Best Techniques to Reduce an Anxiety Headache

It is understood that anxiety triggers unnecessary fears, irritability, and restlessness. However, it can also cause physical symptoms such as stomach discomfort, fatigue, and shallow respiration. In fact, one very common physical symptom is anxiety headaches.

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If you are feeling overly nervous or concerned, you might have tension headaches. Experiencing severe or regular problems can also aggravate anxiety symptoms.

Half of all Americans living with migraines also have anxiety, according to the American Migraine Foundation. ResearchTrusted Source also reports that people with migraine attacks could be up to five times more likely to also have anxiety. To learn how you can alleviate these headaches, continue reading.

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Photo credit: claritychi.com

Overview of Anxiety Headaches

Nobody wants to suffer from anxiety, but most people can cope with some of the typical symptoms (i.e. a little sweating, a slight twitching of some muscles, some pain in the stomach). Yet specific anxiety symptoms can affect one’s general wellbeing and their quality of life much more significantly. With this, headaches are cited as one of those symptoms which are more severe.

While anxiety headaches are relatively frequent, they can still be extremely painful. Headaches are more likely to occur in stressed conditions.

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Stress is a common cause of tension-type headaches and migraines. In addition, it may cause or exacerbate other forms of headaches.

Yet you don’t need to bring pain to your brain. Simple steps to control your stress can help keep your headaches manageable.

Big Stressors and Small Ones

The pain of a big life event like having a baby, a loved one’s death, a career transition, a divorce is inevitable. But typically, this is not the sort of stress that causes headaches.

Instead, it is usually the everyday irritants — looking for misplaced documents, waiting in traffic, tolerating minor annoyances at work — that can erode the ability to deal with them. This tension sparks headaches.

It can only make your headaches worse if you respond to these everyday stressors by tensing your muscles, grinding your teeth, or hunching up your shoulders.

You can’t help avoiding stress every day. But you can control tension, which can help prevent headaches.

How to Relieve Yourself from Headaches

Drink Medicine

Although there is no established method of rapidly relieving anxiety-related stress headaches, there are several common headache remedies.

Some people claim that medicines like Tylenol are effective. But, as with any drug, it is necessary to decide whether it is safe to take or not.

Further, if you want to avoid taking medication, there are many more natural approaches you can take to ease your anxiety headaches.

Hydrate

Drinking water may be a more natural solution since it is a widely cited treatment for headaches because dehydration is known to worsen symptoms of a variety of problems.

Refrain from Using Gadgets

Another way to treat headaches from anxiety is to reduce the amount of “screen-time” you receive. The light from screen time, mainly if you are already prone to problems, may contribute to tension headaches.

This is because the unnatural light can be hard for our eyes and brains to process, putting more stress on them.

Practice Relaxation Techniques

Relaxation strategies can reduce stress symptoms, including headaches. It may also make room for pleasurable things, such as listening to music, dancing, playing a sport, reading a book, or playing with your cat.

So, set aside time to practice relaxation, even if it’s just 10 minutes a day. Techniques include meditation, yoga, deep breathing, and Tai Chi. However, whatever helps you feel relax can work!

Exercise Daily and Eat Smart

Exercise is a traditional means of avoiding headaches – and even treating them. Exercising provides you with a break from the everyday tension of life. Be wary of warming up gradually.

Sudden, intense workouts can cause headaches, which you will obviously want to avoid. Further, exercise in general can reduce the presence of anxiety itself.

Get Enough Sleep

Stress can interfere with sleep, but a lack of sleep can interfere with your ability to cope with any anxiety you may have.

Sleep deficiencies put pressure on your body and can cause the release of stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol. Therefore, it is best to try your best to get appropriate amounts of sleep.

Conclusion

Headaches from anxiety aren’t always extreme, but mild or severe problems can still disrupt your everyday life. Treating headaches with anxiety means knowing that you are feeling them. Sometimes, they are linked to periods of high anxiety or stress.

Identifying what causes your anxiety headaches, as with migraine attacks, will help you avoid particular circumstances or learn to manage your reaction to stress if you can not prevent them.

When you have migraine symptoms or have headaches severe enough to affect your everyday life, it’s best to see your healthcare provider. Seeking treatment for anxiety is usually be the path to progress.