I was reviewing lesson 13 because I regularly try to do too much in one day. "When you feel tired, stop. Listen to your body signals. If you are starting to feel anxious it is because you are feeling pressured. Do what you can to relieve this pressured feeling."

It got me thinking about what body signals I have that tell me it's time to take a break. I guess I'd have to say mine are spaciness, impatience, sore shoulder muscles, dizziness, feeling so wound up that I can't sit still, and I'm too tired. What are yours?

How much pressure to you self-create?
Patti

Hey Patti,

I like this post It'll be interesting to see how other folks know they've stressed a liiiittle too much..lol

Let's see, my main signal is tension, my body gets so tense that i end up stretching about 20 times in 10 minutes. The weird thing is, it took me a while to realize that my body was getting so tense. I'd even have my jaw clenched really tight and not notice until i started thinking "Oh no, why does my jaw hurt so bad!" Gotta love that anxiety...lol

Ooooh impatience is definitely one of mine too, mixed with a little bit of crankyness (new word..lol) I tend to get really edgy. That's why i love those warm baths so much , they're greaaat.

Those are the only ones i can think of right now, i'm sure i have more though...lol Take good care!

Doylie

Doylie,
Oooohh - Oooohh - Oooohh - I do that clenched jaw thing until it aches! Or have you noticed your whole face being tight? Between that and not breathing correctly, I suddenly have a headache and wonder why!

I liked reading what you wrote. I'm not sure I know my body signals sometimes, so reading your experience is helping.

I also find myself stretching a lot at work - maybe I'd better pay more attention to my body and take short breaks more frequently.

Thanks for your reply - I enjoy reading your posts on the forum. You have wisdom galore!

Have a stupendous Sunday!
Patti
P.S. I'm glad you liked the post.

PattiCakes,

(Hope ya don't mind the nickname, i have this awful obsession with naming people in here...lol, it's a hobby of mine really )

Aaaanyway, yep, my face gets really weird feeling when i clench my jaw alot. Mainly in my cheeks, they start feeling almost tighter or something (thats the best way i could describe it...lol).

Do you have an office job, where you're sitting down alot? I was just thinking, what may be helpful are those new (i think their called) Therma-packs. I guess you can put them on under clothing and that may help to relieve some tension in your back while working (if you get alot of tension there). Or even putting one on when you get home from work. Be nice if they made invisible ones that we could put over our jaws huh?...lol Just a little suggestion. Take good care!

Doylie

PS - i almost forgot, thank you for the kind words!!

Wow...I think they have pretty much been covered!
Edgy, irratable, I was in a 40 car pile up 12 years ago and had whiplash so all the tension goes to the back of my neck.........gggggrrrrrrrr! And shoulders also...I NEED A MASSAGE SOOOOOOO BAD! Doyle i laughed when I READ ABOUT THE CLENCHED JAW...I do that constantly and don't even realize it. Very restless..I'm doing dishes in between bites of my meal!........El loco!
Hey, I tried the Therma Care back patch...well actually it was more like a "truss" but really helped!
And maybe it's just me...........man I'm gonna regret this but I'M SOOOO honest...sometimes I get really "horny" is that weird!! Thanks for sharing that Jim.....L O L
I deal with things through humor a lot so...but it's true about the libido thing!
Anyway... so yea that's pretty much my symptoms!
Jim

This is a great post for me right now. My number one indicator of stress -- TIGHTNESS IN MY CHEST!! I also get the tight shoulders, neck, and back. The tightness in the chest, though, is my first clue that I need to slow down, pay attention to what I'm doing, and to take a step back. Tonight I've had to do some serious relaxation to relieve the stress.

Doylie
If you could only see how much I'm giggling right now! You aren't going to believe this - a client at work started calling me Patticakes a year or two ago and a few attorneys got such a kick out the nickname, they call me that every chance they get! No, I don't mind! It beats being called "Pity Patty or Pity Potty". That's just too funny that you picked the same nickname!

Thanks for the thermapack tip. I'll try that. I could get away with it as I have the office to myself sometimes. It would be interesting to see what a thermapack for the jaw would look like. Sorry, can't answer the phone today, I'm relaxing my jaw! My husband would like that as I like to talk about a million years longer than he does!

By the way, you're welcome for my "kind" words.

Jim,
Geez - a 40 car pileup! I guess you'd have a little tension! I like your sense of humor! Good to know the thermapacks work and comforting to know we have the same experience.

I used to get regular 1 hour massages, but the gal moved away. You reminded me that I'm in need of one again. They are so wonderful!

Thanks for the laughs you two! It's God's timing because someone I care about very much is in the hospital, so it was great to come here and laugh reading your replies. Thanks
Patti

Patti,
Thanks for a great post. You might also try some office yoga. It is yoga that you can do in your chair. It includes breathing and stretches.

My symptoms are edgyness, feeling like my cells want to burst. I get really restless and my shoulders/neck start to hurt. Sometimes, I get a pounding tension headache and my lower back starts to hurt too. Fatigue is another one and a feeling like I'm not quite getting enough air (shallow breathing). Dizzy spells and tingly feelings in my arms and legs.

Isn't it amazing how anxiety/stress affect us on a daily basis? I combat these symptoms by listening to my body. I can tell where I'm at based on how I'm feeling. I know to take a break and focus on my deep breathing. And, I'm far more productive when I do take an occasional break.

Cheers!
Zair

Zair,
Sorry for the delayed response. I've been off sick for several days, but had to reply to your post and tell you that the symptoms you described are so me during the day at work! Thank you, thank you, thank you, for the yoga suggestion. I've never done it, but would love to take a class in it. Maybe just some simple stretching, walking around and breathing will help.

Thanks again, Zair!
Patti

Here are my laundry list of bodily symptoms:
increased sweating, red ears, forehead feels hot, tension in neck and shoulders, butterflies in stomach, pressure around eyes, shallow breathing, racing thoughts, feeling like I have to get up and run out of a situation, can't sit still. Tapping feet or restless irritable and edgy, feelings of dread or foreboding obsessive worry etc.
Anyone have these? I wish I had a fulltime masseuse.

I am a Physical Therapist, but I can't give myself a massage maybe I'll marry a woman who is a masseuse or another Physical therapist. That would be great.

Hi Gobucks
Thanks for bringing this post back up. It's just what I needed to be reminded of right now.

I didn't even realize the "red ears" I get are anxiety. Wow. I get cranky and edgy too. In fact, I'm feeling that way tonight. But I'm also tired. So maybe things will look better tomorrow after a good night's sleep.

Thanks Gobucks, you're a Godsend!
Patti

Patti,

I think the red ears are my radiator being on. LOL. Or probably from all the adrenaline and cortisol because your body is in fight or flight.

GoBucks
Hee Hee
Radiator. Cute!
I'm sure you are right. I'm just in shock that I never picked up on that before now, but thank God I know!
Always a pleasure reading your posts, GoBuck!
Patti

Go Bucks, you are the first person I have known to have pressure in the eyes when you get stressed. I thought I was the only one! I wonder what causes it? My worst symptom is "temporary deafness" where your hearing fades and all you hear is a buzz. That one gets me the worst. Anyone else get that?

Janelle

has anyone had there neck glands below your chin get really sore with there panic. or the back of your head hurt. or your vision pay tricks with you (like things look like they are moving or hard to foucs on things). you input would be very helpful to me. thanks