The Stress and Pain Connection

Think about it; if you’re tensing your body up and putting stress literally onto your muscles, you will feel the effects of that in a sore back, shoulders, and head. If you suffer from chronic pain anyway, stress can exacerbate it.

At one point or another, most of us have to deal with a certain amount of stress. Without it, some of us wouldn’t get anything done! When the tension builds up, it can cause issues in your body and hurt you. One study found that 33 percent of adults said they were dealing with high levels of perceived stress. Don’t worry. You’re not alone if one of them is you.

Too Much Stress

Stress affects more than just your mind – if you hold on to too much tension, it will most likely lead to muscle stiffness and pain. Too much stress can also cause you some headaches, fatigue, digestive problems, and insomnia. One study shows that 45 percent said they’d been through a stressful event before they started to get headaches. It is thought that the stress hormone cortisol could be to blame for chronic pain. A study compared 16 people with chronic back pain in a control group and found that people with chronic pain had higher cortisol levels.

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A Good Massage

It pays not to let the stress build up. And one good way to physically disperse pressure before it causes too much trouble is a good massage. Massage is the perfect way to relax and improve your mood. Whatever effect stress has on your body and spirit, treating yourself to a massage is one of the most relaxing ways to deal with a build-up of toxic stress or anxiety.

Almost every symptom of stress listed by the American Psychological Association can benefit from massage therapy. Research has shown that massage therapy can lower your heart rate and blood pressure (which can be raised when stressed). And a massage can also soothe stress-related pain by relaxing your muscles and increasing the production of endorphins, which are your body’s natural feel-good chemicals. A massage can also boost your body’s serotonin and dopamine production, giving you a feeling of well-being that releases the stress, calms your mind, and gives you the physical and mental break your body needs from all the stressful things that make you hunch your shoulders.

Next time you feel the stress build-up, don’t wait until you get a sore head or tight shoulders. A great massage session can get it out of your system.

Brilliant Massage & Skin

Burlington, Vermont