Carrying stress in shoulders is more common than you think. Whether it’s caused by work or relationships, or nothing obvious at all, this tension can lead to pain, posture problems, and more. So let’s put an end to it and show you how to relieve stress in shoulders.
We’ll cover the basic tips on how to release stress in shoulders, like our favorite stretches and yoga poses (cat-cow, child’s pose, thread the needle, etc.), massage techniques, breathwork, and more. But you’ll also discover something others won’t tell you: the power of magnesium.
Magnesium is a vital mineral for more than 300 bodily functions, so it should come at no surprise it’s linked to both your stress response in general and the way your muscles hold tension. Making our magnesium bath soaks a part of your self-care ritual can help.
Each formula is packed with highly bioavailable magnesium chloride with essential vitamins, nootropics, and other micronutrients to melt muscle tension, dial down stress, and help you feel like yourself again - fast. Order now and give your shoulders the relief they’re begging for!
“I have a high stress job and bring work home frequently. I hold all my tension in my neck, shoulders and back. Massages, acupuncture, reiki, etc only help so much. I was happily surprised with how much tension was allevaited with these bath soaks. I bought the whole mood bundle and now enjoy them a few nights a week. I sleep better, have less tension in my body and feel overall more relaxed.” - Mindy
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Key Takeaways on Carrying Stress in Shoulders
- Tight shoulders, neck stiffness, and jaw tension are tell-tale signs of built-up stress, whether or not you feel stressed.
- Stress settles in your body through emotional overload, bad posture, shallow breathing, and screen-heavy routines.
- Stretching helps, but it’s not enough. You need movement AND nervous system resets like breathwork, massage, and magnesium.
- Our soaks are a fast, full-body way to release shoulder tension. Each blend delivers magnesium, nootropics, and vitamins to relax your muscles and quiet your mind.
- If your tension doesn’t go away (or worsens with numbness or sleep issues) check in with a healthcare pro to rule out deeper causes.
Signs You’re Holding Stress in Shoulders
Shoulder stress doesn’t always show up as full-blown pain right away. It often starts small - tightness you ignore, a posture tweak you don’t notice, a shallow breath here or there. It builds quietly until your body’s practically screaming for relief.
Being able to notice when you’re holding stress in shoulders early can help you get a hold of the problem before it spirals out of control. Watch out for signs such as:
- Stiffness or tightness in the upper traps or neck
- A dull, nagging ache between the shoulder blades
- Limited range of motion when turning your head or lifting your arms
- Headaches that start at the base of the skull
- Jaw clenching or teeth grinding
- Sore or burning sensation in the tops of the shoulders
- Tingling or numbness down the arms (from nerve compression)
- Shoulder blade “popping” or cracking when stretching or moving
- Feeling “on edge” or hyper-aware of your surroundings
- Shallow breathing or difficulty taking deep breaths
- Sleep disruptions, especially waking up with shoulder pain
- Poor posture that’s gotten worse without an obvious reason
- Low energy or fatigue even after rest
- Snapping at small things or feeling easily overwhelmed
So…what gives? Why do I carry stress in my shoulders?
Why Do I Carry Stress in My Shoulders?
The shoulders are one of the body’s favorite places to stash stress for a few reasons. It’s both physical and emotional. Let’s dig into the why before we get into how to relieve stress in shoulders.
The Physiology of Shoulder Tension
Your nervous system senses stress (whether it’s real or perceived) and immediately triggers the “fight or flight” response. That ramps up adrenaline, speeds up your heart rate, and tightens muscles to prepare for action.
Your shoulders, neck, and upper back are often the first to contract. More specifically, the trapezius muscles. That’s a normal reaction. The problem comes from chronic stress. Your body never gets a chance to release that tension, and your muscles are stuck in a loop of clenching and guarding.
Speaking of guarding…
Emotional Stress and Muscle Guarding
Even emotional stress - grief, fear, anxiety, anger - can create physical muscle tension, which is known as muscle guarding. This is your body’s way of “bracing” for impact - even when there’s nothing really to brace for. It’s a deeply ingrained survival mechanism in all humans.
People who carry the weight of the world emotionally often quite literally carry it in their shoulders. Your brain interprets emotional strain as a threat, and your body responds the same way it would to physical danger.
