What can I do right now?
“My body feels tense”
My body feels tense? Tight shoulders, a clenched jaw, a stiff neck or a knotted stomach.
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Tight shoulders, a clenched jaw, a stiff neck or a knotted stomach.
Try one of these now
- Progressive muscle relaxation — (10–15 min · Moderate evidence)
- Body scan — (8–10 min · Moderate evidence)
- The double-inhale sigh — (1–5 min · Emerging evidence)
- Five-minute mobility — (5 min · Practical evidence)
Why this can help
Tensing and releasing muscles teaches your body what letting go feels like; a body scan finds where you are holding it; a sigh and a little movement do the rest.
When it is more than a rough moment
If tension comes with pain that is severe, sudden or getting worse, or with other symptoms, see a doctor to have it checked.
Understand it better
- The tension you carry in your body — Tight shoulders, a clenched jaw, a knotted stomach — how stress lives in the body, and how to let it go. (6 min · Beginner)
- Progressive muscle relaxation — Tense, then release, one muscle group at a time — teaching your body what “letting go” feels like. (6 min · Beginner)
- The stress response in your body and mind — Racing heart, tight shoulders, a narrowed mind — what is happening and why. (7 min · Beginner)
If you need more support
- When self-help isn’t enough — Signs it is time to talk to someone, and who you can talk to.