Why Does My Body Feel Tense All the Time?
Can you feel the tension?
That tight feeling in your chest.
The weight on your shoulders.
The clenching in your jaw or stomach.
Maybe your hands get hot.
Maybe your breath gets shallow.
These physical feelings are signs that your body is holding something.
As a holistic psychotherapist collective, we recognize there are as many paths toward healing as there are individuals seeking them.
Often, that path walks through the forest of London Ontario somatic therapy.
Somatic therapy is an approach that invites us to pay closer attention to these signals coming from the body.
Tension is not just something to get rid of.
It’s something to listen to.
Like the symptoms of many different disorders, both physical and mental, tension in the body is trying to tell us something.
When you slow down and listen to your own body, what do you notice?
Perhaps there’s resistance.
A pulling back.
A desire to stay small, quiet, and safe.
But right alongside that may be other feelings.
Perhaps a pull to stand up, speak out, and take up space.
Both feelings are true.
Both make sense.
This is the kind of tension many of us live with every day.
This week on our blog, we’ll explore that tension.
We’ll understand what it can tell us, what it feels like, and some therapeutic approaches to help work through it.
The Weight of Late Stage Capitalism
A lot of us feel exhausted.
And not just from working too much, but from living inside systems that don’t support our well being.
Capitalism, racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, and so much more — these systems often tell us that we’re only valuable if we’re producing something.
That we should always be working harder, faster, longer.
That our needs should come last.
That above all else, we serve capital.
Is it any wonder, then, that so many of us are done.
Done with the grind.
Done with the pressure.
Done with putting our energy into systems that don’t care about us.
Our bodies carry the memory of that burnout.
They remember the times we gave too much and got too little in return.
They hold the fear that if we try again, we’ll just end up hurt again.
That fear lives in the tension.
And it makes sense.
It’s the body’s way of protecting us.
RELATED: London Ontario Burnout Therapy
We all live in minds and bodies shaped by capitalism.
That means we’ve been taught to keep going even when we’re tired.
But our bodies and minds also hold joy.
It lets us move through the world.
It allows us to walk a dog, listen to music, to swim, to sing, to cook, to paint, to dance with abandon, to eat delicious food, and so much more.
It reminds us that we’re alive.
You may have aches and pains.
You may have days where you feel frustrated with your body.
But there are also moments of gratitude, if you know how to listen.
Your body has carried you through so much.
Even when it’s hurting, it’s still trying to protect you, to care for you.
Your body is not just a tool for working.
In somatic therapy, we can hold multiple truths at the same time.
We can be grateful for our bodies, while at the same time listening to what our bodies need.
What Does Tension in Your Body Tell You?
Instead of pushing the tension away, what if we got curious about it?
What if we slowed down and listened to it?
What if the tension is trying to tell us something important?
When you feel tension in your body, try asking gentle questions:
What do you want me to know right now?
What am I longing for?
What do I need?
Often, the answers may surprise you.
Sometimes the tension may be telling you you’re trying to do too much on your own.
In those moments, ask yourself: What if I asked for help this time?
Sometimes the tension may remind you of times you pushed yourself beyond your limits.
If so, ask: What if I rested more this time?
Other times, the tension may show up as self-doubt or harsh inner criticism.
Your body may tense to guard you against your own inner voice.
In those moments, ask: What if I showed myself a little compassion instead?
What if I allowed myself some gentle, creative self-expression?
RELATED: Therapy for Low Self Esteem
Our bodies are always speaking to us.
We’re just not always used to listening.
Many of us have learned to ignore or push through the pain we feel.
To stay busy.
To keep going no matter what.
But ignoring our bodies doesn’t make the tension go away.
After all, what happens when you ignore a child trying to assert their needs?
They get louder.
Making Space for Tension
In learning to listen to the tension we hold in our bodies, we may feel the urge to fix it.
But sometimes, the most healing thing we can do is simply make space for it.
You can practice being with your tension, instead of against it.
Here are a few simple steps to begin:
Notice. Pay attention to where tension shows up in your body.
Breathe. Take a few slow, deep breaths into that place.
Ask. What is this tension trying to tell me? What is it asking for?
Respond. Offer yourself kindness. Give your body what it needs. Maybe that’s rest, movement, water, or just a break.
Repeat. This is an ongoing practice. Tension may return, and that’s okay. Keep listening.
Book Your Appointment With The Witch’s Therapist Today
In a world that constantly tells us to do more, rest is a powerful act.
So is asking for help.
So is choosing self-compassion instead of self-criticism.
These small choices are not signs of weakness.
They are acts of courage.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, burned out, or stuck, you’re not alone.
These feelings are part of being human, especially in a world that constantly asks too much of us.
Your tension is not a flaw.
It’s a message.
A signal from your body that something needs attention.
You don’t have to carry it all alone.
You can rest.
You can ask for help.
You can be gentle with yourself.
And in doing so, you might find that the tension begins to ease.
You might discover that underneath it all, your body is on your side.
It always has been, it always will be.
So take a moment today to ask yourself:
What is my body trying to tell me?
And then, listen.
At The Witch’s Therapist, we’re here to help.
Whether your tension is rooted in depression, anxiety, perfectionism, or whatever, we can help you explore it.
Through understanding it, we can begin to listen.
Through listening, we can further understand.
Book your FREE 15-minute intro session with The Witch’s Therapist today.
The Witch's Therapist
242 Dundas St.
London, Ontario
Canada
N6A 1H3
1-226-977-1660
► London Ontario Holistic Psychotherapy
The Witch's Therapist is located in London, Ontario and offers holistic psychotherapy therapy throughout London and surrounding areas.
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