Why Anxiety Can Change a Client’s Experience of Pain and Tension

Some clients seem to carry constant tension no matter what changes physically.

Their symptoms fluctuate, stressful periods make everything worse, and the level of discomfort often feels bigger than the physical findings alone would suggest.

These presentations can be difficult to fully understand when viewed only as local muscular problems.

This week’s clinical article explores how anxiety and nervous system sensitivity can influence pain, muscular tension, and the way symptoms are experienced—often changing how these clients make sense clinically.

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Therapist and client discuss how anxiety can intensify pain experiences, illustrated by a thought bubble depicting anxiety's impact on physical tension.