4 Tips For Managing Stress-Induced Neck Pain
Category: Neck Pain | Author: Stefano Sinicropi
Neck pain is a literal pain in the neck, and sometimes the problem isn’t caused solely by a physical injury. As we’ve talked about on the blog in the past, stress and anxiety can actually contribute to the onset or worsening of pain. Today, we’re going to explain how you can help treat neck pain that is being made worse by stress.
Come To Grips With The Fact That It’s Not Solely A Physical Injury
If you’re reading this blog, there’s a good chance that you’re starting to realize that your neck pain may not be solely caused by a physical injury. Understanding this distinction is crucial, because it allows you to treat all the contributing factors to pain. If you’re only treating the physical issue, you may struggle to achieve total relief if stress contributors go unaddressed.
Pinpoint The Stresses In Your Life
Sit down and really think about what’s causing you stress and anxiety in your life. We understand that treating these stresses isn’t all that simple, since a lot of things that stress us in our daily lives are partially or unfully uncontrollable, but you’d be surprised at how many stressors can be partially alleviated by taking a few simple steps. Make a list of what’s stressing you and write down ways that these stressors can be managed. You might feel like you can’t control who is going to get fired if you boss mentions downsizing, or if you’ll get accepted into college, but if you make a plan, work hard and stay focused, you’ll put yourself in the best position to achieve your goals.
Exercise
Exercise is one of the best ways to relieve stress. We know that it’s not always easy to put your life on hold for 30-45 minutes in order to find time to exercise, but make it a priority. Wake up early and go for a run, or talk to your spouse about making time in your schedule to exercise a couple of times a week. Exercise releases endorphins in your brain that help put you in a positive mindset and can help put the stressors of life on the back burner for a while.
Hobbies and Mindfulness Activities
Another way to get rid of some stress in your life is to throw yourself into a hobby or activity that you enjoy. Whether that’s fishing, reading or creative writing, make time to participate in these activities on a semi-regular basis. If you’re looking for a new hobby to pick up, consider one that focuses on enhancing the mind-body relationship, like yoga or meditation. These activities combine the physical nature of exercise with relaxation techniques to help stress melt away.
