With preparation for a big feast, finding the right gifts, and making sure that you put together some creative family-fun Christmas activities, the holidays can be a bit stressful. It may be common knowledge by now that stress leads to tension, and tension leads to pain, and that pain can be found in various areas of the body–but how to best reduce that tension is still debatable.
Quick Home Remedies To Alleviate Stress-Related Pain
Do you constantly feel pain during the holidays? Although chronic pain in certain areas of your body may be best handled by a physician or doctor, below are some home remedies that might help alleviate less serious cases of stress-related pain.
- Take Breaks; Get Rest!: With such a busy schedule, time seems to fly. It may seem like obvious advice, but one might be surprised at how often people forget to take regular breaks throughout the day or take notice of their sleeping position.
- Exercise: Exercising your core and lower back will help keep the tension to a minimum. Find some simple exercises that you can do in the comfort of your own home.
- Adjust Temperature: Hot and cold compression packs applied to the cause of the stress (for no more than 15 minutes) will help soothe and relieve the tension.
- Carry Light: We know that with the holiday season, there often comes presents, which means heavy boxes that require lifting to be hidden away in the attic away from the kids. Make sure that you’re always properly lifting by utilizing your legs rather than your back so you do not strain yourself.
- Drink Tea: What sounds better during this cold, holiday season then a warm cup of chamomile tea? Beyond the comforting feeling of tea, it also provides the benefit of helping soothe aches and tension. Try some for yourself.
Remedies Specifically for Stress-Related Back Pain
One of the most common areas for stress-related body pain is the back — so the In Your Home Therapy team wanted to provide the top 5 tips for “kicking that holiday stress off your back” (pun totally intended).
- Acupuncture: This remedy has been around for thousands of years, but most people have yet to try this wonderful form of relief. If you’re feeling stressed out, exhausted, irritated, or tired, acupuncture will help relieve these issues. Acupuncture works by targeting and stimulating anatomic sites located on the body (often referred to as acupoints) that when punctured will help the body naturally heal. While relieving physical stress, it will help relieve mental stress simultaneously.
- Posture: If you work in an environment like an office where you’re constantly sitting, this means that you should be sitting upright with your back against the backrest. You should not be slouching, hunched over, or crammed in any awkward positions. It is always a great idea to invest in an ergonomic chair that will help support your back. Take a look here to see what correct posture looks like.
- Physical Therapy: With a physical therapist, you can better prepare yourself for constant stress or tension on your back. Physical therapy can resolve your back pain by teaching you techniques and exercises that will help you not only feel relief and decrease in pain, but you will be able continue to maintain your body’s well being as learn to prevent further damages or stains.
- Massage: Massages are not only great for relieving tension, but they are great at relieving stress of the mind. If you’re feeling tense, and live in or near the Ontario area, give us a call. One of our massage therapists will arrive at your home or office with a table, sheets, oils, relaxing music, and aromatherapy.
- Aspirin: Yes, don’t forget those over-the-counter pills that you can take to help relieve pain. We recommend to always read and follow what the label says on how many pills you should take. So if you find that pain will not go away due to simple remedies alone, feel free to contact your doctor about what kind of medicines are out there for your pain issues.
What to Take Away?: With these remedies, it is best to understand whether you’re pain is just when you are stressed or if your pain constantly persists. Be sure to practice these remedies during this holiday season when you feel the stress pounding on your back or different parts of your body. If you have further questions regarding your pain, the team at In Your Home Therapy is always here to help!
