COLUMBUS, Ohio — Nearly half of all American adults are feeling more stressed this year than last, according to a poll by the American Psychological Association, with current events making 70% of us feel anxious.

With all the stress we carry from our regular responsibilities, it takes a real toll. When it becomes too much to handle, our bodies give us some signs.

For Taryn Smith, her tension from stress builds into pain, causing intense headaches.

“I graduated undergrad in May, started a full-time job the next day, and two weeks later I was taking online classes for grad school,” she said. “So, a lot going on.”

Matthew Stephens, a physical therapist at Xcel Physical Therapy, said when people carry too much stress they carry it on their shoulders.

“So, you see a lot of tightness, especially on the top there and into the neck,” Stephens said.

Stephens targets Smith’s symptoms with massage and movements. He said besides helping athletes recover from injuries; the techniques used at the facility can help a wide demographic.

“A lot of what we do here is preventative also,” he said. “So the stretches help keep everything open and relaxed. That can prevent future stressors, migraines and other ailments.”

He said stress-squashing sessions can include electrotherapy to help muscles relax and/or dry needling.

Smith said the needling procedure looks more painful than it actually is.

“If I have a headache when I come, it’s almost like immediate relief,” she said. “Especially with the needles.”

Stephens said the goal is to help patients avoid costly surgeries, medications or injections.

“See if we can get to more of the root cause with movement, with some soft tissue work, and then give them a custom plan for at home and later in their life,” he said.

A plan Smith said she will gladly follow.

“I will definitely, like, utilize this throughout my life,” she said. “I mean, getting headaches is not fun, so I’m going to have to if I want to be able to function in my life without debilitating pain.”