Stress causes muscle tension, which can increase the amount of pain you feel. Allowing muscles to relax reduces strain and decreases pain sensations. Learning to relax your body can help you control your pain without the use of additional medications. Medications aren’t the only way to manage pain but they are often an integral part of your treatment plan. Chronic pain is not something people like to talk about much — and those in pain are often encouraged to “suck it up” or “put on a happy face.”