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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if anyone else has trouble with subconsciously tensing muscles?

31 replies

Gingernuttie · 02/02/2023 13:13

Sorry to post in AIBU but have tried in Health before with no response. Think it must be a bit niche!

I tense muscles all the time. Specifically back, core, and pelvic floor. I realise I'm doing it, relax them, and then within twenty seconds they've all tensed up again without me noticing.

How do I stop? I've had pelvic floor therapy (the tensing caused issues in my last pregnancy) and I CAN relax when I concentrate, but it's like the default is set to tense.

I don't have a psychological explanation. No trauma, and I'm not stressed or unhappy. I'm fit, healthy and eat well and well hydrated. I do relaxation yoga every day. I relax before sleep (but immediately tense up again).

It's more that I need to change a subconscious habit. What about something like hypnosis? Has anyone else had success with changing subconscious habits like this?

OP posts:
ethermint · 02/02/2023 13:15

what about magnesium supplement - it's a muscle relaxant I believe?

horizontilting · 02/02/2023 14:29

I had this. In my case it turned out to be caused by dopamine problems - I have young onset Parkinson's disease. I'm sure there are other less complicated causes, but just to make you aware that is one cause, as it would be seen as a very unlikely in young women, and rarely considered. I had years of motor issues (muscles contracting plus other issues) with physio etc before anyone ever thought to refer me to neurology. Earlier assessment, diagnosis and treatment would have helped.

Original poster
Gingernuttie · 02/02/2023 19:23

Thank you for responding ☺️

Do you think magnesium would do anything since I don't actually have trouble relaxing my muscles when I think about it? It's more like it's in my head than a muscle problem per se? I'm prepared to give it a go though!

@horizontilting I'm sorry it turned out to be Parkinson's for you. I will bear it in mind, because as you say early diagnosis is really important. I have had this problem since I can remember though (childhood/teens) and it hasn't worsened, so I think it's unlikely. I'm mid thirties now, so at least twenty years anyway.

OP posts:
CoalCraft · 02/02/2023 19:42

Hmm, I've had this, but for me stress was definitely the trigger - it first happened while DD was in NICU and subsequently only when I've been very frazzled. I think it's my body being in fight or flight mode. I don't really have advice on how to stop it as for me it's gone when the stress has.

Beenheresomanytimesbefore · 02/02/2023 19:54

I do this. My shoulders creep up, and I often realise clenching my jaw. Don’t know what the answer is though

Original poster
Gingernuttie · 03/02/2023 20:45

Sorry to hear other people have had it too. It's meanly comforting it's not just me though! There doesn't seem to be a solution does there 😔

OP posts:
Rosscameasdoody · 04/02/2023 20:59

I have sciatica and subconsciously tense the muscles in my left leg. I don’t realise I’m doing it until it starts to ache and then have trouble relaxing it.

Blessedbethefruitz · 04/02/2023 21:38

Yup. Toes, facial muscles, neck/shoulders and teeth. I have to try to remember to unclench. I'm already taking sertraline for anxiety, but it seems to be triggered by stress. Took me ages to work out what was wrong with my toes, they're a more recent addition. I thought I'd done something/broken them at first.

zighead · 04/02/2023 21:48

Yes I have this problem too. Had a physio who tried to help me with my pelvic floor issues but like you, I can relax when I concentrate but then it's straight back to tense again.
When I ran for a few years, I developed really bad shoulder pain because of me tensing them even more so when running.
I do take a magnesium supplement to try and help me sleep. I didn't know it was supposed to help your muscles relax.

JimBob61 · 04/02/2023 21:54

I can't help op but hanging around to see if anyone else can help.
I've always done this. I will realise that my shoulders are touching my ears, force myself to relax but as soon as I stop concentrating on it the shoulders creep back up again.
Drives me nuts and I'm sure is partially connected to my insomnia

justsayso · 04/02/2023 22:09

I have the same with my legs, but it's down to stress. I took 5 weeks off work recently and dropped my hours on return, and I'm not doing it any more.

LabiaMinoraPissusFlapus · 04/02/2023 22:22

It could be a tic disorder. We have tics in our family and my mum always moans about tensing her muscles. I think she just has tics too.

greenacrylicpaint · 04/02/2023 22:24

are you warm enough?
I find myself doing it if too cold.

Original poster
Gingernuttie · 05/02/2023 18:48

@zighead that sounds exactly like mine. Have you found anything at all that helps it?

