Your Physical Tension Isn’t Random.
It’s Patterned and Protective.
“Your issues are in your tissues.”
–Peter Levine, PhD
When I hear “I’m fine,” I pay attention to more than the words.
I also notice the jaw.
I watch the shoulders.
I notice the breathing.
I notice the melody of the voice.
Because “fine” often means…functional.
It could also mean bracing from inner tension.
And the body always tells the truth.
Better Therapy Results
I leaned into the somatic therapy field years ago after noticing so many clients had persistent physical complaints alongside anxiety, depression, burnout, or trauma.
Breakthroughs accelerated when clients learned to track where and why they braced, tightened, or went numb, and viewed their body data as core material, not a side note.
Because when you can read your body in real time, you don’t get hijacked by tension.
You start responding differently.
Less enduring. More choosing.
And results often land faster and deeper: better relief, more emotional freedom, and a surprising return of joy.
Three Body Tension Zones
Note: Think of this information as a guide, not a diagnosis. A primer for noticing patterns with curiosity. You may want to explore further or discuss with your physician.
1) Upper body: head, neck, face, jaw, shoulders
Tension Related to Social Connection
Tension signals: Jaw and neck tightness, shooting pain, monotone or raspy voice, frozen posture, recurring headaches, evading eye contact
Tension can feel like: Imposter syndrome, awkward, shy, distrustful, isolation, flat expression, poor self-image
2) Chest: lungs, heart
Tension Related to Social Protection
Tension signals: Shallow/fast breathing, chest compression, racing heart, dizziness, cardiovascular complications
Tension can feel like: Edgy, worried, panicky, stubborn, pushy, stuck in fight-flight, do-or-die mentality
Important: New or recurring chest symptoms should be evaluated by a healthcare professional.
3) Gut: stomach, digestion
Tension Related to Inner Safety
Tension signals: Pit in stomach, knot, churning, digestive issues, leaky gut, and autoimmune complications (see the fascinating 5min YouTube by the Stanford University School of Medicine professor, Susan Payrovi, MD)
Tension can feel like: Flat emotions, shut down, insecure, frozen, foggy, appease & please demeanor
Your body tension, aches, and pain aren’t trying to sabotage you.
They’re trying to bring you back.
High performers don’t visibly fall apart.
They push through.
And…they may go numb.
They get irritable.
They live in their head.
They quietly lose access to joy.
Their bodies keep their truth.
When you learn the pattern, you gain leverage.
And leverage creates faster and more enduring change.
The Science of Body Map
The information shared is rooted in trauma psychology and neuroscience. The nervous system stores patterns; protective bracing, shutdown, and hypervigilance. The body often signals what the mind has learned to override as “too much, too painful, too risky.”
A therapy experience right for you
If you’re successful, composed, and quietly depleted, this is exactly the work I do.
Contact me for an exploratory call.
Love Always,
Dr. Ardeshir Mehran
hello@ardeshirmehran.com
Dr. Mehran Studio | LinkedIn
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BONUS: Hear my recent YouTube (30 min): When a Woman Is Depressed. Own Your Voice & Power. The emerging science and better solutions to support women who are depressed.
