You may be painfully aware that too much stress can cause headaches. This is especially true when stress builds up and you don't handle it effectively. Your muscles contract as stress increases, cutting off blood circulation. Waste products such as lactic acid and potassium ions build up and irritate the surrounding nerve tissues.
Most people carry tension in their upper back and neck, where muscles are weaker.
Stress can also cause soreness by interfering with sleep. If you don't get enough uninterrupted, fully restful sleep, then your muscles don't get enough rest. Before your day starts, spend a quiet five minutes getting ready for stress. When you feel tension building, close your eyes and slowly inhale and exhale a few times. Close your eyes, sit back and imagine yourself floating away, high above a beautiful green countryside.