based & holistic approaches

• Massage & bodywork - Beyond sensual massage, therapeutic massage or reflexology can help you reconnect with safe, nurturing touch.

• Yoga, pilates, tai chi - Slow, mindful movement helps calm the nervous system and deepen trust in your body.

• Mindfulness & meditation - Guided meditations, breathwork or simple body scans can be surprisingly soothing.

  
  

Community & peer support

• Local or online support groups - Connecting with others who understand what it’s like to live with anxiety can ease feelings of shame or isolation.

• Workshops & gentle retreats - Some people find small group spaces helpful for exploring topics like body image, sensuality, or emotional resilience.

  
  

Self-guided tools & practices

• Books & podcasts - There are wonderful resources on managing anxiety, cultivating self-compassion, or embracing conscious sexuality.

• Journaling - A private space to explore your thoughts, feelings, desires, and worries without judgement.

• Solo pleasure & mindful self-touch - Taking time to explore your own body, slowly and without goal, can be a powerful step toward feeling more at ease with pleasure.

There are many different ways to find your way back to your body and your pleasure. Whether through sensual massage, professional therapy, or your own private practices, I hope you’ll keep exploring what helps you feel safe, connected, and whole. And if you ever feel ready to share a little of that journey with me, it would be a true privilege to create a safe, welcoming space for you.

Jools