A Simple Solution for Chronic Pain
Many people suffer from chronic pain, for years, decades, or throughout their lives. But an obvious source of that pain is often overlooked and quite simple to resolve.
Holding tension in the body—which we all do, unconsciously—is a built-in response designed to numb the effects of trauma and shock, afford temporary relief from physical and emotional pain, and protect injured tissue while it heals.
But this ‘holding’ or tensing is only useful as a short-term strategy to survive. It is not a way to live and thrive.
Too many people are stuck in fight or flight and chronic, habitual holding, clenching, and gripping in their muscles and fascia—24/7, even when they sleep— and long after a stressful situation has passed and injured tissue has healed.
The unfortunate result is chronic pain, chronic fatigue, and in extreme cases, the wearing down of bodily tissue and loss of function.
Chronic tensing or holding is also why many people I see tend to grind or clench their teeth, suffer frequent headaches, and have difficulty digesting and eliminating their food.
There are gentle, natural (drug-free), and safe methods that can interrupt and stop habitual, chronic tensing or holding in the body and the pain it may be causing you.
These methods may offer lasting relief because they invite awareness and the ending of non-conscious patterns that are no longer necessary or helpful and merely cause discomfort and drain your energy.
Chronic tension or ‘holding’ may be the reason for your chronic pain.
After consulting a physician to rule out a more serious condition, explore gentle modalities that work directly with the body and that may offer fast and lasting relief from chronic pain, like Rosen Method Bodywork, and see for yourself.
Don’t let chronic pain run your life or keep you from enjoying what you love.
Todd R. Schwartz is a somatic therapist and Rosen Method Bodywork Practitioner with offices in Denver and Boulder, CO. My somatic work is neither a form of, nor a substitute for, medical or mental health diagnosis, care, and treatment. My work is, however, a fine complement to these and all other health and wellness approaches. 303.704.8331.
Copyright © Todd R. Schwartz, 2026.