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Original poster

How to resolve somatic symptoms of stress

59 replies

StrongLegs · 11/05/2023 21:20

Hi,

I wondered if anybody might know how to help the body to resolve the somatic symptoms of stress, once the stress has been resolved, or is at least is being resolved?

I've been having a huge amout of family stress for years. I have been going to see a private clinical psychologist about it for 8 years and in the last year or two have been talking to all my nearest and dearest and adjusting those relationships to make things more comfortable.

Most of them have been really good and are making adjustments and life is much better. One relative who was unable to adapt has removed themselves from my life.

However, I really would like all the somatic/physical symptoms of stress to calm down a bit, so I could go out and enjoy myself, eat better, and generally get back to normal a bit.

I just wondered if any of you might know of ways to help my body get the memo that things are improving now?

Thanks!

OP posts:
Original poster
StrongLegs · 11/05/2023 21:27

Things I have tried that are all working

Diphragmatic breathing (good!)
mindfullness (Very good!)

Trying foods that I used to be intolerant to
(very tasty, sometimes works and sometimes doesn't)

Trying vitamin supplements that I used to be intolerant to,
(again sometimes works and sometimes doesn't)

Tried probiotics (didn't really agree with me)

Gardening (top notch)

Trying to buy new clothes, (again some successes)

Ran a small plant sale in the front garden (nice to meet people in a low stress way)

Long hot baths

chilling out on a sun lounger or in the garden

Watching relaxing youtube/iplayer videos

emailing old friends to tell them what's been happening.

I just had endocrine testing to see if my adrenal system is working but no test results yet.

My nervous system is still wound up as tight as a piano wire.

OP posts:
LiliLil · 11/05/2023 21:30

I would love to know the answer to this.

I feel like the only thing holding me together right now is tension. I’ve had a couple of significant traumas in my life, most recently last year and since then had a lot of family illness. One close family member has just been given months to live. I worry about the long term effect of stress on my health, and would really like to know if it can be reversed in some way.

Even sleeping is impossible right now, if my mind isn’t whirring, the tension in my shoulders and neck make it too painful to get comfortable.

TheNachtzehrer · 11/05/2023 21:34

Exercise. Best way to burn off adrenaline when your body's all knotted up with it.

Original poster
StrongLegs · 11/05/2023 21:36

Thank you for saying about that. That's exactly where I am.

I'm sorry you have all that stress on too.

I kind of wonder if this is why they say that having very small conversations with strangers (like in a shop or at the market) is so good for us. I suppose in a way it gives us a chance to step into an imaginary world where everything is fine and we're just having a normal conversation - just because the other person knows nothing about our situation, so we can pretend to ourselves as well that it's all just not happening.

Maybe that play acting is a really helpful way to take a short holiday from real life.

OP posts:
Original poster
StrongLegs · 11/05/2023 21:38

Thanks TheNachtzehrer - I know that's meant to work but it doesn't even touch the sides with me. The physical symptoms of stress have just totally levelled me just now.

OP posts:
LiliLil · 11/05/2023 21:43

StrongLegs · 11/05/2023 21:36

Thank you for saying about that. That's exactly where I am.

I'm sorry you have all that stress on too.

I kind of wonder if this is why they say that having very small conversations with strangers (like in a shop or at the market) is so good for us. I suppose in a way it gives us a chance to step into an imaginary world where everything is fine and we're just having a normal conversation - just because the other person knows nothing about our situation, so we can pretend to ourselves as well that it's all just not happening.

Maybe that play acting is a really helpful way to take a short holiday from real life.

That’s a nice way to look at it, those conversations do make me feel a bit lighter and I’m also sorry you’re struggling.

Meditation works slightly for me, and I suppose I could do more exercise. I used to enjoy yoga but I don’t feel like anything really helps because my mood isn’t low if that makes sense, I am just so tightly wound I feel like I might snap. I’m going to make changes to my diet, particularly looking at anti inflammatory diets.

