your stomach tenses/is tensed

[angliholic]

When you have anxiety attacks, your stomach tenses.


Hi,
Does "your stomach tenses" in the above refer to "the muscles of your stomach tense?" Is it also right to say "your stomach is tensed?" Thanks.

 

[Anglika]

Yes - your muscles contract when you are nervous/anxious.

"muscles are tensed" does not carry quite the same meaning - the original sentence is describing what is happening during an anxiety attack.