Some of the most common areas I find that people store trauma is in their neck, shoulders and hip flexors [psoas muscles]. Try these easy myofascial release techniques that I shared with Global Morning News to help alleviate some of the tension that may be caused by stress or emotional trauma.
Neck Tension = Fear and Repressed Self-Expression
Fear and anxiety are also frequently stored in this area, particularly as a physical response to danger (as the neck is a vulnerable area) or strange environments. Neck muscle tension is also related to trust issues.
Trauma is not physically held in the muscles or bones — instead, the need to protect oneself from perceived threats is stored in the memory and emotional centers of the brain, such as the hippocampus and amygdala.
When we experience long term stress, our bodies can hold tension in our neck and shoulder muscles, which can lead to pain. Neck pain is a common symptom caused by persistent stress. The more stressed we are, the more tense our muscles become, causing more pain and discomfort. You may also develop tension headaches.
If trauma isn't processed completely, it can manifest in physical symptoms, like headaches, fatigue, and other issues. This guide explores the stress-health connection and what's happening in the body when we experience trauma.
Now begin to Discharge Sensations and Release Stress. First, notice your breath and Breathe Notice any sensations that come up naturally. As you release stress hormones, they will present through sensations like shaking, heat, sweating, yawning, goosebumps, changed breath, and gurgling in the stomach.
Studies have shown that people with chronic neck pain suffer from depression and anxiety. Generally speaking, anger and pride can create tension that results in shoulder neck pain. Additionally, an increased mental workload can cause extra shoulder tension.
It won't rid you of PTSD and your fears, but let your tears flow and you'll maybe feel a little better afterwards. 'Crying for long periods of time releases oxytocin and endogenous opioids, otherwise known as endorphins. These feel-good chemicals can help ease both physical and emotional pain.
Emotional information is stored through “packages” in our organs, tissues, skin, and muscles. These “packages” allow the emotional information to stay in our body parts until we can “release” it. Negative emotions in particular have a long-lasting effect on the body.
By treating areas of the body affected by trauma, acupuncture can help release the emotional pain that is being held in the body's tissues, helping you to process the feelings and memories, let them go, and move on.
Damage to nerves in the neck causes tension, inflammation, blood pressure changes, and more. Injury-induced vision and hearing changes can put stress on the neck muscles. Altered pain perception is caused by damage to the area of the brain that senses pain.
Your neck, especially the back of your neck, feels tense, tight, stiff, sore, and even very painful. Some people describe this symptom as a persistent and unrelenting tension and soreness in the back of the neck.
For some, neck pain may also be a cause of anxiety, fueling health fears or distress. It is possible to treat neck pain independently, though in the long term it will become more important to treat anxiety.
When there is a misalignment (known as a subluxation) of the spine, it causes stress to the nervous system. This stress response in the body leads to a cascade of hormones and different physiologic activity. Cortisol is one of the main hormones released when the body perceives stress or danger.
Tension Neck Syndrome Defined
Tension neck syndrome is a condition related to a soft-tissue syndrome caused when the neck muscles become tender and fatigued. Notably, computer devices are built in a way that the monitor is positioned a few inches below one's eyes.
You know that not only will a pinched or irritated vagus nerve result in neck pain, but it can also lead to myriad issues throughout our body and mind - including increased anxiety, depression, headaches & migraines, poor digestive & immune system function, increased heart rate, and more.
Unfortunately, many people who experience neck pain don't realize how common it is for their discomfort to be a symptom of emotional stress. According to a study by InformedHealth.org, neck-related chronic pain (or pain that lasts three months or longer) is very frequently associated with emotional stress.
Along with memory loss, other signs of repressed trauma can include low self-esteem, substance abuse disorders, increased physical or mental illnesses, and interpersonal problems.
Childish reactions may be a sign that you're dealing with repressed childhood memories. It could be that you throw tantrums, speak in a child-like voice, or are stubborn about small things. These regular regressions are all indicative that you have memories you haven't unlocked.
Mindful breathing, meditation and exercise are all methods you can try now to mitigate the effects of an overactive nervous system. If you choose to work with a therapist for assistance, they might use their knowledge of polyvagal theory to bring your body back to its natural state of healthy homeostasis.