NWR: My shoulders are super sore. Masseuse says I'm a disaster.

Do you do any activities to relieve stress? I have TMD as a result of stress. I was told to relieve my stress by working out. Also finding non-stressful activities to do.

Yoga!

And, more massages lol.

Ugh I have the same problem. My back and shoulders are like rocks, they're so tense and I grind my teeth all night too (I wear a night guard).

I haven't been in awhile because life has been hectic, but when I was going to yoga, I noticed it was a lot better. Not just from the relaxing standpoint, but my body was just much looser, I was more flexible, and my posture was better which helped w/ my shoulders.

Following because I'm a tense person as well and I want to know if anyone has any tips! I went for a massage and it was so painful that I don't want to go back. But I know it's the only way to get rid of the knots. I'm not an expert, but I'm going to guess that it has more to do with what's going on inside, meaning emotional baggage and stuff.

Try a hot stone massage!! The heat helps break down the knots and helps your massage therapist get a little deeper in less time. Do you ever take baths? Soaking in epsom salt can help as well as a foam roller to help work out the kinks. You can get foam rollers at any sports store on online. Also, like PP's suggested, yoga and breathing are great to help with relaxation.

Honestly more massages. I get massages a couple times a year and I hear the same thing every time. I normally book a male masseuse for deep tissue massages because they tend to be much more rough and get them out. The woman I've had always are more delicate. I broke my back in a car accident as a teenager and continue to feel the affects of it as an adult. If I had the money I would get one once a month and would feel 1000 times better.

Yoga and hot stone massage. I carry all of my tension in my shoulders. I also clench my teeth at night. I stopped teeth grinding via a night guard a few years ago.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOGA. I have TMJ from stress and anxiety, and my muscular symptoms are similar to yours.

I started going to yoga 3-4x a week 13 weeks ago, and it's done wonders. Not only does my body feel better, I sleep better, relax more, and have even lost a few lbs.

I do hot vinyasa yoga, sculpt, barre/yoga combos, and fire and ice classes!

Thanks guys! I have TMJ and have to wear a night guard as a result, too.

I don't really do any stress relieving activities, and I'm not exactly a yoga or gym kinda girl. I could get into a stretching routine tough. Unfortunately, bi-weekly massages are not in my monthly budget lol I have a jacuzzi in the house, but it's in the creepy bathroom we never use. Maybe I'll brave it and see how it helps. I just want the pain and tension to go away!

ETA: Looks like more massages are in my future lol

Yoga for sure! You don't have to attend classes, just load up a youtube video. One of the best things to do for yourself (especially if you have a desk job) is to remember to roll your neck and LOOK UP at least once an hour. Gotta stretch those muscles out.

I recommend a medical massage therapist. First time I went to one, he didn't know what my job was or anything about me. He started to do a basic all-over massage and explaining his process to me as we went. After about five minutes he said "Well by touching you I can tell you have a desk job, you tend to cross one leg over the other under your desk....and do you have asthma? You have some tense/sore spots near your chest/ribs." He was 100% right. They are AMAZING. During the massage he would remind me to be relaxed and by the third massage I could loosen up enough that he was able to do a full neck/head massage on me (you really shouldn't have anyone touch your neck if you can't relax it).

Massage and yoga - even if you do it at home. Also you may find it helpful to cut our caffeine- it might be brutal at first but the stimulant is bad if you are naturally anxious

FH always yells at me for shrugging - which is my tell. He has me looking up and rolling my neck like AMW said, and also rolling my shoulders back while taking deep breaths to loosen everything up. (He will officially be a physical therapist in August)

Thanks for the additional suggestions! I actually work from home, but I could probably have better posture on my couch. I also am caffeine free (with the exception of a coffe maybe once a month). I guess I got to buckle down and know that unless I change something, it's only going to get worse.

Get a lax ball from dicks sporting goods and use it to roll out. They are like 2.99and simply brilliant.

I love massages. If you can find a good package deal I would suggest getting at least 4 to enjoy once a month. I treated myself to that last year and it got me through the hardest times at my old job, plus you always have something to look forward to that's already paid for.

I was a massage therapist for several years. Awareness is a big help. Obviously, you can't correct something you don't know you are doing.

Starting a massage and Yoga routine is a great place to start! It will help teach you body awareness and relaxation techniques. A good massage therapist can give you stretches and exercises to help you gain control. With the level of tension I would think that you are going to have to start out going weekly. Then as your body starts to ease up, you can stretch the appointments out to bi-weekly and eventually monthly. It will take time. You can't undo years of tension in a month.. Be patient with yourself and do the exercises.

Yoga is one of the best workout methods for tension relief, by far. It teaches you how to reconnect with your body and calm the mind. I can't sing enough praises for the benefits of doing yoga.

Most of your battle is probably going to be the mind body connection. You have to learn how to be more aware of your tension in order to have lasting results. There is no quick fix to tension. Especially when planning a wedding lol

Edit: Just saw your budget comment. A lot of insurance companies will cover massage if it is prescribed by a doctor. With TMJ, that should be an easy script to get. Worth a shot.

Another vote for yoga. My favorite yoga teacher on YouTube is "Yoga with Adrienne." She has a lot of videos, the perfect personality for teaching yoga, and you get to do in the comfort of your own home!

I second "Yoga with Adrienne." I use her app on my AppleTV to do yoga at home.

Yoga and meditation! I downloaded via iTunes the Theta Meditation System.

Yeah, I tend to shock masseuses.

I've been getting monthly massages for 4 years. If I skip a month, the knots go back to square one.

Check your posture - don't sit hunched around a desk as much. Also, invest in one of those heated neck things to loosen the knots in the evenings. And get more massages.