I’m sure that you’re familiar with the tightening sensation in your shoulder muscles when you’re stressed. The same physical effect can occur in the muscles in your neck as well. This tightness occurs when your body goes into fight or flight mode, but this defense mechanism doesn’t have to be the result of physical stress. Emotional stress can trigger this reaction, causing muscles to tighten, and contributing to neck pain.
Needless to say, reducing stress can relieve neck pain. Unfortunately, life is stressful, and some of those triggers are unavoidable. Otherwise we’d have all moved to little huts on the beach a long time ago. So, what can you do to relieve some of the stress in your life, and get rid of your neck pain?
Get going.
Exercise is a great way to relieve tension. Not only does physical activity serve as an outlet to relieve frustration, but it also gets your muscles moving. Neck exercises are a key aspect of neck pain treatment. Doing neck exercises will get your blood flowing, and strengthen the muscles in the neck.
Get healthy.
A poor diet can contribute to stress related neck pain. Caffeine can add significantly to stress, insomnia, and irritation, so avoid coffee and soda. If you just can’t imagine life without that morning cup of coffee, don’t worry. Reducing your caffeine intake will still offer results, they just may not be as significant. Smoking decreases the blood supply to muscles, slowing down the healing process, so this is a good opportunity to kick the habit.
Get relaxed.
Practicing relaxation techniques can greatly reduce stress and relieve neck pain. Take small opportunities throughout the day to slow down, steady your breathing, and reset. Techniques include deep breathing, yoga, meditation, and art.
Get a massage.
I’m sure you don’t need justification for getting a massage, but it’s a great way to relieve stress and neck pain. A gentle massage will get blood flowing to the muscles, allowing the body to heal itself. You can add a hot or cold compress to further aid the pain relief process.
Get help.
Talking about stress can help reduce stress, so find people or a person that you can talk to. If you’re not sure who to turn to, there are online support groups that you can join. Regardless of how you go about it, developing a support system can really help with stress relief and mental health.
Get over to Envista Medical.
At Envista, we specialize in neck and back pain. We offer cutting-edge technology, comprehensive pain management plans, and a highly skilled team of doctors, chiropractors, and therapists. Call us today for your free consultation.