Tense face, jaw, headache

[sir humphrey appleby]

This is really weird, please don’t laugh.
I constantly seem to be tensioning my jaw, forehead, and squinting, I am always grinding my teeth at night as well.
As a result I am having terrible headaches, my jaw, neck, muscles at the back all ache.
I really have to try to relax and it is really difficult. Can’t seem to find much information about it. I should go to see the doctor but it seems so ridiculous, I’d probably feel an idiot and wasting their time, but has anyone else had something similar?

[mcelliott]

Classic signs of anxiety/stress

[CoolHands]

Need glasses/ eye test?

[okgo]

mcelliott said:

Classic signs of anxiety/stress

This.

Had a few times over the years, insomnia brought it on at one point too. Likely anxiety over sleep though so agree with mcelliot.

[GliderRider]

mcelliott said:

Classic signs of anxiety/stress

Definitely this.

I had the same symptoms whilst in a earlies/lates shift job I hated, whilst also coping with a seemingly insomniac toddler at home. I was overjoyed when the company sacked me!

[lizardbrain]

I'd see a dentist with some knowledge of TMJ. He might be able to tell from your teeth what's going on. You might clench at night and would benefit from a small splint

[Wombat3]

Been there, got the T shirt

Stress

Aside from addressing the cause of that, a Cranial Osteopath would help unwind things.

[Wombat3]

Been there, got the T shirt

Stress

Aside from addressing the cause of that, a Cranial Osteopath would help unwind things.

[Badda]

A dentist will be able to make a night guard for you to protect the teeth and hopefully ease the symptoms.

[2HFL]

You can buy a mouldable tooth guard online to counter bruxism. Works fine and far cheaper than one from the dentist.

[lizardbrain]

I used DIY ones for a bit, but the dentist one is much smaller and more comfy. Also different in design, they are really hard so you can't chew on them.

Also clenching can cause other issues. Swapping my dentist to someone with some speciality with these issues made a big difference to my symptoms

[sir humphrey appleby]

thankyou all, but of work to be done then