Does Anxiety Cause Back Pain?
The day-to-day routine can result in high levels of stress that affect our body, as it can be impacted by the difficult times we face. In addition, certain lifestyles can also generate other physical pains that prevent the execution of activities that were previously considered pleasurable. Ever heard of intense muscle contractions that don’t have an organic cause? The human body is a means of expressing a person’s conflicts and not all pain is due to a stroke or illness. In this article we will provide you the information about Anxiety and Back Pain.
Being a person who cannot relax at any time can have consequences not only for your mental health, but also for your physical health.
Why Anxiety Causes Back Pain
In some people, the accumulation of nervous tension caused by certain unpleasant situations that we experience in our daily lives can manifest in different parts of the body, such as, for example, the back. When stress levels are excessive and tension cannot be directed in other ways , anxiety can cause back pain. This fact will cause some problems for the person who goes through it.
For this reason, it is important to identify which situations generate anxiety in order to establish adequate and relevant solutions. How to stop back pain from anxiety? Next we will talk about how to relieve back pain due to anxiety.
diaphragmatic breathing
First, you can begin practicing diaphragmatic breathing in a quiet, relaxed space that is isolated from external stimuli that may cause stress. In a nutshell, this type of breathing consists of inhaling air through your nose and holding it for a few seconds, and then exhaling it through your mouth.
To understand the meaning of this exercise, it is advisable to think that the stomach must fill with air for the practice to work correctly. Therefore, by repeating this technique, you may be able to relieve back pain, as body relaxation decreases nervous tension.
Practice physical activity
Physical activity elevates serotonin levels present in our central nervous system. When this happens, the body releases certain pleasure-related substances that result in a decrease in accumulated anxiety . Likewise, concentration on a physical activity has a relieving effect that relaxes the musculature located in the back.
However, for the performance of physical activity to be effective, it is important that the exercise is perceived as pleasurable and not as suffering.
Take relaxing teas
There are different medicinal herbs that relieve the body’s discomfort and produce a relaxing effect on the nervous system. For example, chamomile, valerian, lavender, melissa, passionflower, among others. It is recommended to consume these products before going to bed to have a restful sleep that promotes relief from back pain caused by high levels of anxiety.
Create recreation spaces
Leisure time is another factor that is fundamental when it comes to neutralizing the effects of anxiety on the body. When recreational activities are performed in which the person can distract himself from his worries, anxiety decreases and, consequently, back pain as well.
However, it is important that these activities are consistent with each person’s preferences and sustainable over time.
practice yoga
Yoga is a type of practice that emphasizes muscle relaxation through stretching and contraction exercises . Practicing this technique will bring beneficial effects to your body and help you reduce anxiety, as it will allow you to silence negative thoughts that usually cross your mind.
Therefore, repeating yoga sessions is a good way to treat muscle pain caused by anxiety.
Consuming Magnesium Citrate
This supplement has a lot of benefits for the human body. One of them consists of muscle relaxation , as it acts on the central nervous system and allows anxiety to decrease.
Magnesium citrate can be taken by capsules or powder. However, before starting with this treatment, it is recommended to consult a clinical doctor who can indicate the appropriate dose for each organism.
Improve your sleep habits
Inadequate rest can have serious consequences, including lack of concentration, irritability or high blood sugar levels, among others. All these manifestations can cause back pain related to the anxiety produced by the lack of restful sleep.
For this reason, an improvement in nighttime habits can alleviate anxiety symptoms. Some examples include avoiding contact with cell phones before going to sleep, trying to keep the bedroom away from noise or bright lights, etc.
Healthy eating
Finally, food is one of the factors that can most influence the proper functioning of the body. For this reason, if the person does not follow an adequate nutrient diet, it is possible that they will develop problems linked to anxiety that manifest themselves with back pain. To avoid them, it is important to consume healthy foods such as green vegetables, fruits, fish, legumes, olive oil, among others. A balanced diet can appease the adverse effects that appear in our body.
However, it is essential to consult a health professional to supervise and control the diet according to the needs of each person.
