Shrug your shoulders up really high.  Do you notice how tight this makes your neck? This is the hissing cat posture.

It appears when our internal emotional pressure builds- and someone might get hurt soon!  … Unless, we feel it is inappropriate to vent, and so our neck gets stiff.

This is like a steam kettle getting ready to hiss, but there is no steam vent. Another picture would be an armed grenade, ready to explode, splattering shrapnel all around!  Your blood pressure might be high…

We start to notice shoulder and neck pain, a headache, or a migraine.  If issues are unresolved by sleep time, it turns into TMJ, with teeth grinding and problems that can become dental issues.  The scalp is usually stretched tighter than a swimming cap!  Can you really stomach what is going on in your life?  The whole upper back can curl forward with stomach issues, just like with vomiting reflexes.

Next time you have a headache, neck or shoulder pain, are you really being honest with your emotions?

As I have noted in a previous segment, finding a good vent is good!  Some I have used or heard of are:

Exercise and creating something you feel is beautiful helps channel frustrations constructively.

Exercise helps!  There are the martial arts, with the kicking and yelling in an appropriate venue, and you’ll feel great afterwards!  There’s distance running until you’ve “pounded” (the problem) into the pavement” and have worn yourself out and are ready to face the world again.  Also, there’s target shooting, and weight lifting, anything that channels aggression. For kids a mini trampoline helps keep them in a small space, yet lets out their energy. (It has great health benefits, too!)

If you can’t get away from the house, I have found ironing, juicing, riding a stationary bike/elliptical machine and cleaning/scrubbing with purpose until I calmed down have all really helped.  I have also suggested going in the bedroom and kicking and screaming into a pillow on your bed, but I don’t know if many take me up on this.  If you were comfortable venting your emotions already, you wouldn’t be having problems, anyway…

Speaking of, are you being honest with your emotions?  Does something need to change…but not yet?  Figure out something that doesn’t hurt you in the long run and let off some steam!

Have a crack at the arts or climbing into whatever you find that’s beautiful.  It can help transform your mood!  Focusing on a creative project helps redirect that energy into something positive.  Music, even if you don’t have talent can “have charms to soothe the savage (angry) beast”!

See what you think, and as always, chime in on what works for you!

Mandy