Tension in the body
Do you find that your body often feels tense? Perhaps you hunch your shoulders, clench your jaw or feel tension in your back and neck. Sometimes you only realise it when someone points out that you’re sitting tensely. Or when, at the end of the day, you feel pain, a headache or tiredness.
Tension in the body can develop if you are under pressure for a long time. Your body then remains on alert, even when there is no longer any immediate reason for it. This can be unpleasant, particularly if you find it difficult to relax or if you do not know where the tension is coming from.
What do you notice?
Muscle tension can be felt in many places. Where the tension builds up varies from person to person.
You may, for example, notice that:
- your neck or shoulders are stiff;
- you get a headache;
- you clench your jaw or grind your teeth;
- your breathing is shallow or rapid;
- you feel pressure on your chest;
- your stomach is tense;
- you are fidgeting;
- you find it difficult to sit still;
