10 Tips to Reduce Tension

A Quick Guide to Busting Free from the Dreaded Stress Clench

Photo by Afif Ramdhasuma on Unsplash

Welcome. This post is an expansion on a note I posted the other day. People seemed to like it. So today we are going to discuss ways to reduce that nagging tension you hold in [insert body part here]. We all have it, but what do we do about it? Read on, my friends. I can’t promise these things will help everyone, but they are a good place to start if tension is plaguing you.

You see, I have a ton of chronic health issues I have daily migraines, endometriosis, POTS, IST, crohns, ulcerative colitis, anemia, GERD, CFS, arthritis, etc.

I also have anxiety, depression, PTSD, and insomnia, oh, and I have narcolepsy.

I have TMJ dysfunction due to jaw clenching. This caused trigeminal neuralgia.

So chronic pain, I get that. I have spent a lot of time personally finding methods that help with chronic jaw tension and neck and back problems.

I just hope some of the methods help you all, too.

Photo by Júnior Ferreira on Unsplash

1. Remove your tongue from the roof of your mouth. Take a big, deep breath in through the nose. Hold it a few seconds. Slowly let it out of the mouth.

2. Unclench your jaw. Wiggle it side to side. Feel the tension letting loose. Do this frequently.

3. Wiggle your feet/toes. Feel the movement you are capable of. You aren’t static. No matter how stuck you feel, remember you are able to move.

4. Stand up and stretch. Arms up high. Hold it for thirty seconds. You are powerful.

5. Smile. Sounds weird, but a big smile held for 30 seconds sometimes helps. Don’t do this for others. Do it for you.

6. Take a short walk. Get your blood pumping. Feel the rush of endorphins. Scientifically, this supposed to put you in a better mood.

7. Eat something you like. Comfort food is a real thing. Don’t ever indulge though.

8. Have a two minute dance party. Shake it off.

9. Find a dog or cat and pet them (with the owner’s permission). The act of stroking a pet releases dopamine and makes you happier.

10. Meditate. 12 minutes a day can make a big difference in your life and mindset.

That’s it. These little things can make a big difference. You don’t have to do something huge for it to be life changing. Pick one of these to do a few times a day and make it a new habit.

As someone with health issues that increases my tension, I like to do most of these daily. For several years, I taught college English and dealt with jaw pain from clenching my jaw every single time I was upset during the day. I broke that habit and have way less jaw pain. It’s the little things.

Remember: little by little, a little becomes a lot.

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