A stress headache or tension headache feels like: - The pressure behind eyes, - Tightening of neck and shoulder muscles, - A constant mild or moderate (it can be severe too but very rare) dull or nagging pain, - Bending the head's surface, tension or contraction as if the head was squeezed in a vice or ticks or squeezed by a helmet. This symptom is so characteristic that it even received the unique name "helmet of neurotic" (due to the often observed connection of tension headaches with neurosis, anxiety, and depression), - The headache is usually symmetric and is observed on both sides of the head at the same time, but can be asymmetric as well.