Stress Can Cause Pain Chiropractic Can Help
By Paul Rothbart
Few things are worse than chronic pain. It's distracting, it makes it difficult to get things done. And, frankly, it hurts. Although physical ailments are major contributors to pain, excess stress can also play a role. Anxiety and worry can take over the brain to the extent that physical pain is the result. You don't have to suffer from this. There are several ways to relieve stress and its related pain including seeing a chiropractor. Here are some things to know.
Stress Is Sneaky
Stress generally does not announce itself and it doesn't give you a warning of pain. It can creep up on you going from concern to anxiety quickly. When the pain strikes, you may attribute it to something else. Maybe it's the furniture you moved two days ago or that extra-long run. You may have spent extra hours at your desk. These activities can certainly cause pain, but the stress that is with you for most of the day may be the primary culprit.
Poor Posture
Anxiety can cause slouching, slumped shoulders, and keeping your head down. This can happen when sitting or standing. Poor posture places stress on the spine and other joints. In addition to pain, this can create subluxations and other problems that can exacerbate the pain.
How Stress Causes Pain
When you feel stressed, you tighten up. Muscles contract involuntarily. When held in this state for long periods, they can cramp. Fatigue and pain set in and can spread. Tightness in the neck can cause headaches and easily move to the shoulders and back. Before long, you just accept the pain as a normal part of your life. When you are hurting, that can add to stress, which can prolong the pain. It's a vicious cycle. But there is a way out.
Relieving Stress
Relieving the stress can go a long way toward alleviating the pain. Meditation and deep-breathing exercises can be very helpful. Exercise, long walks in nature, and hobbies can get your mind off your troubles, allowing you to relax. Regular chiropractic visits may pay huge dividends. A chiropractor can find any subluxations and other problems and fix them with an adjustment. Many people find that chiropractic care relaxes them and helps with stress management. It can also help improve posture and give you peace of mind in knowing that your body may be functioning better than it has in years. The cycle is now going the other way.
Constant stress can contribute to chronic pain. Managing that stress can go a long way to relieving the pain. Consider a visit to The Joint Chiropractic. No appointment is needed and you may find that seeing a chiropractor helps to reduce your pain.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in San Diego, Calif.