Waking up in the morning and feeling a painful stiff neck isn’t anyone’s ideal way to start the day. The unpleasant sensation of feeling like you can’t move freely without a sharp pain shooting through you can be unsettling.
If you have a physical lifestyle which requires you to be active throughout the day a stiff neck is the last thing that you need. Although you may have learned to live with the pain over time and ignore it, it doesn’t have to be that way.
Freedom from pain is entirely possible. The first step is identifying what it is that’s causing your pain and take action towards the healing. Here are some of the potential reasons for your stiff neck that you may want to consider.
A Spine Disorder
Although you may not want to assume the worst, sometimes a stiff neck is due to having a spine disorder. There are many different possibilities which could be attributed to your stiff neck from arthritis to degenerative disc disease.
It’s important to see a professional who can diagnose your issue as early on as possible. The earlier that you identify the problem, the sooner you can begin taking steps towards a solution rather than trying to ignore the pain.
Stress
Although many people may think of stress as an emotion, stress can also take the form of a physical condition. When you feel unsure or tense, your body can start to stiffen up, and you’ll feel physically exactly how you feel emotionally.
Try to start every day with deep breathing techniques and focus on positive thoughts which promote happiness rather than frustration. Studies show that people who take time to focus on the things they’re grateful for rather than unhappy about feel less overall stress on a daily basis.
Poor Sleeping Conditions
If you have a poor quality mattress or a pillow which is causing you to sleep with your neck angled too high during the night, you should consider making changes to your sleep quality.
Poor quality of sleep doesn’t just result in feeling tired and sluggish throughout the day with a stiff neck; it can also affect your overall well-being and happiness.
Too Much Exercise
Although exercise can be a positive thing for your lifestyle, too much of it can be a bad thing. Your body isn’t made to be pushed too hard on a daily basis. However, some people are so enthusiastic about getting in shape that they tend to over-do it at the gym.
As a result, they cause themselves to pain and stiffness in their shoulders and neck. You should never work out to the point of injury, or else you’re missing the entire point.
