Dealing With Headaches

Have you ever thought this when you get a migraine or another kind of headache? “I have a headache — it’s bad — I must have done something bad in order to deserve this headache.” Well, you are not alone. It’s very common for people to associate any kind of chronic pain with some sort of fault in their own characters. This fear that we are somehow deficient or bad can keep many people from seeking help for their headaches.

Myth: The Migraine Personality

Stewart Tepper, MD, associate clinical professer of neurology at Yale University of Medicine, talks in the latest issue of Better Health & Living about the myth that only wimps or the morally defcient get migraines:

>”The idea that there’s a “migraine personality”-that people who get them are worriers or have some kind of mental or physical weakness — is a myth. Migraines don’t hit just one type of person. And they are truly debilitating: The World Health Organization counts them among the 12 most disabling illnesses for women.”

So, there you have it. Although headaches and migraines might drive a person crazy and make them not too much fun to be around, having head pains does not mean you are mentally ill or somehow a wimp. Yes, technically I have a mental illness (endogenous recurring depression) and am “haedache prone”, but don’t let me scare you from seeking proper medical attention for your chronic head pains.

It’s Not Your Fault

The vast majority of chronic head pains are not from the results of anything done by the patient (or anything not done by the patient). They can happen because of the weather, because of your genes or even from glare of a light making a bright spot on your computer. They also can be signs of other medical conditions that need attention.

Now, if you picked a fight with a gorilla by insulting his mother, and the gorilla punches you in the head, giving you a headache, then in that case you DID do something to deserve that headache. But those cases are usually rare.

Lots of times, you get headaches and migraines for no other reason than life is not fair. That doesn’t mean you have to suffer.

You Have Powers

Although your head may be the cause of a lot of your pain, your head can also be the source of managing the pain. There are many things you can do to help yourself. You also should pair these suggestions with a visit to your doctor.

• Keep a headache journal. Let your doctor read it. This can greatly help identify the triggers for your pain.
• Get regular sleep of about seven hours a night. Lack of sleep can aggravate any pain. Who knows — lack of sleep could be the major trigger for your pain.
• Get regular exercise, which also helps you get regular sleep.
• Learn how to better manage stress, such as with meditation, aromatherapy or massage.
• Cut back on caffeine in both your beverages and your painkillers.
• Learn all you can about headaches, migraines and alternative therapies to help you help yourself.

Remember what the third Dr. Who said: “Where there’s life, there’s hope.”