How To Relieve Neck Pain Caused By Stress - Spine-health

Home » How To Relieve Tension In Neck And Shoulders From Anxiety » How To Relieve Neck Pain Caused By Stress - Spine-health

Maybe your like

Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Blog
  3. How to Relieve Neck Pain Caused by Stress
How to Relieve Neck Pain Caused by Stress

By: Marco Funiciello, DO, Physiatrist

Stress. Anxiety. Low moral support. All of these and other psychosocial factors have been linked as potential causes of neck pain.1Halderman S, Carroll L, Cassidy DJ, Schubert J, Nygren A. The Bone and Joint Decade 2000-2010 Task Force on Neck Pain and Its Associated Disorders. Eur Spine J. 2008; 17(Suppl 1): 5. doi: 10.1007/s00586-008-0619-8.,2Kim R, Wiest C, Clark K, Cook C, Horn M. Identifying risk factors for first-episode neck pain: A systematic review. Musculoskelet Sci Pract. 2018 Feb; 33: 77-83. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2017.11.007. When tension and stress build in the neck, muscles may feel tight or achy. Neck pain may also spread to the shoulder or be accompanied by a headache. Let’s explore some ways to reduce this type of neck pain.

See Stress-Related Back Pain

Woman grabbing her neck in pain while talking with a doctor Save
If stress-induced neck pain does not subside after a week or two of self-care, see your doctor for diagnosis and treatment. See Treatment for Neck Pain

7 tips to tackle stress-related neck pain

By focusing on ways to treat both the mind and the body, you can help lessen stress and the toll it can take on you. Try these methods to manage stress-related neck pain:

  1. Neck stretches

    If done regularly, stretching exercises for the neck can loosen muscle tightness and maintain or expand range of motion for the neck. Try these 2 stretches to get started.

    See Neck Stretches

  2. Therapy or support group

    Cognitive behavioral therapy has proven benefits for helping to develop healthy thought patterns, but even a support group or online forum where you can share your concerns and receive support can help you manage day-to-day stressors.

    Visit our Back and Neck Pain Support Group to find online support.

  3. Meditation

    Practicing meditation is a good way to calm your thoughts and anxieties. Look for a guided meditation video on YouTube or attend a class to learn how.
advertisement

  1. Enlisting help from family and friends

    You don’t have to tackle stress alone; let your family and friends help carry the load. Be clear about ways they can help you—ask if a friend can run an errand for you, or assign your children extra chores around the house during stressful periods.

  2. Massage

    Massage is not only relaxing and stress-relieving overall, but it can specifically ease the tightness of the muscles of the neck and shoulders.

    See Massage Therapy for Chronic Stiff Neck

  3. Exercise

    Exercise is good for your body and mind. It releases endorphins, a hormone that dulls pain and generates feelings of well-being.

    See Low-Impact Aerobic Exercise

  4. Prioritizing

    You’re not a superhero—let inconsequential things go if they’re taking a toll on your health. Focus on what’s most important and don’t worry if things further down the priority list get delayed or left undone for a while.

If your stress-induced neck pain is not relieved by a week or two of self-care, see your doctor. He or she can offer other treatment options and diagnose possible underlying conditions.

Learn more

Stiff Neck Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Cervical Herniated Disc Treatment Animation

References

  • 1 Halderman S, Carroll L, Cassidy DJ, Schubert J, Nygren A. The Bone and Joint Decade 2000-2010 Task Force on Neck Pain and Its Associated Disorders. Eur Spine J. 2008; 17(Suppl 1): 5. doi: 10.1007/s00586-008-0619-8.
  • 2 Kim R, Wiest C, Clark K, Cook C, Horn M. Identifying risk factors for first-episode neck pain: A systematic review. Musculoskelet Sci Pract. 2018 Feb; 33: 77-83. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2017.11.007.
Get our FREE Guide to Natural Back Pain Relief Subscribe Marco Funiciello

Dr. Marco Funiciello is a physiatrist with Princeton Spine and Joint Center. He has a decade of clinical experience caring for spine and muscle conditions with non-surgical treatments.

  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Pinterest
  • Subscribe to our newsletter
  • Print this article
  • Email this article
advertisement

Editor’s Top Picks

  • All About Neck Pain
  • Treatment for a Stiff Neck
  • Chiropractic Adjustment of the Cervical Spine (Neck) Video
  • Video: The 3 Worst Things You Can Do To Your Neck
  • Video: Home Remedies for Neck Pain
advertisement advertisement

Popular Videos

lower back pain treatment 5:02 Lower Back Pain Treatment Videoherniated disc symptoms 1:45 Herniated Disc Symptoms Animationcervical degenerative disc disease 1:31 Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease Videomckenzie method exercises 5:51 McKenzie Method Exercises for Back Pain and Sciatica Video advertisement

Health Information (Sponsored)

  • See if Spinal Cord Stimulation is Right for You
  • Take the Chronic Pain Quiz
  • The New Treatment for Chronic Low Back Pain You Need to Know
  • Learn How Bone Growth Therapy Can Help You
advertisement

Subscribe to the Veritas Health newsletter NOW to get our FREE Guide to Natural Back Pain Relief.

Subscribe Subscribe to our newsletter and get your FREE guide, Natural Back Pain Relief: 16 Choices for Lasting Comfort. Subscribe Protected by Google reCAPTCHA, Privacy Policy, and Terms of Service. Check your inbox for your Welcome to Veritas Health Newsletters email. We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.

Tag » How To Relieve Tension In Neck And Shoulders From Anxiety