Neck Tension Be Gone

The other day I had been working at my computer for many stressful hours.  My neck and shoulder was hurting from the tension that was building up.  Stress has a way of doing that to the body.  For each one of us, stress affects and zeroes in on different parts of our body.  For me, the neck and shoulder is where I really feel it.

The neck and shoulder pain were intensifying as the day went.  It was attempting to create a gigantic headache because I could feel it tugging on my upper head tissues.  So, I decided enough was enough and I would apply some of the things that I had learned on the table working with Dr. Canali.  This may all sound funny and strange and weird but it works.  Feel free to laugh when you read it, because that might be the thing you need.

I was alone and I acted almost like I was a cheer leader doing a cheer.  I saying nonsensical phrases like “you say go”, I say “who”.   But as I was doing it, I was dancing around like a cheer leader (I know…funny) and like punching my arms into the air with force and connection.  I was shocked at just how quickly that tension went away.  I had only a few minutes in-between activity that day, but those few minutes got rid of the pain and tension.

Stop The Itching

If you've followed this blog for some time, you will know that I experienced a very rough time of rashes and itching. For further reading, please visit the links below of some my experiences through this ordeal.

For the most part, most of the itching has stopped. However, from time to time, it does sneak back up and cause a lot of discomfort for me. Lately, it has done that and while I have learned a lot about it and went into the fear of it, the anxiety still attacks me. When it attacks, it is hard for me to keep things in perspective.

In order to hopefully help others that are dealing with severe itching that does not seem to go away, I wanted to share a couple of the things that I am doing.

First of all, there is most likely an underlying emotional or stress response that is connected to the itching. Even though it may appear in physical form, one has to look much deeper than the outward physical signs that you see.

Trying to not freak out when the itching starts is a good first step but one that I know is so difficult to do. For anyone that has ever had some itching, see how long you can ignore it. I'm sure it won't be long before you'll be digging your fingers into it. It is a common reaction for us to scratch an itch. But trying not to freak out and go into the hysterics of it is a good start to dealing with the itching and getting it to stop.

Another major thing that needs to be worked on is dealing with stress, trauma and anxiety that is coming up. If you are ignoring these things, they will find a way out and often itching is one way that they will do this. Working on deep release of trauma and relaxation will help to start working through these things.

For me though, when the itching does start in, I've learned that there is one way I can get it to lessen. I'm not sure if it will work this way on everyone but each person needs to find their own way that works. I'm very connected to my body and I sense a lot. But here is what I do to help lessen the itching when it gets cranked up.

On an area of my body somewhat adjacent to where the itching is taking place, I take my hand and slowly and ever so lightly rub over a part of my body where there is no itching at that moment. It is a very light touch where you are maybe touching the hairs on your body but that is as close as you get. It is so gentle and soothing. The speed of your hand movement is very slow and sedative. Your goal is to connect with the slow movement of your hand and feel all of it. Give it time for your mind to connect to what it feels like on your body as you move your hands around in this fashion. You might give yourself a few minute or two rests in between your movements.

Hopefully what you'll notice in a few minutes is that it helps sedate yourself and it helps your mind connect with an area that isn't itching. You are not ignoring the itching but you are giving yourself another message - another option to feel something different. When i've done this, I don't necessarily feel the sedation immediately but once I stop and let myself just absorb what I did, than the sedation begins to set in.

If the itching comes at night which it often does, and if I do this procedure, usually I can fall back to sleep. It has taken me a little time to figure out how to do this on myself but I just kept experimenting with it because out of desperation, I had to find a way of giving myself some relief. Keep trying and expirimenting on things that work for yourself because there is usually a key to finding some relief from the itching. We just have to search for it!


1) Into The Itching, Through The Pain

2) Itching Skin And Oatmeal Bath

3) Sleeping With Night Sweats And Fears



*For more articles, check out the Mind Body Thoughts Blog