What we cover

• Mind–Body Link: How stress and anxiety amplify pain perception, muscle tension, and inflammation, fueling a self-reinforcing pain–stress cycle.
• Neuroplasticity & Central Sensitization: Why persistent pain “trains” the brain to expect more pain and how awareness and gentle, consistent interventions help rewire that loop.
• Sleep Matters: Poor sleep reduces emotional and physical resilience; stress and rumination can disrupt sleep and worsen TMJ symptoms the next day.
• Caffeine & Pain: Dose and timing matter. Excess caffeine can raise cortisol, heighten tension, worsen sleep, and intensify pain, especially around hormonally sensitive times.
• Medications & Bruxism: Some SSRIs (not all anti-anxiety meds) can reduce dopamine signaling in movement centers, contributing to clenching/grinding in a subset of people.
• Spotting Clenching/Bruxing: Daytime check-ins (are teeth touching?), morning headaches/jaw or neck soreness, worn teeth, enlarged chewing muscles; partners may hear grinding, but not always.
• Care Coordination: When anxiety is high, loop in trusted supporters (with consent), reinforce calm, and build a simple plan patients can follow.

Real-world stories

• Adverse Botox reaction: A fragile, highly anxious patient illustrates how medical trauma can escalate sympathetic overdrive, complicate oral appliance therapy, and demand gentle pacing and shared control.
• Neck pain breakthrough: After months of unhelpful care, a cervical-focused chiropractor dramatically reduced a family member’s neck/upper-back pain, underscoring the value of the right specialist at the right
• Old injuries, new pain: Priya’s childhood accident likely imprinted compensations in hip/neck fascia; targeted bodywork unlocked long-standing tension, proof that the body keeps the score.

Practical takeaways

• Break the loop: Pair jaw therapy with stress regulation (breathing drills, body scans, brief movement, journaling, therapy).
• Audit stimulants: Trial a caffeine taper, especially if sleep is poor or pain flares, hydrate and time caffeine earlier in the day.
• Sleep hygiene: Consistent schedule, dark/cool room, wind-down routine, devices off, gentle nasal breathing before bed.
• Jaw awareness cue: Throughout the day ask, “Where are my teeth?” If they’re touching, lips together, teeth apart, tongue resting on the palate.
• Medication check-in: If new clenching begins after starting an SSRI, talk with your prescriber about options.
• Team sport: Primary care, mental health, airway/TMJ, PT/bodywork, and (when indicated) cervical-focused chiropractic.

Guest: Neha Kumar, LMFT

Neha treats adults and adolescents across a range of settings, focusing on anxiety, depression, trauma, substance use, and the tight links between mental health and chronic pain. She emphasizes practical coping skills, compassionate advocacy, and coordinated care.

Listener Q&A highlights

• Are caffeine, stress, and pain linked? Yes, excess caffeine can raise cortisol, worsen sleep and tension, and heighten pain.
• Do anti-anxiety meds cause bruxism? Not generally; some SSRIs can in a minority of patients. Monitor and consult your prescriber.
• How do I know if I’m clenching? Check during stress/drive/screens; morning soreness, worn teeth, or partner-reported grinding are clues. Increased awareness during treatment helps patients self-interrupt.

Quote we loved

“The more pain you feel, the more stressed you get and the more stressed you are, the more your brain tunes into pain. The good news? Brains are plastic. We can retrain the loop.”

Resources mentioned (helpful starting points)

• Therapy: PsychologyToday provider directory, local LMFT/LCSW/PhD search
• Airway & TMJ: The TMJ Doc evaluation (joint, muscle, bite, airway)
• Bodywork: Physical therapy, myofunctional therapy, lymphatic/massage, and when indicated, cervical-focused chiropractic

Call to action

Struggling with jaw pain, headaches, or clenching, especially under stress? Schedule a TMJ evaluation with The TMJ Doc to build a step-by-step plan that supports both your jaw and your nervous system.