How Does Your Body Knows You're Overwhelmed Before You Do?

Sometimes your body notices stress before your mind catches up. You feel tense in your shoulders, get frequent headaches, and feel restless all the time. But you think, why?

You might tell yourself, "I'm fine. I just have a lot going on." Meanwhile, your body may be telling a different story. When we begin to have somatic complaints it is our bodies way of saying “Hi we need to be paid attention too!” 

Perfectionism, anxiety, and chronic stress can show up as:

• Constant muscle tension• Clenching your jaw or grinding your teeth• Holding your breath or taking shallow breaths• Feeling restless or unable to relax• Headaches or fatigue• Gut discomfort or changes in digestion• Feeling "on" even when you're supposed to be resting

What are other somatic symptoms that you have experienced? 

Your nervous system is constantly taking in information about what's happening around you. When you're pushing yourself to perform, meet expectations, or avoid mistakes, your body may stay in a heightened state of alert—even when you consciously believe you're okay. 

Try this quick mind-body check-in:

Pause for a moment. Unclench your jaw. Drop your shoulders. Take a slow breath and notice:

Where am I holding tension right now?

Am I holding my breath?

What does my body need in this moment?

You don't have to fix anything. Simply noticing is a powerful first step toward reconnecting with yourself. Becoming more aware of how it feels in your body brings you to the present moment. 

As a Board Certified Dance/Movement Therapist, I help teens and adults explore the connection between thoughts, emotions, and the body. We can use body awareness and movement to understand patterns of perfectionism and develop new ways to respond to stress.

What can you do? I believe that moving your body and reconnecting with your body intentionally during therapy brings a new level of self awareness and healing. Why not try?

Because your perfectionism was never the problem. Learning how to harness it is where transformation begins. Looking for a therapist who specializes in perfectionism, anxiety, and mind-body therapy? I work with teens and adults throughout New York, offering both in-person sessions on Long Island and virtual therapy statewide.

Book your free 15-minute consultation to learn how therapy can help you transform perfectionism into your greatest strength.