Clenching, And Not Just My Jaw!

[Tiffissad]

I do. I clench on my right side so bad that I've raised my right shoulder and right hip a full two inches anove my left side. It's so painful and I'm desparate to feel "relaxed".

Hello, since I was a child, I've clenched various groups of muscles. Not just my jaw, although I locke...

 

[Gs172003]

So sorry you had to deal with your mom's insensitivity, @Zoogal. Like you chose to do t...

She quit fussing about it when she found out I couldn't help it and, well, I called her out on fb with an infographic and told her "see? I really can't help it"
She never said another word

 

[Nessa7]

The one time that I was almost hospitalized, my doctor had wanted to test me for TMJ. I never got around to it because I had other stuff on my mind. It had never occurred to me that there might be a connection.

 

[ladee]

All the time! My shoulders. I will bring my shouldrs down and ten seconds later they are right where they were. It drives me INSANE.
My lower back too. Have recently had an MRI TO see what the problem is there. My hands!
And on an on. Hate it for all of us but glad to know I am not the only one!

 

[Panda Bear]

@ladee
Oh my gosh! My hands too!! T told me it was very typical in trauma! I used to think I was crazy, my hands used to hurt so bad! I'd tell T all the time, my hands...my hands! They make me cray, not only do they often hurt, but they're crazy sensitive to the touch.

 

[Fadeaway]

Trying to fall asleep at night my feet will ache from being flexed but I can't relax them to save my life. I would love to get a massage but anytime anyone has tried I had to make the stop, I couldn't stop jumping. Someone touching my lower back if I am laying face down causes me to jump as if someone is trying to tickle me. I mean full body arch. My head shoulders and stomach will involuntarily raise back and my legs will reach towards my head as if I am being bent backwards. It doesn't tickle so I don't understand why.

 

[hodge]

I can't handle that, either, Fadeaway. I am having major triggers in physical therapy for sciatica. It really sucks.

 

[Fadeaway]

@hodge, that has to be a nightmare.

 

[hodge]

I wouldn't go that far, but, yes, it is really unpleasant. Thanks, dear :hug:s

 

[SophiaWisdom]

Trying to fall asleep at night my feet will ache from being flexed but I can't relax them to save my l...

@Fadeaway I'm not a therapist so I could totally be wrong, but during my own somatic healing and when I was using body techniques as a coach AND a client - this is a GOOD THING. Good in the sense that it shows where you're holding your trauma in your body. We store trauma cellularly and the fact you're so aware it's there MIGHT mean your body is ready to access this trauma to release it, even if it feels TERRIBLE. (The shaking I do can feel so extreme and I'm always like, "when am I going to be normal???")

When I googled trauma release exercise or trauma release shaking and watched all this youtube about it, it helped me to accept how weird my body moves when certain things are triggered. I lay down and move like I'm having a seizure, but after it all jumps and shakes out I'm ok. I've also tried the positions the videos showed me and I make absolutely horrific animal noises but they pass. The key has been allowing myself to act as truly strange as I need in the privacy of my own home. A somatic therapist who understands that is also helpful. I've had coaches/bodyworkers (especially cranial-sacral) who just hold space as my body contorts and they ask what's going on and I tell them I want to do this: and then I let my body do some weird alien motion to release. I also cry on the massage or acupuncture table a lot, or a I giggle or laugh b/c I'm so ticklish.

 

[SophiaWisdom]

OMG, yes, I'm always tight. Massage therapists have told me I need 2-3 appts. a week for about 6 months ju...

Yes yes yes! Only in the recent years when sports and dance have gotten more sophisticated have people stopped my hypermobility as a dangerous rather than desired thing. I'm so glad to meet someone who understands!!

 

[Eagle3]

Its weird, I was at a disability assessment at a doctor's office, and they were testing my range of motion in various joints. The nurse told me I look like a ballerina (never done ballet, just a martial art that's based on kicking), and I almost told her "you should have seen me BEFORE my body crapped out!" but I didn't...damn selective mutism...and I hurt for days after the assessment, too!