Pain and stress are interconnected. Pain is a source of stress. And when you feel stress, you may react by tensing your muscles and gritting your teeth, which increases your pain. You can prevent this cycle by better managing your stress.

Start by recognizing your stress triggers. Write down the things that cause you to stress, considering each part of your life, including work, relationships, home, poor health habits, and perfectionism or negative thinking. Then look at the list and think about ways you can minimize or even eliminate those triggers. For example, if you feel rushed when you get ready for work in the morning, think about how you might better prepare the evening before to make the morning go more smoothly. Or if you're stressed because you have too many obligations on your schedule, decide which ones you can remove. Learn to say no.

Practicing relaxation skills also helps you better manage stress. Breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, visual imagery, meditation, and mindfulness are some of the techniques that can help you center yourself and approach your day from a calmer, more balanced, and less stressful place.

Stay physically active

There are many reasons to exercise. But when you're struggling with pain, one of the best reasons is for relief. Aerobic or "cardio" exercises, which use your large muscle groups and raise your heart rate, releases endorphins, the feel-good chemicals that act as your body's natural painkillers.