Neck Tightness and Anxiety Issues

[CursedLeprechaun]

For the last three days, my neck has been very stiff right at the base of my skull. For those who have experienced this, can it be related to the muscle tightness I have been experiencing on the sides of my neck? I don't have any noticeable decline in range of motion, just a lot of pressure in my upper neck.

This has gotten my anxiety level to soar again (it's amazing to me how unnecessarily "fragile" I have felt since I first attempted to research "twitches" on the internet). Are problems with the upper neck ever related to an NMD?

 

[LegitTriz]

Hi,

I get a stiff neck too. I once went to the doctor's for a sinus infection and she said my neck muslces were solid with tension. So I've always put it down to tension. Plus I'm sure my bad posture/sitting too long at the PC doesn't help either!

I've never worried about the stiff neck symptoms as I'm pretty sure it's down to stress and tension. (worry myself stupid about everything else that's going on though )

Anxiety can do amazing things to the body. I knew someone who went to an Anxiety Clinic/Day Center and some cases were so extreme that their entire bodies were rigid - all caused by anxiety.

 

[LegitTriz]

I've heard that stretching is the best thing you can do. If you feel silly doing it in the office go to the bathroom and give yourself a really good stretch, shrug your shoulders round and round and do head rolls. Hanging off a bar with your feet off the ground I've heard is a great stretch for the spine if you're scrunched over all day. Also someone once told me if you push your chin towards the back of your neck (like you're giving yourself a double chin) this realigns the neck vertebrae - I'll often hear a satisfying crack like I've put something back in place.

Now you've reminded me I must make sure I do these things myself more often )