Lifestyle and Posture-Related Triggers
Why do I carry stress in my shoulders? Sometimes, it’s the modern lifestyle to blame. Too much sitting, screens at awkward angles, constant phone use, and not enough movement - all of these contribute to tight shoulders even without emotional stress.
Add poor posture to a stressful job, bad sleep, and little recovery time, and your shoulders never get a break. The good news? You can learn how to relieve stress in shoulders with a few simple tricks below.
How to Relieve Stress in Shoulders
Tension doesn’t dissolve just because you notice it. You need strategies that help both physically and neurologically. We’ve found from our own personal journeys that the best and fastest relief comes from a three-pronged approach:
- Stretching the tissue
- Calming the nervous system
- Replenishing what stress drains
That said, here’s how to relieve stress in shoulders quickly!
Create Space to Move Throughout the Day
Movement is a non-negotiable for anyone carrying stress in shoulders. Staying in the same posture for too long (at your desk, on the couch, even while scrolling your phone) causes muscles to stiffen and fascia to become less pliable. Break the cycle every hour or so:
- Roll your shoulders backward and forward 10 times each.
- Stretch your arms overhead, then reach side-to-side.
- Do a quick wall angel or doorway pec stretch to reset posture.
It really doesn’t take much. These little movements make a big difference if you do them every day. They basically tell your nervous system everything is safe. They also promote blood flow, helping to prevent tension from accumulating in the first place.
Use Magnesium Soaks to Relax Shoulder Muscles
If you only take one thing away from this guide on how to relieve stress in shoulders, let it be this. You need to supplement with the best magnesium for stress.
Stress burns through your body’s most essential nutrients, like magnesium, which plays a direct role in calming the nervous system, relaxing tight muscles, and regulating the release of stress hormones like cortisol.
It’s a vicious cycle: you’re stressed, so your body burns all its magnesium stores, but you need magnesium to destress. Your shoulders take the brunt of this deficiency. You can’t really get the magnesium you need through diet, and oral supplements rarely move the needle.
That’s where our substitute for epsom salt comes in.
Introducing Flewd Stresscare
Absorbing magnesium transdermally (through the skin) bypasses digestion, helping your body soak up what it needs faster and more effectively. This is why anyone carrying stress in shoulders needs our stress relief bath soak.
Whether you’re dealing with mental overwhelm, emotional exhaustion, physical tension - or all three - our soaks help lift the weight off your shoulders (literally).
Each soak starts with a powerful dose of Magnesium Chloride Hexahydrate (47%), the most bioavailable form for muscle relaxation and nervous system support. Then we layer in targeted nootropics, vitamins, minerals, and essential oils that address different stress symptoms:
- Sads Smashing: Includes Lithium Orotate, Vitamin B6, Niacin, and grounding oils like Patchouli, Cedarwood, and Lemon for heavy moods and emotional fatigue.
- Anxiety Destroying: Features Zinc, B vitamins (B1–B12), and calming oils like Amyris and Calamus for racing thoughts and physical panic.
- Insomnia Ending: Powered by plant-derived L-Carnitine, Vitamin A, and Mandarin oil for tight muscles that lead to restless nights.
- Ache Erasing: Includes Omega-3s, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and deep-penetrating essential oils for physical tension and muscle recovery
All our soaks are non-toxic, vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free, and made without parabens. They're also designed to provide stress-relief nutrients for up to 5 days after just one soak.
Tips for Using Our Soaks
Dump the packets of one soak into a warm (not scalding hot) bath, and immerse yourself in the relaxing water while your skin soaks up all the good stuff. We recommend at least 20 minutes, longer if you’d like.
You can take this stress-relief technique a step further by meditating in the tub, practicing your breathwork, journaling, reading a book, listening to a podcast - whatever helps you unwind.
We suggest doing this before bed, because you’re going to be in an unparalleled state of calm when you’re finished. You can rinse off if you’d like, but you don’t have to since the ingredients are 99% natural.
Do this 3 times a week, more if you’re really struggling with carrying stress in shoulders. You’ll be amazed at how much better you feel after a week or two!
Try Targeted Massage and Myofascial Release
Hands-on techniques are powerful when done right. Ideally, you’d get a massage from a professional - but that’s expensive and not always practical for a busy schedule. Take matters into your own hands (literally!).
