Stress Made My Lymph Nodes Swell

UPDATED 03/09/2025

My lymph nodes swell from time to time. I discovered them after I woke one morning to bumps under my chin. Instantly, I almost thought I had the big c-word so I made an appointment with my doctor. After a round of antibiotics, my lymph nodes were still swollen. The worst part was, my doctor didn’t know why.

My doctor told me all my vitals looked fine and he basically wasn’t sure what was causing the bumps under my chin. He told me to rest and take some time off. But who can really do that? Trust me, I tried. I tried to rest after work and exercise less during the week. My focus was on relaxing and taking care of me by eating right and slowing down. My swollen lymph nodes slowly went away. Yet, I still had no explanation for why they even showed up in the first place.

Life went on, but I kept wondering about those funny little bumps. The fact that I kept wondering, made me look back on what was happening before they showed up. That’s when I made the discovery! I was stressed out beyond my means. When my lymph nodes became swollen, I was working 40+ hours a week, trying to start a business, trying to be a good Captain for my Relay for Life Team, and trying to keep up with the things I had to do in my home. I was doing too much. Period, end. Because I was trying to be everything for everyone, I ultimately was failing in all areas of my life and was spreading myself way too thin.

For quite a while, I took care of myself and learned how much was too much for me. I learned to say no but as humans naturally do, we go through cycles. We start saying yes to things again because we get that feeling of FOMO. Low and behold, those funny little bumps will come back eventually. When I notice them, it’s usually because I have a TON on my plate. The biggest factor is that I’m usually trying to be everything to everyone. Let me tell you, it does not work!

What do I do when my lymph nodes swell?

1. I can go to the doctors and get the bumps check. This might be a good idea if you’ve never had your lymph nodes “pop”. They are not something to mess around with so if you don’t know what to do, call the doctor ASAP!
2. I could rest up and see what happens. Clearly my body is telling me something. When your body is off and needs something, it will tell you. You can see signs in many ways so keep your eyes peeled and your ears open.
3. I could rest up and do what I know works. Since this has happened before, I know I need rest. When the bumps show up, I add a little extra rest into my routine each day. Doing this makes always them go down faster.

Stress isn’t something to mess around with. People say there is good stress and bad stress, but I’m not so sure. All in all, stress can be a killer. If you’re a glutton for stress, listen to your body and get the rest you need. No, the rest you DESERVE!!

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Jenn Mullen holds degrees in Psychology and Business Management, as well as a certification in health and wellness coaching. She combines over a decade of corporate experience with more than five years of small business expertise, bringing a unique blend of skills and insight to her work. Beyond her expertise, she’s a high-energy, passionate individual with ADHD who thrives on staying organized, bringing laughter to every project, and finding joy in the work she loves.