Is it normal to become physically tender when emotionally stressed or vulnerable?

Question

It's no secret that I have mental health issues *they tell my i'm borderline, whatever that really means* but I'm having this physical issue I think may be linked to my state of mind post-freakout. After a fight with anyone or failure at something I truly care about I get sore all over, like my skin has been over-worked as though it were a muscle, or sometimes relatable to feeling like one big bruise is covering everything between my neck and knees and elbows. That's the immediate "reaction" to the stress, as in once the thrill of the emotion has worn off that's how I feel. But when I wake up the next morning, my major muscles*shoulders, lowerback.thighs,uper arms* are sore like I've been working out for hours even if I've been sitting on my @$$ for the last few weeks. Sometimes my joints even scream in annoyance resulting in stiff neck and virtually no movement without pain.
Is this stuff normal and should I see a doctor about it or right it off as all in my head? my doc prolly would

I could understand the muscles in the neck and back become sore after being tensed up, but I've never heard of anyone's thighs being tensed up from mental stress. Also it's never immediate onset of soreness in the muscles, and I repeat, I feel like a walking bruise soon after the stressor. It doesn't seem like anyone who answered so far actually read the details and only answered the question in the heading, because I've stated already that I have mental health issues, though I didn't list the chronic clinical depression that I've been dealing with for the past three years *that's only since I was diagnosed* And this is a NEW occurance, not something I've had happen before the last six months or so, or at least not as often and not was bad.

eXecu tech- thank you so much. Though I have been in and out of the care of 3psychiatrists and I dun even know how many psychololgist/behavioralists, and been on *stops to count* A bunch *prolly more than ten* of different meidcations including a few anti-psychotics, anti-depressant, anti-anxiety, and at least one sezier medication *i didn't know why, didn't ask questions either* I was never told anything like that, although it did hit the nail on the head with me. It was described to me as kinda bi-polar only a personality dissorder vs. a chemical imballance. That's what they say, but I think the first and last one were idiots because the first listened and reffused my requests for meds, and the last simply gave me meds and reffused my requests to come off them. Eventually I quit taking them without parental of psych doctor consent an I've been great since to be honest. It just seems that I FEEL now vs. things being dull on the meds, which has it's pros and cons i guess.

Answer 1

I say yes, but I don't have any direct support for my answers. I only have a few scattered notions...
In the Cymbalta commercial they stress how depression effects the body negatively by producing random aches and pains.
Emotions are effected by and do effect the chemicals in our brains. Chemicals are also partly responsible for our perception of pain.
I've noticed something similar with myself, pain, and sadness, but can't quit eliminate other variables to make a definite conclusion.

Answer 2

I'm so sorry you're having to go through this. Yes, absolutely. What we call stress is actually a physiological reaction in your body consisting of a number of steps. It is a primitive protection mechanism designed to enable us to "fight or flee" in the face of danger. Your body releases hormones to prepare for this and if the hormones are not burned up, they buld up in your system and are more difficult to break down:

"Is there a cumulative danger from over-activation of our fight or flight response?

Yes. The evidence is overwhelming that there is a cumulative buildup of stress hormones that if not properly metabolized over time, can lead to disorders of our autonomic nervous system (causing headache, irritable bowel syndrome, high blood pressure and the like) and disorders of our hormonal and immune systems (creating susceptibility to infection, chronic fatigue, depression, and autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and allergies.)"

As for being "borderline," it's not all in your head and goes hand in hand with the symptoms you're experiencing. Here is some good information:

"Borderlines are born with an innate BIOLOGICAL tendency to react more intensely to lower levels of stress than others and to take longer to recover. They peak "higher" emotionally on less provocation and take longer coming down. In addition, they were raised in environments in which their beliefs about themselves and their environment were continually devalued and invalidated."

You need to be under a doctor's care, particularly if you have been diagnosed borderline. There are some helpful anti-anxiety and anti-depressant medications that can help keep you on an even keel. Cymbalta is a new anti-depressant that also has an anti-pain component intended to stimulate your brain's natural pain killers.

I hope this helps. Good luck!

Answer 3

When we are over stressed and overworked, our bodies will physically hurt and our muscles in our neck and back will become sore and tender. Sounds like you are suffering from some form of depression. It wouldnt hurt to see a doctor about it.

Answer 4

I Believe it has plenty to do with The cycle of abuse. whilst a baby grows up looking his or hers mother and father abuse each and every different they'll see it as the one approach to manage any drawback. you're correct while you say that it is discovered at residence. Unless they can not give up the cycle of abuse it'll maintain being handed on. in my case i used to be capable to damage the cycle of abuse I will NOT go it directly to my daughter. This is solely my opinion. I recognise there would be extra to it. however developing up looking it may be a important facet. God Bless

Answer 5

To reach the limits of how much stress the person's mental resources can handle.

I am sorry to hear the word "Borderline". Talk to your counselor about DBT therapy and whether it may be appropriate.

Answer 6

...'physically tender', strange way to put it but being fatigued could have emotional stress as the stimulus

...the body is all about balance between all parts. For it to function at its optimum, it needs homoeostasis. You probably need to get mental help if being fatigued interferes with your life

Answer 7

yes the mind and body are connected