Are cluster headaches, tension headaches and migraines caused by stress? Take a look at the last time you had a severe headache. You had a deadline and you worked non-stop to meet it. You might have received bad news that you didn’t expect. Your children are just being themselves. This is another story. Or the big daddy of all stories, Finances. Whatever the reason, stress is something we all deal with at some point or another.
What happens next?
The dreaded headache. There is nothing we can do to stop this from happening in our lives. We can learn steps to help us overcome stress when it happens.
- Take a break. I know, it’s hard to do everything. Take a break from work and do something else.
- Prioritize – Only do one thing at a given time. Prioritize your most important tasks and complete them first before moving on to the next. We can’t do it all at once.
- Escape to a dark, cool place to relax.
- Listen to music – Music is great for stress reduction. Soundscapes are my personal favorite.
- Stretch your muscles – The most important thing to do is stretch your neck muscles. Tension headaches and migraines are often caused by tight neck muscles.
- Walk – Don’t rush, it is easy on the muscles and will increase blood flow by increasing your heart rate.
- Drink water – Although energy drinks may sound appealing at the moment, your body still needs water. Two thirds of our bodies are water. The more stressed we are, the more H20 is required. Drink at least 8 glasses of water per day.
- Laugh – Laugh often, laugh loud We can always find humor, no matter what the situation.
- Breathe better or you’ll have more problems than stress and headaches! If you are in a difficult situation, take a deep breath in and out of your mouth. The increased oxygen in your brain will make a big difference.
- A healthy snack is a good choice. We eat what’s quick and convenient. Get some fruit, almonds, or yogurt. Avoid sodas and candy bars.
Conclusion
These tips, along with a stress management plan and headache treatment plan, have helped me get rid of migraine headaches and chronic tension headaches. I am not a doctor. I am someone who just wanted to stop stressing out and was tired of coping with it.