Emotions and back pain

Back and neck pain are so common in our modern societies that some people have conceived that the day they don’t feel an ache or pain that may mean they’re really dead! Seriously, the problem of back and neck pain is a prevalent one, and it is estimated that in 80% of cases the problem comes from bad posture or body mechanics vices that with time have deformed spine structure.

For this reason, many therapists and experts recommend practicing good posture, learning the correct body mechanics (this refers to, for instance, the correct way to carry a load), and exercise regularly. These have been addressed many times in many forums. Today we are concerned with a prior cause for back and neck pain: stress.

The muscles in your neck and back are large and powerful, as they must deal with a large percentage of the body weight on a constant basis. The back is where your spine is, and your spine marks an axis and frame to which most everything else is attached. These muscles can become very painful when fatigued or when they go into spasms, and they are so powerful that, in some cases, they can incapacitate the whole body.

The endocrine system is in charge of controlling a great many functions in the body. Emotion has a lot to do with the release of hormones into the body. For instance, when in fear, the endocrine system acts by releasing substances that make the body more resistant to stress and prepare it for fight or flight. Stress can be defined as an emotional state of anxiousness. When this becomes chronic, the endocrine system continues to prepare the body for a possible battle thereby tensing muscles so much that they go into spasms. When long periods of stress happen, the body could be said to remain stuck in a fictional “ready for battle” mode which has fatigued and misaligned the major muscles.

Therefore stress is an important precursor to back pain – even that caused by bad posture or body mechanics that aren’t adequate.

The surefire way to prevent stress is to exercise, lead a happy and productive life, and never get into trouble. But since we’re all in the business of living and are liable to be facing problems all the time – as this is life’s pay – then here are a few tips to detect and control stress:
- Remember to pay attention several times during the day and find out if you’re breathing by using your upper thorax cavity or your abdominal cavity. Air comes into the lungs, but the group of muscles you use to draw air in changes according to your stress level. You should always try to breathe in a relaxed manner, using your abdominal section.
- If you are using your upper body to breathe, then sit straight and take 10 to 15 seconds to take deep inhalations, hold them for three to eight seconds (it should not get uncomfortable) and then release. Pause and do this several times a day.
- Try to eat and drink a little something any time you get somewhere. For example, right when you get to the office or after running an errand out on the street, or when getting home after work.
- Every two or three days try to list all the things that worry you on a piece of paper then rewrite them in order of importance. This will help you focus on what’s more important and reduce your anguish over those things you can’t really do much about at the moment.

Stress is all about emotion and emotion is controllable. Going about your day without paying much attention to your surroundings, where you are, and where you are going, your purposes and goals, and your feelings about these – all cause stress. Pay attention to yourself and make sure you pause enough times a day to contemplate where you are.

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