No More HeadachesEliminate headaches without medication

As I begin this post, I realize that there may be resistance to the premise that emotions play a role in the development of migraines. To even suggest that emotions influence migraines is considered by some to be ‘old-fashioned’ and ‘insulting’. If I say that emotions influence migraines, then I must be ‘blaming the victim’ for being ‘over-emotional’. Ultimately, it is up to you to choose what to believe.

In my experience, emotions played a direct role in my headaches. Learning to identify and manage certain thoughts and feelings contributed to elimination of my migraines. There is no blame intended in my statement; if you look inside yourself for characteristics and feelings that influence migraines you may find them. Once you find them, you may be able to alter them. The level of change you experience is up to you, however even the smallest adjustment may reduce intensity and duration of pain.

Why does it matter if emotions are related to migraines? Because if emotions influence migraines and we can intentionally influence emotions, then we gain the ability to influence migraines. First comes awareness, and then through practice and intent comes empowerment. Every little step can make a difference in your migraine experience.

The effect of emotions on the body is a source of debate. While holistic philosophy insists that all aspects of self contribute to health, medical science often focuses only on the reactions of the physical body. Though some believe that the body exists separate from thoughts and feelings, others in the medical field insist that body, mind and emotions are inseparable elements affecting health and well being.

Known for his unique viewpoint in the delivery of medical assistance, Doctor Hunter ‘Patch’ Adams uses humor and compassion when working with patients. In his book ‘Gesundheit!’ Adams declares that ‘good health is a laughing matter’. He discovered that assisting children with cancer to feel joy helped them deal with their disease. Though there were no ‘miracle cures’, the introduction of laughter made a difference to the lives of these children.

Norman Cousins, a journalist who participated in medical research at the University of California while he experienced painful arthritis, revealed similar findings. According to Cousins, “I made the joyous discovery that ten minutes of genuine belly laughter had an anesthetic effect and would give me at least two hours of pain-free sleep.” Research focused on the biochemistry of human emotions and how they were key to success in fighting illness.

While some changes in body chemistry happen automatically, we can intentionally alter our chemical composition through internally generated means or by introducing external stimulants. We change our bio-chemistry through specific activity; the simple act of walking up stairs makes a measurable difference. Our bio-chemistry is also altered by the emotions that we feel. If measured to the extreme, certain emotions have a direct affect on our body. Someone who is laughing has different body chemistry than someone who is crying.

Emotions can be directly influenced by thoughts. It is possible to recall an incident from the past and awaken anger, even while sitting in an empty room. It is also possible to stimulate feelings of love simply by thinking about an appropriate person. Thoughts and emotions are directly influenced by beliefs and perceptions. Therefore, learning how to manage thoughts and altering beliefs and perceptions can give us direct influence over the chemical composition of our bodies.

In a recent article in Scientific American entitled ‘Why Migraines Strike’, scientists identified three clusters of cells in the brain stem that are active during migraine episodes. According to hypothesis, these cells control the flow of sensory information such as light, sound, smell and pain. The activity of these cells is ‘modulated by the behavioral and emotional state of the individual’. Therefore the potential exists to modify migraine activity through alteration of emotions and behavior.

Migraine disease is very complex and each individual has unique experiences and challenges. Accordingly, each person must address their own issues in their own ways. Generalization of the condition does not mean that every individual follows the same path; instead the intention is to raise awareness and present for consideration a potential new path to healing. Awareness of how your emotions affect your experiences may be gained through observation. Ultimately, it is up to you to apply these concepts to your personal situation.

There are two specific aspects of emotion that influence migraine. One set of emotions has direct influence during the buildup phase, while another set of emotions may contribute to a lifestyle that encourages headaches. In describing emotions there is no right or wrong; however we have choice as to which emotions we support.  

The most prominent influence of emotion occurs during the buildup and peak of an episode. What do you feel in the few seconds following recognition of another migraine episode? What emotions stand out as the pain builds? What thoughts become prominent as the migraine takes over?

During the buildup phase, the primary emotion affecting migraines is fear. When you feel a migraine episode begin, fear is activated by expectation of the coming event. Expectations are based on past experiences, since previous migraines have followed a similar cycle. The self-fulfilling prophecy of a painful episode is fueled by the emotions that follow the thought ‘oh no here comes another one.’ Because you expect the migraine to escalate into a painful episode, it does.

The feelings that are supported during your migraine episode also contribute to the development of the episode. By becoming aware of the thoughts that surface during the buildup phase you gain knowledge about yourself. Rather than analyzing prominent thoughts, simply become aware of their existence and attempt to move into a condition of peace and quiet.

Overcoming feelings of fear and expectation can be a challenge, particularly if you experience daily migraines. The challenge is to recall incidents where the pain did not escalate; remembering situations where you began to feel a migraine but it went away. I managed to control fear through repetitious practice of quieting my mind. I also recognized that my pain increased along with the intensity of my thoughts; learning how to quiet my mind included learning how to disconnect from the pain.

In an experiment documented in ‘The Holographic Universe’ by Michael Talbot, a direct relationship was proved between the expression of emotions and the configuration of DNA. After receiving training about how to invoke deep feelings, 28 researchers measured the effect of specific emotions on samples of DNA. Feelings of love, joy and gratitude expanded the DNA, while feelings of anger, frustration, resentment and fear caused the DNA to contract. When someone continuously thinks about something that creates emotion, the body is affected to a cellular level.

Addressing emotional aspects that contribute to headaches may be as simple as learning how to quiet the mind, or may involve years of therapy and healing. It may be as simple as changing perceptions or there may be deep trauma to overcome. In any case, the level of emotional contribution to your headaches is unique to you. By recognizing that elements of self may be contributing to your migraines you can begin to encourage change. Altering how you emotionally react to migraines can change your experience.

Perhaps you have already dealt with any emotional issues and the headaches still occur. That is because there are numerous other aspects that contribute to repetitive headaches. While emotions may play a role, there are also physical, intellectual, behavioral and psychological aspects that must be identified and addressed. If you think of building a jigsaw puzzle, each piece makes the picture a little clearer but the puzzle is not complete until all the pieces are in place.

Copyright 2008 Glenn Stewart Coles