What links are there between TMJ and stress?

stress and jaw painTMJ and stress, so first of all lets discuss what is TMJ.   Temporomandibular Joint  Dysfunction (TMJ) is a condition that causes the jaw joints to lock and causes pain  during eating and chewing especially.    You use this joint often during the day also whenever you talk.

A big factor in developing TMJ is stress which can cause you to clench or grind your teeth.  You may not even be aware of it.   Stress and jaw pain often go together as you may not even be aware that you are even tensing your jaw.

I am writing to you about this as I have been grinding my teeth during the day unconsciously until I made myself pay attention to it.   I probably am grinding my teeth during the night as well as I wake up often with a sore jaw.  This is harder to treat as you can imagine as grinding and clenching puts pressure on the jaw joint and the subsequent swelling can press on the nerves in that area.

Here are my symptoms but you may have these or others as it does vary between people:

  • Pain in all of my teeth
  • Teeth grinding
  • Teeth clenching
  • Headaches
  • Sinus pain
  • Pain behind my eyes
  • Cracking sounds when I open my mouth or eat

I even went to the dentist believing I must have a hole in one of my teeth but was told they were OK and it seems this is quite common.  The best thing you can do is to reduce that stress, get your teeth checked to see they align properly, look at your posture, improve on it if you need to.  Also do some exercises for TMJ which are made especially to help this condition and in particular those overworked muscles and to reduce the tension in your jaw.

TMJ and stress do go together but you don’t have to suffer now you know why you are having jaw pain.  Stop it in its tracks, but just be warned it wont happen overnight but with diligence you can overcome it.  Relax your jaw whenever you are aware you are clenching it.  Believe me once you start to do this you will be amazed how many times you actually have to do it during a given day. Jaw pain can make you life miserable so do what I did and get it sorted starting today.

If you need help overcoming stress and jaw pain then you can get it at TMJ No More.  Sandra Carter is the expert for this condition and she gets results as well as offering private counseling to help you along.  It wont cost you a fortune either so if you think you cant do it alone get her help.

August 2nd, 2020 | Tags: , , | Category: stress | One comment

Dont let shyness ruin your holidays

When I am talking about  SHYNESS here in this post I am referring to someone with social phobia.  Saying you are shy seems to be more generally accepted than saying you feel anxious in social situations or to admit you may suffer from social anxiety disorder.

Do you remember a time when you were not shy?  I do!  I remember myself as an outgoing child and my mother backs that up.  What happened then to me?  I think that my thinking changed in very small ways over a long time.  I started off on the positive road and slowly my course changed, and one day I came to a fork where I took a more negative one.  I didn’t realize until I took the turn.

Small positive changes over a long time can also make a difference in your shyness.  Make these changes, now positive ones, and see the big difference it can make in your life. Continue reading Dont let shyness ruin your holidays

July 26th, 2020 | Tags: , , , | Category: anxiety | 5 comments - (Comments are closed)

Herbal stress relief

Some of the most popular stress relief herbs are:

Ashwagandha Root is said to make you calm even as it makes you strong. The antioxidant effect of active principles of this herb may explain, at least in part, its reported anti-stress properties.

valerian

valerian

Valerian Root contains chemicals with sedative properties to help with an improvement in sleep without morning grogginess or other side effects which leads to a greater overall sense of well being.

Kava Kava which is a member of the pepper family. Kava is consumed as a drink or supplement. In small doses, its effects include muscle relaxation, sleepiness and feelings of well being but is to be taken only in the short-term.

Passion Flower is a popular anti-anxiety remedy, that makes you calm and may help relieve anxiety related stress. The fresh or dried leaves are used to make an infusion, a tea which has been found to contain beta-carboline harmala alkaloids.

St. Johns Wort has been used to treat nervous conditions since ancient Greek times. Clinical studies revealed that it can relieve anxiety and stress. This is probably the most popular plant used for herbal stress relief. Extracts are usually in tablet or capsule form, and also in teabags and tinctures.

chamomile

chamomile

Chamomile has a wonderfully soothing, sedative and absolutely harmless effect so it is the perfect herbal stress relief remedy. The Chamomile flower is brewed as a bitter herb tea infusion. It is also used for preventing nightmares.

Lemon Balm is used medicinally as a herbal tea, or in extract form. It is used as a mild sedative or calming agent. At least one study has found it to be effective for stress relief. Grow it yourself and chop it and spread over your salads.

Hops are more frequently combined with other herbs, like valerian. The relaxing effects of hops is largely due to a specific chemical component: dimethylvinyl carbinol.

Herbal stress relief is worthwhile in pursuing but when purchasing herbs (processed not fresh) try to find out the growing conditions of the herb, the plant parts that are used, time and method of harvest, extraction and other manufacturing processes, and storage. I understand that is not always possible so at least read the labels and I suggest you buy reputable brands so at least you can rely on their reputation for supplying you with a quality product.

I have found that the best one is the one that works best for YOU. Trial and error is the key to success with these herbs.

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July 19th, 2020 | Tags: , , | Category: stress relief | 3 comments - (Comments are closed)

De-stressing in the Car

Looking south above :en:Interstate 80, the Eas...
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Driving to work or anywhere for that matter during peak periods can be a very stressful experience.  We seem to get all the red lights or they aren’t working, banked up traffic and construction zones.  There is also the noise and pollution associated with driving in the city.  The kids can get bored and restless and you arrive at your destination stressed.

Continue reading De-stressing in the Car

July 12th, 2020 | Tags: , , | Category: stress relief | Comments are closed
 
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