People who suffer from chronic headaches, including migraines, often deal with extreme stress. Stress can also exacerbate or cause headaches in some people. Here are some basic tips for dealing with the stress related to chronic headaches. Remember, you should always check with your doctor before starting a new supplement or routine. The cause of your headaches will help determine which strategies might help you, so getting a diagnosis is essential.
Stress from Chronic Headaches Can Negatively Impact Your Life
As if dealing with chronic pain in the form of headaches doesn’t already impact your life, the resulting stress can exacerbate things. It can cause you to be short or angry with those in your life, have decreased concentration and memory, and predispose you to other health and mental conditions. Headache stress can also make your headache pain worse.
Strategies for Dealing with Chronic Headache Stress
While you are working with your doctor to determine the cause and best treatments for the pain from your headaches, you can also focus on managing or decreasing the stress they cause you. Here are some ways to do that:
- Use techniques to control negative thoughts that can spiral you into more stress. Cognitive therapy is one way you can learn such techniques.
- Maintain good self-care. Avoid negative ways of coping such as overusing alcohol, unhealthy food, or drugs. Eat healthy, stress-fighting foods, try to get enough sleep, and stay hydrated.
- Use stress relief techniques throughout the day. Experiment with different ways to quickly lower stress and anxiety and then practice the ones that work best for you. Some strategies that work well for many people include deep breathing exercises, positive affirmations, and yoga.
- Consider a supplement such as Garcinia cambogia. Garcinia cambogia raises serotonin levels in the brain, which can relieve the symptoms of stress. Be sure to check with your doctor before starting this supplement because it can interfere with certain medications and is contraindicated for use with some medical conditions.
- Don’t overschedule yourself. Take a look at your schedule and evaluate all of your responsibilities. If there are some that you can eliminate to lower your stress levels, do so. Leave yourself time for stress-relieving activities like exercise and hobbies and indulge in self-care and rest.
- Communicate honestly. Let those in your life know what you’re going through so they can understand. When people see what you’re struggling with, they are more likely to give aid when they can to help decrease your stress. This can be hard to do, but it’s a crucial step in caring for yourself and reducing your stress levels.
Remember, you are worth the work it takes to lower your stress while you deal with the cause of your chronic headaches. Make yourself a priority so you can better enjoy your life.
You can learn more here: “Help for Headaches.”