Does Stress Cause Migraines?
If you’ve never felt the pulsing, stabbing pain of a migraine, and wished you never had to open your eyes again, you’re lucky. Migraines that last for hours, or even days, have an adverse effect on a person’s life and can severely hamper daily routines. While the causes of migraines can be varied, research suggests that stress is the most common migraine trigger.
Migraines are known for causing extreme, throbbing pain in specific areas around the head. Because of their disabling nature, people suffering from these headaches often don’t end up seeing their doctors. So while it is not possible to link every migraine with stress, there is a justifiable connection between your body’s stress levels and the frequent migraines you experience. Let’s explore further!
What is the Connection Between Stress and Migraines?
You might know this through prior experience or anecdotal evidence, but if you’re already suffering from migraines, stress can aggravate your symptoms. Health experts indicate that stress can trigger migraine episodes in many ways. Some people tend to experience more migraines when going through acute stress. On the flip side, if your body is used to being under a lot of stress, you might even notice some migraine symptoms when your stress levels drop unexpectedly.
And then of course, there is the migraine itself, which is stressful enough on its own. Experiencing them frequently can easily form a pattern of stress and chronic pain. How?
Migraines alter your brain’s natural operating tendencies, affecting its networks both structurally and functionally. As a result, your brain now begins to abnormally respond to both psychological and physiological environmental conditions.
In simpler terms, once the brain is frequently subjected to stressful situations, it develops a defense mechanism or a “maladaptive coping mechanism”. It’s these mechanisms that lead to chronic migraines.
Stress doesn’t always directly lead to migraines. However, it can lead to some behavioral changes triggering frequent episodes. For instance, stressors can cause you to:
Lose sleep
Experience some muscle rigidity around your jaw, back, or even neck
Use more stress-relieving substances such as alcohol and other drugs
Eat little or no food
Skip taking your medications
Take more/less caffeine than usual
And the worst part? All these factors point to even more migraine episodes, leading you down a vicious cycle. So to prevent this from happening, it’s best to break the cycle. But how?
Try to Lower Your Stress Levels
We know, we know. Talk is cheap and this is easier said than done. The trickiest thing about stress is its unpredictability, and the inability of most people to identify when it strikes. It tends to sneak up on us, and if you aren’t careful, you might have to live with stress for the rest of your life. You have to be willing to take charge and implement various steps to lower your stress levels and prevent them from triggering your migraines. Besides, if you experience chronic stress, you are at a heightened risk for other lifestyle diseases too.
Avoid Stressful Situations
Again, try to avoid stressful situations wherever possible. Yes, you might not be able to do this all the time, but even just stepping out for a breather and regulating your nervous system can go a long way in reducing stress. The best way to do this is to identify activities and environments that easily cause you stress and anxiety and opt out, if possible. In unavoidable situations, try and take a time out to give yourself a break.
Adapt Relaxation Techniques
From deep breathing, yoga, nature walks, spending time with animals, and meditating to napping, there are various workable relaxation techniques you can use to relax your body and keep stress away. See what works best for you and incorporate it in your daily life.
Pay Attention to Your General Wellbeing
If there’s one thing you must attempt to do, it is to stop forcing yourself to act normal when you are not. You already know the consequences. Begin by acknowledging tiredness and take time off to rest. Sleep when you need to and have an exercise routine. Also, ensure you eat three balanced meals a day, with plenty of water in between.
Migraines are terrible, and they aren’t something you would want to experience over and over again. Don’t suffer in silence, always seek professional help.
