Poll Do You Automatically Clench/Tense Up?

[CaringMomma]

Very good poll! I experience tense muscles nearly all the time. It varies throughout the day and night. The tense muscles in my jaw and neck give me bad headaches. And if I wake up during the night, it's extremely difficult to get back to sleep.

 

[Queen Boudica]

Same here, jaw clenching , neck aches, back spasms.

 

[Lucille]

When I get scared or startled, I shrink up like a little mouse. I pull my arms in tight, folding my hands together on my chest, and my core gets really tight. It actually scares me even more that my body reacts like that... I don't feel like it's a normal or healthy reaction, but I know it's just a side effect of the trauma.

Sometimes I worry that this type of reaction will cause me harm in a dangerous situation if I can't react properly... Like when I get scared in the car, I come close to wrecking because I forget about the wheel... :confused:

 

[NIKI]

I whiteknuckle my steeringwheel while driving. I wake up with my jaw cleched shut.

 

[Lucille]

Niki, I do that too! I actually didn't realize I was clenching the wheel until I noticed my hands hurting after a long drive I took...

 

[Queen Boudica]

Sometimes I worry that this type of reaction will cause me harm in a dangerous situation if I can't react properly... Like when I get scared in the car, I come close to wrecking because I forget about the wheel... :confused:

I know that feeling really well. :(

 

[Sweet16]

It seems so weird that I feel relief from this poll. I have tried to figure out why my body tenses up tighter then a drum when trying to go to sleep at night. I notice the tension....exhale.... and a few minutes later I notice it again. Happens over and over again. Also many time throughout the day that I'm all in knots. There is some comfort in knowing that I am not the only one that goes through this. So is it save to say that it goes hand in hand with PTSD?

 

[BlueFighter]

When I am trying to calm myself down, I realize how tense I am. I clench my jaw and my neck gets very tense.

 

[Invisible-Guy]

Yes, any trigger, no matter how small. I can't even go to the mall without feeling like throwing up. My wife made me go in one about 3 months ago and it was absolutely horrid.

 

[Deleted member 12723]

It only happens with my husband who has dementia. I have alot of anxiety with this experience. But woe to me if he gets upset with me. My whole body tenses up. It takes a while to recover from that. This is a good poll. I was not aware that I was doing this. I try to have mercy and compassion for him because he has parkinsons and dementia and is fading fast.

But it sure gets hard when he has a delusion, a worry out of control, and a hallucination. I am having a rough day and am trying to just ignore him. I am at a loss of what to do.

Every time I want to do something for myself that does not include him he gets upset. He gets so aggitated and upset. He is giving me the silent treatment now.

I bought beer for myself today. He is a recovering alcoholic and so am I . But I think I can manage three beers in one day. If not I will quit again.

 

[Invisible-Guy]

Hi Gizmo, sorry to hear about your husband's Dementia. That has to be tough.

 

[Deleted member 12723]

It is. Today has not been a good day. Lucky for me I have alot of good days. Thanks for the empathy, I appreciate it alot. It really helps.