You can use tools like a lacrosse ball, foam roller, or massage gun to help release built-up tension in the traps, rhomboids, and surrounding fascia. Here’s how to relieve stress in shoulders through self-massage:
- Start with the area just inside your shoulder blades (mid traps), then move to the tops of your shoulders.
- Apply slow, steady pressure to tender spots and breathe through it.
- Avoid overdoing it - 1 to 2 minutes per area is often enough to trigger a release
Bonus tip: Combine self-massage with a warm magnesium soak for better results.
Our Favorite Stretching and Mobility Exercises
Mobility is magic. These stretches don’t just lengthen muscle - they also stimulate the vagus nerve, calm your brain, and retrain your body to move without pain. Try these movements if you’re holding stress in shoulders:
Cat-Cow
- What it does: Gently mobilizes the spine, shoulders, and traps
- How to do it: Get on your hands and knees and alternate between arching your back (cow) and rounding it (cat), breathing slowly. Focus on leading the movement from your shoulder blades.
Child’s Pose With Shoulder Reach
- What it does: Releases deep tension in the lats and traps
- How to do it: Kneel with your arms extended in front, forehead on the floor. Walk your hands out to the right, then to the left, feeling the side body stretch.
Thread the Needle
- What it does: Opens up the mid-back and rear shoulders
- How to do it: Start on all fours. Slide one arm under the other and rest your shoulder and head on the mat. Hold and breathe, then switch sides.
Wall Angels
- What it does: Reconnects you to proper posture
- How to do it: Stand with your back against the wall, arms in a goalpost position. Slowly raise and lower your arms while keeping them in contact with the wall.
We recommend you watch a YouTube video on each of these movements to get the technique right. Then, make this simple routine a part of your daily regimen - either first thing in the morning, mid-day, or before bed. Consistency matters more than timing.
Use Breathwork to Downshift the Nervous System
Your breath controls your nervous system. Shallow chest breathing tells your brain you're in danger. Deep, diaphragmatic breathing tells it you're safe. Here’s a breathing exercise we’ve found really powerful when we catch ourselves carrying stress in shoulders:
- Inhale through the nose for 4 counts
- Hold for 4
- Exhale through the mouth for 6–8 counts
Repeat this for 2-3 minutes, especially before or after a stressful event. You can do it while stretching, soaking, or working - anytime you feel tension creeping in.
Practice Mind-Body Awareness
Sometimes the shoulders are just…stuck. You don’t realize how much you’re clenching until someone points it out. The solution? Awareness.
Set a timer to check in with your posture and breath throughout the day. Or, put a sticky note on your monitor that says “drop your shoulders” or “unclench your jaw.” You can also journal about what emotional weight you’re carrying.
The more aware you are of where you carry stress, the more control you’ll have over how to release it. But sometimes, these tips on how to relieve stress in shoulders won’t be enough…
When to Seek Help For Carrying Stress in Shoulders
Long-term muscle guarding can lead to chronic pain, reduced mobility, and even headaches or nerve compression. And if stretching, soaking, or massage doesn’t touch the tension anymore, your body may be asking for outside help.
Start with a physical therapist if the issue feels more structural or movement-based. They can assess posture, mobility, and muscular imbalances.
But if your stress feels emotional or overwhelming, working with a mental health professional (especially one familiar with somatic therapy) can help unwind the psychological side of physical tension.
Don’t try to be a hero and fight this battle on your own. The sooner you get support, the sooner your body can stop bracing for impact.
Closing Thoughts on How to Release Stress in Shoulders
Carrying stress in shoulders takes a physical and mental toll on your day-to-day life, but it doesn’t have to be something you just put up with. We hope these tips on how to relieve stress in shoulders help you get back to feeling like yourself again.
Whether the tension shows up as stiffness, aches, or poor posture, the key is learning to move more, breathe deeper, and support your body. From stretching and massage to mind-body awareness and magnesium soaks, small habits make a big difference over time.
Our blog has additional resources on how magnesium helps with stress, magnesium vs ashwagandha for stress, and magnesium taurate vs glycinate if you want to learn more.
Otherwise, it’s time to find the relief you’re craving in our anxiety bath soak. Shop our magnesium-powered soaks today and discover how much better you can feel!
