We all get stressed sometimes, but how that stress affects us is different for each individual. I’m sure you have all heard the saying “Where do you hold your stress?” For some it can be mentally fatiguing and for others it can have physical effects. What you will learn in this article is that both mental stress and physical stress can have effects on your stress related back pain.
Stress that has physical effects is a rather simple concept. Work or other factors make you stressed out, you begin to tense your muscles as a result and that causes back pain. A little known fact is that mental stress can cause stress related back pain that lasts for longer periods of time.
When you are tensing up from physical stress it is easier to identify the problem, but with mental stress you may be unaware that it is causing your back pain, making it harder to identify the problem.
Stress and back pain cause a cycle that only leads to more stress and back pain…
1. You have back pain
2. You begin to worry about it
3. This causes stress
4. Stress causes you to tense your back muscles
5. This increases your back pain … and the cycle continues.
The good news about stress related back pain is that once you identify that you are caught in the pain cycle you can easily fix the problem with some small lifestyle changes.
1. Get enough sleep (anywhere from 7-9 hours for adults)
2. Eat healthier foods
3. Stay active
4. Stretch
5. Watch your posture
