Head & Neck pressure : Starting to calm my... - Anxiety Support

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Head & Neck pressure

jessicao profile image
5 Replies

Starting to calm my mind finally again! Woo! But one thing that's driving me nuts still is the random neck and head pressure/tension. It comes out of nowhere randomly throughout the day and is really uncomfortable and tiring. I think it might be the first signal my body gives me for stress even when I don't realize its stressed. Anyone else get this? What do you do to help keep it from coming and going? x

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jessicao profile image
jessicao
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5 Replies
Christory77 profile image
Christory77

I have this quite frequently. Sometimes I’ll take a nap or lay down and it will go away. Try excedrin it might help

Aazz profile image
Aazz

Yes I have been getting this lately, last night I couldn't sleep from it, it's so uncomfortable and makes my anxiety worse. I'm glad you posted this I was worrying about it, as usual 🙄

blackcat64013 profile image
blackcat64013

Hi Jessica,

Pain caused by stress or anxiety can be a pain in the neck, literally. Since the average human head weighs about 15 pounds, the muscles in the neck are already strained on a regular basis. Add some physical or emotional stress to the mix and you have the perfect recipe for chronic, unceasing neck pain. Luckily, there are a few simple things you can do to stop that from happening.

sleepadvisor.org/5-ways-get...

What Causes the Neck to Hurt When You’re Stressed or Anxious?

Pain is typically caused by an automatic reaction in the musculoskeletal and/or nervous systems after the body experiences trauma. However, stress-related pains in the neck are usually the result of emotionally-driven anxiety which effects the primary muscles and nerves running through the spine, shoulders, and neck.

Becoming so stressed out or anxious that you begin to tense up your body will do great harm to your body, even if only temporarily. On the contrary, long-term tension could create a snowball effect that might lead to chronic neck or back pain. Because of the potentially damaging effects that stress can have on the body, it’s reasonable to consider neck pain remedies before the situation gets out of hand.

Top 5 Stress-Related Neck Pain Remedies

Most physical therapists advise self-care for minor stress-related neck pain, including the use of emotional coping strategies, dietary changes, and posture correction techniques. Taking an active role in neck pain treatment can help you get back to your routine more quickly. In the meantime, try one of these other highly effective neck pain relief methods before you call a doctor or chiropractor:

•Get a Gentle Massage

One of the best ways to decrease the amount of pain in your neck is to massage the muscles that are most irritated. Letting someone else do the massaging for you can reduce the amount of strain experienced. Moreover, adding hot or cold compresses can provide quicker relief during a tender rub down.

neck-massage

•Stretch It Out

Stress-related pain may go away more quickly if you stretch out the muscle running from your lower back to the top of your neck. There are several effective stretching exercises that come highly recommended by doctors and chiropractors. These gentle workouts can be done in the comfort of your home and without the need for special equipment.

•Yoga -Try doing yoga.

Whether you join a class or do poses in your living room, yoga can help relieve tension, ease muscle pain, and reduce stress. In fact, research shows that just a few minutes of yoga can drastically improve your overall health and your ability to cope with stress.

If you prefer pilates, give this a try.

•Stop the Unhealthy Habits

Smoking cigarettes may be harmful for obvious reasons, but drinking caffeine before bed may have some underlying effects you’re unaware of. Pre-sleep stimulants can create undue tension on your nervous and/or musculoskeletal system, results in stress-related neck pain even if you’re always in a good mood.

•Exercise the Pain Away

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Moderate exercise has numerous health benefits, and it can also decrease the pain in your neck if you do the right workouts. Time in the gym can increase your cortisol levels, decrease oxidative stress, and relief pain in the neck, back, and shoulders within a single session.

Exercise at home using home made weights is an option as is regular walking just to distress.

VIP NOTE: If you cannot get a handle on your emotional well-being and it is causing more than moderate-to-severe neck pain, consult your doctor right away.

Hoping this helps by way of explanation and options for you to try :)

Nicki1984 profile image
Nicki1984

I get this and it makes me feel very sick. Started wearing sea bands when this happens seems to help x

jessicao profile image
jessicao

Thanks everyone for the advice!!!

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