I'm so tense!!

[JB2156]

The last couple of days I've had a feeling of something growing under my right ribcage. I have recently realised that it's not something growing under my ribs, it is my tummy muscles tensing all the time. I don't seem to be able to relax them, I guess that's due to me worrying? I've also injured my back at work, so me being tense isn't helping that either! I'm planning on having a hot bubble bath later, I hope that helps!

[Pennylayne]

Muscle tension around the ribcage and stomach muscles is very common. We 'hold on' to those muscles when we feel tense and it also means that your breathing is probably shallow so........deep breathing techniques should help to relax things but it would be best to do it fairly regularly until the muscles are generally more relaxed.

I've copied the instructions below from a website.......BTW I find this a bit easier to do lying down. It's quite nice to lie somewhere comfortable with a cushion under your knees and make sure you are warm.

The key to deep breathing is to breathe deeply from the abdomen or belly, getting as much fresh air as possible in your lungs. When you take deep breaths from the belly, rather than shallow breaths from your upper chest, you inhale more oxygen. The more oxygen you get, the less tense, short of breath, and anxious you feel.

Sit comfortably with your back straight. Put one hand on your chest and the other on your stomach.

Breathe in through your nose. The hand on your stomach should rise. The hand on your chest should move very little.

Exhale through your mouth, pushing out as much air as you can while contracting your abdominal muscles. The hand on your stomach should move in as you exhale, but your other hand should move very little.

Continue to breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Try to inhale enough so that your lower abdomen rises and falls. Count slowly as you exhale.

The more you do this the more it becomes natural to breathe deeply and to be less tense.

[ellabella]

I do this JB it really works so well. Good Luck xxxxxxxxxxxxxx