What Happens to the Body When It Clenches Under Stress?

What Happens to the Body When It Clenches Under Stress?
When you are stressed, you clench your muscles, whether it’s by tightening your shoulders when you are in an argument or clenching your fists during an anxiety attack. Clenching and unclenching the muscles of the body, especially in the neck and back areas, can lead to serious problems down the road, such as blocking your energy flow, increased inflammation, and fluid buildup. This eventually leads to decreased range of motion, stiffness, and pain.

Why Do We Clench When We Are Stressed Out?
Two common types of body tension are mental tension (which results from thoughts) and physical tension (which results from sensations within our muscles). Mental tension occurs when you think about something stressful or emotional; physical tension occurs when you are experiencing an actual physical sensation that causes worry or fear, such as pain or tightness. Most people will experience both kinds of tension at some point in their lives. There is no such thing as a bad kind of stress; they all play important roles in your life. However, some kinds of stress cause more long-term damage than others—and it’s easy to learn how not to let your chronic worries overtake your health and happiness! Read on for tips on managing and preventing chronic anxiety and stress.

Simple Solutions to Unclench Naturally
We all know that stress can wreak havoc on our bodies, but did you know it can also cause us to clench our fists and jaw involuntarily when we’re not even aware of it? Long-term body clenching is associated with a range of motion restrictions, stiffness, inflammation, pain, and decreased energy in your body. But here’s some good news: there are simple solutions for releasing your body from its clenched state! Here’s a handful of basic ones you can incorporate into your daily routine.

• Take time out of your day to sit back, breathe deeply, release any built-up tension throughout your body, and take note of how much more relaxed you feel after only a few minutes. Focus on deep breathing while you listen to soothing music or nature sounds. Gently rub pressure points at specific spots throughout your body, helping alleviate muscle tension in both active muscles and tense areas around your joints.
  
  
• Find activities that let you fully relax for at least 15–20 minutes each day—it could be anything from taking a warm bath with epsom salts, listening to music while reclining in bed with eyes closed, or journaling about whatever thoughts are swirling around in your head.
  
  
• Practice massage therapy as a hobby; receiving massages has been proven to help people de-stress and lower overall levels of pain due to chronic conditions such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, and tendinitis.
  
  
• Find ways to enjoy spending time outside (or inside) in natural light; research has shown people who spend time outside during daylight hours experience improved mood, sleep quality, and energy levels.
  
  
• Experiment with aromatherapy by diffusing essential oils near your workspace or throughout your home. Essential oils have been proven to reduce fatigue, improve energy levels, and increase mental alertness.
  
  
• If none of these methods work for you or aren’t realistic based on what you do all day, try implementing meditation into your morning routine—set an alarm 20 minutes before you want to wake up so that you have time for yourself before getting ready for your busy day.
  
  

The key is to find something that works for you and then make sure to practice it regularly; begin small if you’ve never tried any of these methods before, then slowly add other practices like yoga into your weekly routine once they become a habit. Staying balanced and incorporating self-care practices into your life will pay huge dividends in terms of health, happiness, and productivity.

Focusing on yourself and your health makes you better equipped to handle stress. You'll also have a greater capacity to nourish those around you. Give yourself the gift of self-care by scheduling a massage session soon at Om Shanti Healing, you're worth it.

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