My hair started falling out last year due to stress, I was definitely deficient in a lot of vitamins so I take a few different ones now. I just need my body to rest and start to recover but it refuses.

maudesvagina · 11/05/2023 21:46

traumaprevention.com/

https://youtube.com/@davidberceli

You can shake it off

LiliLil · 11/05/2023 21:53

Thank you @maudesvagina! I’ve downloaded the app

TakingTheLowRoad · 11/05/2023 21:54

Also checkout The Workout Witch on Instagram.

Notsandwiches · 11/05/2023 22:03

My physical symptoms arising from years of stress had me being tested for MS. Things that have helped me massively: seeing a medical herbalist and being prescribed herbs to calm my mind and adrenals; self talk (I ended up with health anxiety and ruminating about what my future health would be like. I'd interrupt my thoughts with "yes BUT I'm ok today") and drinking celery juice to reduce inflammation. It took about 4 years but I'd say Im 95% back to "normal" now.

LiliLil · 11/05/2023 22:12

Notsandwiches · 11/05/2023 22:03

My physical symptoms arising from years of stress had me being tested for MS. Things that have helped me massively: seeing a medical herbalist and being prescribed herbs to calm my mind and adrenals; self talk (I ended up with health anxiety and ruminating about what my future health would be like. I'd interrupt my thoughts with "yes BUT I'm ok today") and drinking celery juice to reduce inflammation. It took about 4 years but I'd say Im 95% back to "normal" now.

I’m happy to hear you’re much better now. Can you tell me more about the celery juice please, do you add anything?

AudHvamm · 11/05/2023 22:17

Have you tried massage? That helps to calm your nervous system. Lymphatic massage might be particularly good.

Ihatepickingausername3 · 11/05/2023 22:25

Massage is very good. Have you tried settling an alarm and “checking in” on yourself and your feelings at various points in the day? You can also get mood tracker apps which are helpful in collecting the data on yourself and putting the puzzle together. Guided mediation if you can. You can get a vast array of different ones on YouTube for free I.e “guided meditation for sleep / positivity / anxiety” whatever you need in the moment.

Ihatepickingausername3 · 11/05/2023 22:28

Also what a lot of people struggle with and don’t realise is transitions… it’s important to take ten minutes or so to sit and reflect before going home from work, picking the kids up, going to work in the morning etc

ATerrorofLeftovers · 11/05/2023 22:33

Hypnotherapy to release trauma and relearn how to stay calm and relaxed.

Coyoacan · 11/05/2023 23:10

Have you tried acupunture or massage?

Thighdentitycrisis · 11/05/2023 23:15

Yoga

Notsandwiches · 12/05/2023 21:24

I just juiced a full head of organic celery using a masticating juicer and chugged it fresh on an empty stomach. It's grim but reduced my systemic inflammation.

ArcticSkewer · 12/05/2023 21:37

yoga with meditation afterwards

Toloveandtowork · 12/05/2023 21:42

Try bioenergetics. It is a type of body work designed to bring up trapped trauma and stress and get rid of it from your body. It's very intense and not a quick fix, but actually works.
Try searching 'Devaraj Sandberg bioenergetics' on YouTube. He has lots of info and workout videos and does private online sessions.

ItsCalledAConversation · 12/05/2023 21:45

Yoga. This is what it was designed for.

also have a look at Qui Gong, Aki Somatic and Sahd Simone.

StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 12/05/2023 21:48

Yoga.
Cardio
Choir - singing gets the endorphins going in the same way exercise does.

gotmychristmasmiracle · 12/05/2023 21:49

Pilates, trigger point, yoga for me..... need to up the meditation and mindfulness and want to look into self love abit more.... it's always a balancing act!

Bohoboo · 12/05/2023 21:54

Have you tried yoga nidra? It can be very powerful for moving out of the tired/wired place. There are lots on you tube. Find a voice you like and do a longer one. It is really hard initially but stick with it and you will feel so much better after. Lots of great scientific research to support