A little bit of stress is good for us. Stress can encourage us to stay active and focused on something important. However, too much stress will cause more harm than good. Many people do not realize they are too stressed out until they reach a breaking point that may harm themselves or their loved ones. Much of stress comes from a body’s chemical reactions. When overdone, these same reactions may cause pain symptoms. When determining if your pain is due to stress, it’s important to recognize the signals and where you are feeling the pain.
Because everyone handles stress differently, it may be impossible to write a comprehensive list of stress symptoms. In broad terms, stress can be split into three categories: physical, emotional, and cognitive symptoms.
Physical Symptoms of Stress
Cognitive Symptoms of Stress
Emotional Symptoms of Stress
While these symptoms are broad, they still do not span the entire scope of stress.
The neck is the most common area people feel pain from stress. While many doctors do not believe that there is any physical connection between neck and stress, there is an established link between perceived tension within the neck muscles due to anxiety. Before you see a pain expert, there are some exercises you can take to help relieve the discomfort. Most pain comes from hypertension. A massage, stretching, or meditation may be enough to help relieve you of neck pain.
While stress is not known to cause back pain as much as neck pain, it can lead to behaviors that lead to back pain. Most often, someone who starts exhibiting too much anxiety will often tense up their muscles, many of which are located in the lower back. Stress and anxiety can also lead to behaviors like inactivity, bad posture, and hypersensitivity to physical sensations.
Intense chronic pain often does not stem from stress alone, but it can be a significant factor. If you are experiencing symptoms of chronic pain in New Jersey, the Garden State Pain Center can help. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with a medical expert who specializes in working with pain patients.