Where the nervous system comes in
Migraine is a recognized neurological condition, and stress and the state of your nervous system are among its best-known triggers. Tension headaches are tied even more directly to how much the body is bracing: the jaw clenched, the shoulders up around the ears, the forehead tight.
Mind-body work doesn't replace your medical care. It works with the part your nervous system plays, and for most people, that part is very big.
How do I know if my headaches might be mind-body?
Some signs I look for:
- They come at predictable times, like on weekends, or right after a deadline passes.
- They started during a hard period of your life.
- You have other symptoms that come and go, like back pain or gut trouble.
- Your tests are normal.
None of these proves anything on its own. But the more you recognize, the more likely your nervous system is involved. I wrote more in How do I know if my pain might be mind-body?
When should a headache be checked right away?
Go to an emergency room if you have:
- a sudden, severe headache, the worst you've ever had
- a headache with weakness, confusion, loss of vision or trouble speaking
- a headache with a fever and a stiff neck
- a headache after a blow to the head
Living by a list of triggers
Many people with migraines live by a long list of things to avoid: certain foods, bright light, the weather, sleeping too little or too much. The list keeps growing, and life gets smaller around it.
I think the fear of the next migraine can keep the nervous system on alert all by itself. Part of what we do is work with that fear, slowly, so your world can get bigger again.
With love,
Leyla
