04/28/2026
Sometimes stress doesn’t look like panic.
Sometimes it looks like functioning… while your shoulders live permanently near your ears 😰
During treatment, I had constant headaches. The kind that sit at the base of your skull and wouldn't let go.
My shoulders were so tense that I always wanted someone to rub them, just to get a moment of relief.
..and when I had to hold my breath for radiation, I don’t think I ever truly exhaled afterward.
My body learned to brace. To stay ready. To stay tight.
Even after treatment ended.
What I didn’t understand at the time was that my nervous system had been living in “alert” mode for months. Appointments, scans, decisions, side effects… my body had learned that it needed to stay prepared because it was waiting for the other shoe to drop.
So even when life looked “normal” again, my body basically stayed on guard to anticipate that next blow.
That’s why the stress you don’t see can linger.
It shows up as:
• tight shoulders that never drop
• shallow breathing patterns
• hips that feel constantly tense
• jaw clenching
• headaches that seem to come out of nowhere
Learning to slow down your breath, release tension, and allow your body to feel safe again can be just as important as any workout.
Sometimes strength is about finally allowing yourself to exhale 😮💨
Save this if you’ve ever realized your body has been holding more stress than you thought 🙈
