No More HeadachesEliminate headaches without medication

An interesting discussion took place this week over at Health Central. My comment about not capitalizing the word ‘migraine’ drew many responses. Some were hostile, some were explanatory, all were informative.

The reaction caused me to rethink this website. If the audience I am trying to help does not want my help, what is the point? If everyone insists that I am wrong, how could I be right? Am I really misinformed, or have I discovered something that no one else can see yet? Perhaps there is a different explanation for my elimination of migraines.

As I digested all the responses, I realized that there is no certainty that applies to everyone. Everyone has a different path. We each have our own beliefs supported by experience and knowledge. We each have our own truth. The reality that we experience is based on our beliefs. I believe that I have reached an understanding about migraines that allowed me to eliminate them from my life. For myself, I am correct.

The real question is whether what I have learned can help anyone else. My success was based on a core belief that migraines can be overcome without medication. From there I continually progressed towards migraine elimination, developing many skills along the way. Some of these skills may be difficult to learn, thus not everyone will be able to achieve the same results.

So if everyone cannot benefit from my suggestions, what is the point of writing this blog? There are already many researchers working on migraine medications. Some of the best doctors and pharmacists oversee the spending of millions of dollars in an attempt to discover a pill that everyone wants. How could Glenn Stewart Coles make any difference in our understanding of migraines?

The answer is that migraine research exists in order to create products to sell. An implication of the word ‘cure’ is that there is something to swallow that makes all the difference. In my perception, this focus is incorrect. Since migraines are generated within the body, internal adjustments are necessary in order to eliminate the repetitious condition. When I looked for a cure within myself, I found it.

So why bother pushing my cure on anyone else? From the response I received I realized I have no right to dictate anyone else’s path of healing. People who are comfortable with their path may feel conflict with my suggestions. Migraine is a very complex disease that often requires complex treatment. Every person is in a unique position with unique challenges. Since my understanding about migraines is different from common approaches, some may choose to dismiss my opinion. When it comes to a debate about core beliefs, anything is possible.

I also thought about the potential of new perception in the treatment of millions of people who experience migraines. What if I am right? What if my unique education and motivation allowed me to discover the root elements of migraine? By altering definitions to fit the new viewpoint, potential new paths to healing are revealed for those willing to try anything to get rid of their migraines.

Is my approach for everyone?

No, of course not. Not everyone thinks the same way. A program that requires personal development, thought management and internal change can be challenging to say the least. While my approach could potentially apply to anybody, each person is unique. Migraine is a complex condition, primarily because people are complex. Thus, there is no single answer that applies to all people. For me, a key decision was deciding to stop taking pills and start taking direct responsibility for the reactions of my body. This is a step that not everyone is willing or capable of taking.

Are you blaming the victim?

I am not blaming people for their migraines. Instead I am explaining that people have more power than they realize. When suggestions are made that migraines can be influenced by behavioral changes, accusations return about ‘blaming the victim’. Obviously no one would create migraine pain intentionally, so therefore suggestions that migraines are generated within bring cries of persecution.

The reality is that blame has nothing to do with it. You are what you are. Migraine is a serious condition that is painful and disabling that must be addressed seriously.  Accepting that aspects of self contribute to your health condition seems quite straightforward, but most people have resistance to the idea. I am not blaming you for being who you are; I am providing another pathway to healing. There are internal changes that you can make to reduce the frequency and intensity of migraines.

Is migraine a neurological disease?

Yes. A disease is ‘a physical condition that impedes normal activity’, so migraine can be classified as a disease. However, we are not random observers of our neurological processes; our thoughts always have influence. The phrase ‘neurological disease’ implies that there is nothing you can do about it but accept it. This is a viewpoint reinforced by the pharmaceutical companies who make billions of dollars every year supplying migraine pills. If you want to believe that migraines are incurable, go right ahead. Mine are gone partly because I believe that migraines can be eliminated.

If it were this easy wouldn’t everyone just do it?

There are many words to describe my journey to eliminate migraines, but ‘easy’ is not one of them. I am not saying this is easy. I realize that my suggestions are not achievable by everyone. What I am saying is that this path worked for me and could work for others.

Is this a cure for migraines?

No. The word ‘cure’ implies a magic pill or treatment that someone undergoes that removes the condition. There is no magic in what I am describing. By applying concepts discussed in this blog and discovering your own path to healing, you may find your own cure. And it won’t be something that you swallow. In order to eliminate migraines, personal changes are required. This is not a cure; it is an adjustment to eliminate a condition.

Are migraines genetic?

I question the research that identified migraine as a genetic condition. In a future column the research and conclusions will be addressed in more detail. However, whether they are genetic or not is irrelevant. The key factor in eliminating migraines is not about your tendency to experience cortical depressions but your reaction to the occurrence. When I changed my reactions to impending migraines, my experiences changed as well.

Is it magic I believe in?

No. I believe that migraines are subconscious habitual pain responses that can be reduced or eliminated through focused effort and behavioral modification. I also believe that thoughts have direct influence on the frequency and intensity of migraines. Though neither of these premises has yet been proven in the scientific community, each premise is based on common sense and experience.

Are migraines psychosomatic or biological?

The answer is ‘both’. Migraines have both physical and psychological elements. Our thoughts and our health are closely interlinked. The challenge with the word ‘psychosomatic’ is that it carries negative connotations. Migraine is not something that is made up or created on purpose. It is a physiological reaction fueled by intellect and emotions. By altering your thoughts and feelings prior to or during a migraine episode it is possible to alter your physiological experience.

If I am at risk of brain damage from migraines, why would I not take medication to reduce that risk?

Instead of risking long-term brain damage, you would risk the memory loss and slurred speech that some associate with their medications. How about the risk of heart attack or stroke associated with certain painkillers? The effects of migraine may build up over time, whereas the side effects of many pharmaceuticals can be immediate and devastating. I personally chose to eliminate migraines by really understanding the reaction that my body went through with each episode and making corrective changes.

Am I the ultimate authority?

Of course not. I am not a doctor or pharmacist. I am just a guy who eliminated migraines. Migraine is a heavily researched condition and there are many experts, each with different viewpoints. I simply provide another viewpoint based on personal experience. My path to elimination of migraines was ‘outside the box’ and involved bypassing common beliefs. Perhaps relief from migraines simply involves opening some new doors. All I can do is explain what happened to me; you must take all the information and make your own decisions.

Attitude is everything

A migraine is not just something that happens to you; it is something that you fully participate in. If you allow migraines to stimulate feelings of anger, frustration or persecution, the reaction in the head becomes more difficult to manage. If you accept each occurrence as a learning opportunity, progress and empowerment are interlinked. How you feel about yourself and your migraines directly affects your experience with migraines. When you believe that you can heal, you will.

Copyright 2008 Glenn Stewart Coles