My Neck Hurts - What Can I Do To Make My Neck and Shoulders Feel Better?

My neck hurts today. So many things have been expected of me. So many things I expect of myself. Some things have been accomplished on schedule or even ahead of time. Yet so many of my goals remain elusive, out in the future, work that remains to be accomplished.

And so, my neck hurts. Who or what is a pain in my neck? My neck may be bothered by some people not giving me exactly what I want - today. But my neck really hurts. So, I believe it is not so much what other people are doing or not doing. I think my neck is telling me to give myself some space, some time, some relaxation. I think my neck needs some breathing room, some space to move around, some new flexibility to allow my mind to capture different views and alternate perspectives on my current life concerns.

So now, how can I help my neck to feel better? One way is to put a nice warm, moist heating pad on my neck and shoulders and sit quietly with my eyes closed for awhile. But I do not really have time for that right now.

So, I can stretch my neck in different directions
* circling around 360 degrees
* tilting my right ear toward my right shoulder and then my left ear toward my left shoulder
* turning my head as far as I can to the right and then turning it all the way to the left

I can use my own hands or a hand held vibrator to stimulate and ultimately relax the muscles in my neck and shoulders.

I can take some pain killing medication or have a few glasses of wine or other alcoholic drinks - I might not feel better but then I might not care anymore.

Or, I can elicit the assistance of someone else, preferably a licensed massage therapist or other type of bodywork therapist (e.g., shiatsu, polarity, craniosacral, Reiki, neuromuscular, Trager, Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais). That person can use their hands and their knowledge to soften the knots and release the tension in my neck and shoulder muscles.

And, if I really want to feel better, I can seek out a somatic body psychotherapist (e.g., Rubenfeld Synergy, Core Energetics, Rosen Method, Hakomi) to not only assist me to relax the tight muscles in my body but to also help me understand, at a deeper level, what is the emotional component that is causing me to not be able to let go.

The final option, the one I will probably do for now, is to briefly close my eyes and imagine someone else performing their healing magical touch while in my mind I allow the muscles in my neck and shoulders to simply let down, let go and relax.

Oh My Aching Body!

How is your body feeling today?

Are you feeling relaxed or generally tense? Have you spent the last few minutes or hours focused on something, anything, without even thinking about your body - or - are you continually reminded about one or more body parts that seems to call out to you.

Did you know that your body actually speaks its own language?

Think about any part of your body that is hurting right now or has hurt you in the past.
* Your lower back? Do you feel unsupported, afraid of your future, "backed" into a corner?
* Your neck? Is someone making your life difficult, being a "pain in the neck?"
* Your shoulders? Are you "shouldering" too many responsiblities, trying to hold up....?
* Your knees? Are you ready to get out of some place you've been for awhile?
* Your eyes? Is there something in your life/relationships you do not want to see or accept?
* Your ears? Is there something you do not want to hear or understand?

Sometimes an ache or pain is just that - an ache or a pain.

Sometimes the cause of pain is an injury, a careless movement, a postural imbalance, an infectious or hereditary disease. But more often than most of us realize, an ache, a pain, and even a severe illness can be our body's way of telling us to pay attention to something or someone in our life. Or, the message may be to pay attention to our thoughts, our emotions, or something our senses are sensing that we are not acknowledging.

Medicine can temporarily alleviate the pain without removing the symptom. Receiving body therapy treatments, such as massage, acupressure, acupuncture or even Reiki, may temporarily relieve your physical symptoms. If you have even a sneaking suspicion that your current aches and pains are your body's reponse to your fear, anger, hurt, or confusion, then check out another option - somatic body psychotherapy.

Have you heard of Rubenfeld Synergy? Go to www.RubenfeldSynergy.com or contact me at www.DrEricaWellness.com.