Sounds like quite a few people have similar issues - sympathies! Stress seems to be a major cause, which makes sense.
@JimBob61 you think it might be related to insomnia? Do you find it improves/worsens in line with how much sleep you get?

I'm definitely not cold, no. I know what you mean with tensing when cold, but it's different. This is continuous - like all my waking hours for twenty years.

OP posts:
wibblewobbleball · 05/02/2023 18:54

Do you have hypermobility OP? I have hyper mobile joints and I find I do this a lot, apparently it's connected.

inininsomnia · 05/02/2023 18:55

I do this constantly because I have hypermobile joints and my muscles work overtime trying to stabilise my body. Do you think this may be the case for you?

I'm afraid I don't have any easy solutions, except gentle heat (baths/showers/heat pads etc) and trying to stay active without overdoing things. Massage and self-massage can also help and I've had physio at the worst times. Be careful with stretching if you think you may be hypermobile, because that can make things worse.

Original poster
Gingernuttie · 05/02/2023 19:18

Definitely not hypermobile, but thank you for the suggestion. I agree that massages and baths are lovely! Unfortunately I have to concentrate on relaxing even when in the bath, or the muscles just revert to tense 🙄

OP posts:
dizzydizzydizzy · 05/02/2023 19:37

I do this too. I think it is stress. Pilates and meditation have helped (I use the Headspace app forMeditation)

dizzydizzydizzy · 05/02/2023 19:38

Oh and deep tissue/sports massage too.

makingarunforit · 05/02/2023 21:52

I noticed myself clenching my legs and backside a few times the other week as I was sitting at my desk working. Undercurrent of work stress in my life at the moment so I'm putting it down to that. It's been suggested by osteopath that I am hypermobile too though.

I've been going to sleep listening to a deep relaxation/sleep meditation thingy which I think has been helping.

Chocolateonsticks · 06/02/2023 01:25

Yes I do! Jaw wise my dentist is able to prescribe masseter muscle botox. Absolute dream when done correctly and slimmed my face so much. Didnt realise my former fuller face that made no sense on my skinny body was actually clenched and built facial muscles

Heighwayqueen · 06/02/2023 02:04

Yes i have this. Tense muscles are my default. I have a genetic condition called RYR1 Myopathy which means muscles are faulty. The calcium receptors on my cells don't work correctly. I take muscle relaxants, dantrolene if I can get it (it's out of stock at the moment) or baclofen, both prescribed by my neurologist.

Original poster
Gingernuttie · 06/02/2023 08:42

@makingarunforit interesting that the relaxation/meditation might be helping. That was the kind of thing I was thinking of - kind of like a mild form of hypnosis I guess? I'll do a bit more research into this type of thing. Thank you!

@Heighwayqueen that sounds tough to live with. I had a Google and read a couple of journal articles but it's not well explained to lay readers. Am I right that symptoms would be present from birth? Are specific muscles affected, or all muscles?

OP posts:
Hohoholdthesherry · 06/02/2023 09:00

I had no idea not everyone did this! But I have EDS so I'm guessing mine is from that. As someone mentioned dopamine up thread, I also had a quick Google and it looks like ADHD can cause it too, so it could be a bit of that.

Story of my life - find out that something I do/experience is weird, then find out its the EDS or ADHD or both 🙄

GrumpyPanda · 06/02/2023 09:10

I'm another one of the tribe. Shoulder area worst of all, undoubtedly aided by desk work and the associated poor posture. But also get it in other areas.

What helps - most importantly vigorous workouts. On a general level, anything that works up a sweat. Shoulders specifically, a whole set of exercises mostly with dumbbells- I now have a set at home and use them in the evening.

Hot baths, yes, and counterintuitively also really cold showers, maybe because they increase blood flow.

A lot of relaxation techniques ime make me tense up even more, as does superficial massage - deep tissue is fine. What works better is techniques that start with consciously clenching - say 50 sec - then unclenching muscles one by one. Also, various autosuggestion techniques that really make you focus on muscle area after muscle area.

Yoga does very little for me, maybe I should have tried the more vigorous styles. Pilates great but for core strength more than relaxation. But what really does make me feel much better is martial arts. I've had many years practice in aikido and find it a great combi of work out and zen-type practice - it's paired work where you utilize the strength/speed/etc of your partner so you have to really focus on what happens in the moment. In contrast I think conventional meditation would send me bonkers.