 Most people know what tension is; we feel our muscles tighten, or perhaps we've had a tension headache from time to time. If we look at the word TENSE in the dictionary, we see the following entries: 1. (especially of a muscle or someone's body) stretched tight or rigid. "she tried to relax her tense muscles" 2. taut, tight, rigid, stretched, strained, stiff"the tense muscles of his neck" As a verb we see the word TENSE as: 1. become tense, typically through anxiety or nervousness. "her body tensed up". So, even the dictionary describes tension as a response that comes from anxiety or nervousness. The pain that is caused by tension is actually created from inside us, and comes from our own minds. It doesn't mean we're crazy, it simply means that we have too much stress - emotional energy, and that energy has to go somewhere. The mind sends out signaling molecules (hormones), and electrical messages that disperse tension to muscles in different areas of the body. Perhaps for you, it is your back, or neck, or maybe you have sciatica. It may not be a great outcome for us, but it is the system we have, and we can learn to manage it. We can be forever a slave to our emotions, or we can learn to understand them, and work in concert with them. According to the US National Institutes of Health the continuous strain from stress on the body can cause serious health problems, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, anxiety disorder, and other illnesses. Most of us want to avoid serious conditions like heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes. As a person who suffered from various types of chronic pain for two decades, I can say that the effects of poorly managed tension and stress can be devastating to one's health and well-being. After I discovered that I could manage my negative emotions and physical muscular tension, I was able to completely dispel my pain, I was in control, and at peace. I am hopeful that everyone suffering from tension-based pain, can find the tools to help them return to a healthy mind and body. 
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 Neck pain is a problem that many of us experience, but it may be partially caused by something that we do many times on a daily basis - look down at our phones.
I began to experience neck pain, which I never had before. It started in my shoulder, then went up my neck on the side, and even around to the back of my neck. It was uncomfortable, and I couldn't be free of it, no matter which way I turned. When the pain started, I thought maybe I had a crick in my neck from sleeping incorrectly, which happens sometimes, but after a couple of weeks I knew that wasn't it. Sometimes these pains we have can be caused by tension, stress or something else altogether. I took some time to think about what was going on with me, and what was I doing differently. It occurred to me that the pain started not too long after I purchased a new cell phone. I gave myself a week to test the theory, so for the next 7 days I was careful to NOT look down at my phone, laptop or any type of screen. After a few days the stretching, and achey pain in my neck subsided, and it was clear to me that that was the cause of my issue. The answer wasn't to give up my phone, but to make a conscious effort to look down at my phone using my eyes, and not by tipping my head down to look at my screen. It took a little while to get used to, but it has really helped alleviate my pain. We love to use our technology, but sometimes its use can get us into trouble physically. If you are experiencing neck pain, try giving yourself a little 'vacation' from looking down at your phone, and you may find it is just the thing you need. |
BLOGAuthorAfter trying every conventional therapy for crippling, chronic low-back pain, I discovered the problem was completely within my control. I experienced an amazing health transformation in a matter of weeks. Mind-Body medicine worked for me, and it can for can too! Archives
November 2024
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