Tension Headaches and Migraines
In today’s world there are so many pressures on us every day and sometimes it feels as though we just can’t keep up. With so much going on, and so much to do, it is not uncommon for tension headaches and migraines to arise. Many of us work in fast paced, high stress environments where we have to keep up with daily and weekly change, or where we are sat continuously for hours in front of a computer screen. Working parents are another example of people who are constantly on the go; working for a living and looking after others is not an easy feat. Stress, pressure and tiredness are all factors that cause tension headaches, but if we can manage all of these things then it reduces the risk of the headache arising in the first place.
Easier said than done, I know. So what can you do to help relax your mind and body enough to at least reduce the number of headaches you may be experiencing? I can’t stress enough how important it is to look after yourself properly and by this I mean leading a healthy life style. Start with the basics, such as eating healthily, exercising more and cutting right down on alcohol (sorry, but alcohol in the long term does not relax our bodies and it definitely doesn’t allow us a good night’s sleep). You don’t need to join a fancy gym to get a good level of exercise- go out for a walk after dinner, build this up to a jog or a run if you’re up for a bit of a challenge. Try to get a good night’s sleep every night, it really will do wonders. The body repairs itself when we’re sleeping, getting us ready for the day ahead, so if you’re existing on less than 7 hours a night try to adjust this as soon as you can. Avoiding too much caffeine is something else that will help reduce tension headaches- you may feel as though you can’t get through the day without several cups of coffee but try to reduce the amount you have.
If you find yourself in a situation where you feel yourself tensing up, try to remove yourself from it for 5 minutes; go for a walk, stretch your muscles, take a few deep breaths and repeat some positive thoughts in your head. Negativity and telling yourself you can’t do something will not help your tension levels- or that band of pain across your forehead and eyes. Taking yourself out of a situation can also sometimes help your mind to work out a problem that you just cannot get your head round whilst you’re sat in front of it.
Let go of problems that aren’t yours or that you know you cannot solve, have a relaxing shower or bath, take up yoga or simply take 15 minutes every day to sit quietly or listen to relaxing music. Deep breathing will certainly help and try putting a cold flannel on your head at the same time to ease the pain. It is also a good idea to write down when you have a headache- the date and what may have triggered it. This will help you to understand what could be causing your headaches or migraines.
Finally, if you’re a smoker, quit! Nicotine reduces blood flow to the brain and this can trigger tension headaches, as well as a whole host of other health issues.
Hypnotherapy or combining hypnotherapy, hypnosis and a Positive Thinking Styles course can help to change the way you react to certain situations or people so that you can gain more control and insight into yourself. Once you can understand yourself better then you can start to make positive changes to your life.
For any more information about how to help tension, headaches and migraines or to book a free initial consultation please call Rob on 01202 245020 or 07920 885015.
Email:robert-clarke@live.com
Confidentiality is strictly observed at all times.
