Hello everyone. Does anyone else suffer from upper back tightness when your anxiety is bad? This happens to me when I am just doing my hair. I get tight all around my chest and also my fingers feel like pins sticking in them. I am having a bad today with this, I feel like someone is squeezing my upper back, scares me to death. I really need some support so I wont be afraid I am having a heart attack.. This tightness is driving me nuts. Somedays I just lose my faith that this is ever going to end.. I always try to stay positive for others and post encouraging comments but today I just am dragging and need some uplifting, but I guess I am glad I am finally asking for something I need instead of always trying to please everyone else but myself.. Thank you so much for any input.
♥Gina
Help with Symptom
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Guest
I totally understand what you are saying. I have had problems with my neck and upper back for years. I have really had to change my lifestyle. I no longer do sit ups, or lift weights when at the gym. When I go to the market I no longer pick up a case of water, and I could go on with various other examples. If I lift my nine year old daughter I pay for it!!!! When I am on the treadmill I notice that if I do arm exercise the next day my chest is tight and breathing feels off at times during the day!!!
I am in really good shape and I use to be a trainer, so I have really good form and know how to workout. But most things will set off that tension and neck pain, also I think it makes me feel a little dizzy and off balance.
The things that have helped me besides avoidance are massage, a massage chair and I use to see a chiropractor twice a week. She did something called A.R.T. Active release therapy. Look it up on the internet. Lot's of athletes do it. It is a deep tissue massage/release and very small amount of cracking. I believe any type of stretching, yoga or meditation would be invaluable for you.
I bought a new pillow for my neck and I am very careful when I am on my computer to keep my posture correct and relax my shoulders.
I hope this helps!!!
Lainey
I am in really good shape and I use to be a trainer, so I have really good form and know how to workout. But most things will set off that tension and neck pain, also I think it makes me feel a little dizzy and off balance.
The things that have helped me besides avoidance are massage, a massage chair and I use to see a chiropractor twice a week. She did something called A.R.T. Active release therapy. Look it up on the internet. Lot's of athletes do it. It is a deep tissue massage/release and very small amount of cracking. I believe any type of stretching, yoga or meditation would be invaluable for you.
I bought a new pillow for my neck and I am very careful when I am on my computer to keep my posture correct and relax my shoulders.
I hope this helps!!!
Lainey
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Guest
Sometimes when I hace a hard time relaxing a muscle group I try to contract it even more. Then relax it. So try shrugging your shoulders up high then letting them drop as you exhale. Also try an upper trap stretch.... Sit or stand and bend your head down to the left, (sidebend, dont' rotate, so your ear is moving toward your shoulder) (and don't shrug shldr up). Then put your right arm behind your back and reach your left hand up on the top right side of your head and help pull your head down toward your left shoulder. Hold 15 secs repeat 4 times.
Hi Gina11,
I also have upper back tension and neck tension sometimes for no reason. You defintely not having a heart attack. I just started getting weekly massages and trying acupuncture hoping that helps me until my anxiety goes away. You not alone and everything will work out, one day at a time.
I also have upper back tension and neck tension sometimes for no reason. You defintely not having a heart attack. I just started getting weekly massages and trying acupuncture hoping that helps me until my anxiety goes away. You not alone and everything will work out, one day at a time.
Focus on what you want, not what you fear...
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Guest
Hi Gina,
It's really weird how I came across your post as I have had almost the same exact concerns. I suffer from the same symptoms as you do when I am stressed feeling. The more I focus on it the worse it seems to get. I think it's a sign of not breathing correctly as in hyperventilation. When we chest breathe or shallow breathe we tend to experience symptoms like this. Then when we become aware of it and start disaster-izing and what-iffing it the feelings get worse. The thing I've learned to do is to become aware of it without trying to judge or upset my situation further. "oh I'm feeling tense again. I know what this means and I will just do what I know worked last time and it'll get better soon". Breathe slowly from the abdomen a few times like how the relaxation tape teaches us to do. Float with it and allow it to just be as it is. Distract by working on something else- give it time and don't get impatient. This is just a symptom of anxiety & how it manifests itself. It's not going to hurt you. It always goes away. Take care!
It's really weird how I came across your post as I have had almost the same exact concerns. I suffer from the same symptoms as you do when I am stressed feeling. The more I focus on it the worse it seems to get. I think it's a sign of not breathing correctly as in hyperventilation. When we chest breathe or shallow breathe we tend to experience symptoms like this. Then when we become aware of it and start disaster-izing and what-iffing it the feelings get worse. The thing I've learned to do is to become aware of it without trying to judge or upset my situation further. "oh I'm feeling tense again. I know what this means and I will just do what I know worked last time and it'll get better soon". Breathe slowly from the abdomen a few times like how the relaxation tape teaches us to do. Float with it and allow it to just be as it is. Distract by working on something else- give it time and don't get impatient. This is just a symptom of anxiety & how it manifests itself. It's not going to hurt you. It always goes away. Take care!
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Guest
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Guest
Oh boy do I know what you're talking about..My neck seems to always feel stiff and my back and lately here the tightness in the chest never seems to go away..I do have a neck massaging machine..so I'm going to try that, but what helps with that tight feeling in the chest??..I can't seem to get rid of it. Also my body seems to ache alot more when I'm stressed. I was starting to think maybe I had pneumonia or something bronchial because the tightness in the chest won't go away..but now I hear many of you explain it and that sounds exactly what I'm going through. Maybe I will try yoga or something relaxing .. maybe pilates..I've never thought of deep tissue massage..but that's an idea..Does taking a bath help anyone..I know that's supposed to be soothing?-
Guest
LeeAnn,
Stress causes many toxins in our bodies that build up and give us trouble. Like you, I get the aching muscles in the neck and back. What helps me is to take 1 cup of epsom salts and 1/2 cup baking soda and put it in a bath with warm water and soak in it for 45 minutes before going to bed. This bath mixture pulls the toxins out through the skin, and it really really works. I have a friend who a Dr. of Naturopathy and she recommended this to me. Try it out and let me know. Hoping you feel better soon.
Stress causes many toxins in our bodies that build up and give us trouble. Like you, I get the aching muscles in the neck and back. What helps me is to take 1 cup of epsom salts and 1/2 cup baking soda and put it in a bath with warm water and soak in it for 45 minutes before going to bed. This bath mixture pulls the toxins out through the skin, and it really really works. I have a friend who a Dr. of Naturopathy and she recommended this to me. Try it out and let me know. Hoping you feel better soon.
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Guest
THank you all for your advice I woke up this morning for work with the worst neck and back ache the longer the day went on the more I thought I was having a stroke or a Heart Attack. Now that I know that it is stress related it helps me to relax. Thank you all so much It is nice to know that I am not alone Cindy
Thank you all so much for your information, you alone all made me feel better knowing I am not having a heart attack or something.. Great advice from each of you, I am so happy to have such a great support system on here. Its the people that walk the same path as yourself that help you the most. I cherish you all. I hope you are all having a great day,, tomorro will be better for me I know it will. And I am making an appointment with a chiropractor and I am getting a massage too, I feel I am worth it..
Lots of hugs for you all.
♥Gina
Lots of hugs for you all.
♥Gina
"Life is not about comfort. It is about living." Dr. Howard Liebgold