Stress Headache

A stress is the most common form of headache, because most headaches arise from stressful situations. We all have an idea of how much stress we can cope with and what we can do to overcome theat stress. Some people work better under stress and indeed many actors say that they could not perform well without stress. A stress headache can occur when our ability to cope is overwhelmed and the measures we know of to reduce stress levels are inadequate. Therefore, a stress headache can occur in the workplace or in the home or school.

Stress Headache

Basically, a stress headache occurs when the obstacles that are presented to you overwhelm your ability to cope with them. Some people deal well with stress others handle stress less well. Some people even thrive on it and others have learned how to de-stress quickly.

When a person comes across stressful situations, a little bit of our mental defense against stress is eroded. This is fine and is normal, but then as other stresses occur there is less and less defense left to carry on. Trying to cope when you are beginning to feel weaker and weaker will often bring on a stress headache.

Another reason why a stress headache is the most common form of headache, is because other forms of headache can bring on a stress headache too. The good news is that almost all forms of headaches can be prevented or cured and a stress headache falls into this category.

There are, of course pharmaceutical medicines to treat headaches and there are natural, home remedies too but there are also non-medicinal ways of treating a stress headache. These other methods include: cognitive therapy, behavioural therapy and physical therapy. These methods can be learned from books, night school classes, the local library, the Internet or by arrangement with your clinic or doctor. It is well-worth learning how to use these techniques because taking drugs or medicines can lead to headaches anyway.

Cognitive Therapy: seeks to 'redirect' stress headaches. In this method, the patient is taught to recognize what starts the stress symptoms and what the onset of a stress headache feels like. Then they are taught how alter their response to these conditions.

Behavioural Therapy: is a way of changing your life style to prevent the occurrence of a stress headache. For example, many people reach for comfort foods or alcohol when they become stressed, but it might be better for you to do something else, when you feel a stress headache coming on.

Physical Therapy: tries using bio-feedback responses, so that when a stress headache begins, the sufferer tries using relaxation techniques (perhaps yoga) in order to reduce their stress and possibly prevent the stress headache from occurring. Meditation, deep breathing and prayer are some of the other techniques that can be tried.