Have you ever had stress or emotional pain turn into a physical pain?

[Whatvilefuckeryisthis]

I'm not sure exactly how to describe, tbh. But I'm really stressed out at the moment, with a very sick parent, and I am abroad trying to get home.

When too many other everyday stresses mount up and I get overwhelmed thinking about it all (but still things that need to be dealt with because they are important...not sweating the small stuff) I get this horrible weird sensation up through my abdomen

Maybe pain is not the right word as it's not sharp or a dull ache - but it's a definite horrible physical sensation that makes me need to curl up and bring my knees into my chest. It's physically extremely uncomfortable to stand up, almost like a protective layer of 'something' has disappeared from the front of the body I wish I could describe it better!

Wtf is this? Has this or similar ever happened to you before?

Like right now I'm trying to get off the couch because I need to go to the shops for milk. But putting it off as will be SO uncomfortable, until I hopefully snap out of it after walking outside for a bit.

Is it adrenaline do you think?

Yes, I had muscle pain once due to clenching them for so long. You may be holding your adominal muscles? Have you tried any meditation or breathing exercises? They do help.

When I say 'once' it was a protracted period, but it has not happened again since I identified what I was doing.

Yes and still do but it's fading. My father passed away suddenly almost a month ago and shortly after the funeral I started to ache everywhere. At first I thought it was a flu or something but then realised it was aching muscles everywhere that were starting to relax somewhat. My stomach is still sore at times as that's where I tend to hold my stress. I'm trying to remember to do some deep breathing and lower my shoulders etc when I feel them hunched up. I hope it passes soon for you.

Yes, in the form of tension headaches and shoulder aches from holding myself so tense. My neck is also rigid quite a lot of the time. After a while it hurts.

If you are carrying tension in your muscles, it will start to hurt after a while I would second @rrhuth‘s advice to try some relaxation techniques - breathing techniques, perhaps yoga? Just to try and unravel.

I'm sorry you're going through such a stressful time.

Yes definitely after an immensely stressful time I literally felt as if I had been kicked in the middle of my back. It went on for weeks. I also couldn't physically swallow solid food down and lived off complan shakes. They were both physical manifestations of the stress and anxiety I was going through. Emotionally I felt as if I'd been kicked and it seems to make sense that I physically felt that too.

Yes, I think it is quite a common thing to have physical issues due to stress.
I think is where a hot bath with some nice smellies and some music can help. It helps a lot with my back muscles. I do it before bed, stay for a while, and then weap my warm and relax muscles warm to go to bed. It makes me sleepy too, so it helps with falling asleep in tense days. Lavender oils and bath soaps help a lot too.
I had lavender oil on the pillow recommended to me, but I find it too much.

Yes, always my right shoulder. Couldn't move my neck at all. Emotional, not physical, problem

Yes. Neck pain, jaw pain and chest pain. All to do with anxiety.
Am now doing meditation and taking anti-depressants and it has disappeared.

I get horrendous jaw pain when I'm upset/stressed

Yes - I felt like I had a stomach ulcer and couldn’t even eat properly. I had just started a new job and it was awful. It did fade after a few days once I settled down.

Yes absolutely. I began to suffer from health anxiety after my little girl suffered a life threatening illness. I was aching all over after an episode of awful anxiety - and I realised it was me beginning to relax again. My muscles were literally aching from me holding them so much. I get the same in my face, head and jaw and shoulders. Pure tension caused by stress and anxiety.

After my mum died I felt the same. Even my stomach ached.

Yes. At least two things happening there-

Your gut has a huge number of nerve cells- it's a subsidiary brain. It's a 'gut reaction'. Think of someone hearing bad news 'it was a kick in the gut!'.

Also stress can manifest with terrible stomach pains- cramping etc.

Being physically tense causes physical problems- stressed tense muscles getting injured.

Please be careful- prolonged stress can leave you physically damaged for years. Fibromyalgia is a stress reaction and is painful and chronic. There are other similar illnesses caused by severe stress.

I have yes. I was so upset over something, the pain turned into a physical pain down my arms , wrists, legs, chest. It was like a dull ache that actually hurt.
I remember thinking this is what a breaking heart feels like. Has happened a few times since

It was in my bones not muscles

Expressions like ‘kicked in the stomach’ , ‘gut wrenching’, ‘broken hearted’ , ‘heavy hearted’ etc are all expressions of physical feelings associated with emotion. Of course emotions translate into physical feelings. If you read Louise Hay’s
books or Carolyn Myss amongst others this helps explain it.

yes in short, had a big pain rip through my stomach when a loved one died

I understood what ‘legs turned to jelly’ meant on my a stressful day. My legs were giving way from
anxiety !

When my kids were little and I was extremely tired and stressed I developed stomach migraines. They weren't fun so I had to become very mindful of looking after myself so that I didn't bring one on.

@rrhuth

Yes, I had muscle pain once due to clenching them for so long. You may be holding your adominal muscles? Have you tried any meditation or breathing exercises? They do help.

Me too. I have pain in my upper back and shoulders from clenching. Sometimes I realise my toes are clenched too.

It's definitely a thing.

The only way out is to tackle the stress, to really focus on looking after yourself by eating well, getting exercise and getting to bed at a good time. Yoga if you can. Every now and then check your shoulders are down and that your breathing properly.

I hope you can find some relief.

psychosomatic pain is the name for it - there's lots of information and tips on how to help if you google.

Stress gave me IBS, bad skin, lethargy and anxiety.

They all went away when the stress was gone for good. The stress being my ex!