Stress, Sleep, and Pain: Understanding February Burnout

By Dr. Andrew Kakishita, DC

Why February Feels Harder Than Expected

By February, a lot of people feel worn down. The holidays are over, work has picked back up, and winter is not quite finished. Even when days are warmer, energy levels often feel low.

This time of year is a common point where pain flares up or becomes more noticeable.

How Stress Affects Pain

Stress changes how the nervous system responds to the world. When stress stays high, the body stays in a more protective state.

Muscles tend to stay tighter. Joints feel stiffer. Pain signals can feel stronger even when there is no new injury. This does not mean the pain is imagined. It means the body is more sensitive.

Why Sleep Matters More Than People Think

Sleep is one of the main ways the body recovers.

Poor sleep can slow tissue healing, reduce pain tolerance, and make small aches feel much bigger. Even one or two weeks of poor sleep can change how pain feels during the day.

In February, disrupted sleep is common due to stress, schedules, and lingering winter habits.

Why Pain Can Linger Without a New Injury

When stress is high and sleep is low, pain does not always need a clear cause.

Tissues may already be sensitive from previous strain. The nervous system may be less able to calm things down. This combination makes pain more likely to stick around.

This is often why people say their pain feels worse even though nothing specific happened.

Where Treatment Can Help

Addressing stress and sleep is just as important as addressing movement.

Hands on care, movement based rehab, and tools like shockwave therapy can help calm irritated tissues and improve how they tolerate stress. Research supports shockwave therapy for chronic pain conditions where tissues have struggled to recover fully.

Why This Is Reassuring

Feeling more pain during stressful or low sleep periods does not mean something is seriously wrong.

It often means the body needs support. Improving sleep, reducing stress where possible, and addressing movement can help restore balance.