Help. How do you get rid of a stress related migraine?

Question

I've been extremely stressed over something the last few days and now I have this migraine. Thankfully it's only coming in bursts every few hours but man does it hurt!!!

Any hints to alleviate/get rid of it?

OK...I officially have a freaking glitch. I selected the HEALTH SECTION!!!!!!!!!! NOT RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY!!!!!!!!!!


Thank you Yahoo, now my head hurts WORSE!!

This is the second time this has happened in the last few days....

Answer 1

I take Excedrin Migraine and a dark, quiet room to help get rid of the immediate pain. Also take some 5-HTP, to help get your serotonin levels up - this is the major biochemical factor in migraines. You can get 5-HTP at pretty much any drug, vitamin or health-food store. It's just a derivative of tryptophan. If I have migraines that last more than a day or two, this is a must-take supplement for me.

Also, if you know stress is the trigger, try some breathing excersises throughout the day, maybe some yoga if you can squeeze it in to the hectic schedule, just to bring your body and mind down a bit.

Hope you feel better!

Peace to you.

EDIT: as far as the diet, I'm sure it will vary from person to person, but I find dairy products help a lot actually. If I have a really bad migraine, I may not eat anything but yogurt and ice cream until it goes away - it's the same concept as taking the 5-HTP: get your serotonin levels up. Peace.

Answer 2

You could try Excedrin migraine. I get migraines as well, and that's what was "prescribed" to me. It works better than most headache medications. You can also try lying down in a dark, quiet room until the pain subsides. Hope you feel better.

Edit: Not sure why music was suggested, when most people who actually get migraines, can not stand any noise (regardless of how soft it is) or light.

Answer 3

Head-on migraine formula has always helped me. I rub it on my forehead, temples and neck. You'd be surprised at how many headaches originate out of the neck. Don't want to sound like a commercial, but it works. And, you can apply it as often as you want. Wouldn't hurt to take a xanax either if you can get some. Sorry about your headache. Those things are awful. I found that silver based fillings in my teeth caused most of mine.

Answer 4

If at all possible...a dark room , no tv or music
Stimulus irritates the part in our brains that cause the blood vessels to enlarge....( which brings on the migraine)
Also be careful of what you eat......
No dairy products
No Chocolate
No Spicy or Salty Foods
Eat
Small amounts of fruit ( Bananas are good)
Toast ( no butter) Honey
Some Yoghurt
Seeds n Raisins
I guess the more natural the food is the better ,least for as long as you can bear the diet......
Take Care...I know its horrible.....

Answer 5

Go get a massage and tell the therapist that you are having a tension headache. The therapist can help get rid of the headache and give you some tips to try to be stress free to prevent the headache from returning.

Answer 6

Most of my migraines are ocular only, but I've heard that running very warm water (not hot enough to burn, of course) over the inside of your wrists might help. It has something to do with dilated or constricted (can't remember which) veins in the head being a possible cause of migraines. Running hot water on the wrists causes those veins to dilate, thus relieving some of the blood pressure in your head.

It's probably a good idea to take an analgesic. I prefer ibuprofen for pain, but use whatever works best for you. Then, make yourself comfortable in a dark, quiet room, and try to relax all of your muscles. Start at the center of your face, and work out in concentric circles until you've relaxed every muscle in your head. If you're still awake, work slowly down to your toes, relaxing every muscles as you go. If you're still awake after all that, simply rest as long as you can.

I hope you feel better.

[Edit]

Apparently, I've been operating with old information. After this episode passes, you might want to check out the link below for more info. I've read that women who experience migraines with aura are at a greater risk for stroke, so you may want to discuss this with your doctor. My sister was a migraine sufferer (with aura), and had a massive stroke at the age of 49, which is when I learned about the possible connection.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/migraine.html
"Doctors used to believe migraines were linked to the opening and narrowing of blood vessels in the head. Now they believe the cause is related to genes that control the activity of some brain cells. Medicines can help prevent migraine attacks or help relieve symptoms of attacks when they happen. For many people, treatments to relieve stress can also help."
-- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

http://www.umm.edu/news/releases/migraine_stroke.htm
"Researchers from the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta report that women who have migraines accompanied by visual symptoms have a greater risk of stroke compared to women who do not have migraines."

and...

" 'Our study found that women who have visual symptoms of lines or spots just before or during a migraine headache had a 25 percent increased risk of stroke compared to women who do not have a history of migraine,' explains Steven Kittner, M.D., a professor of neurology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and a neurologist at the University of Maryland Medical Center. 'But women in our study who experienced visual loss along with their migraine headaches had a 70 percent higher risk of stroke,' adds Dr. Kittner, who is also a researcher at the Baltimore VA Medical Center. The researchers found that women who had migraines without visual symptoms did not have an increased risk of stroke."
.

Answer 7

Take a combination of tylenol, ibuprophen, and alieve (Don't over do it). eat some food, lie down on the couch without moving, and watch tv to get your mind off the stress. It works for me.

Answer 8

Get rid of the stress first.

Answer 9

lortab and budweiser,at least 5 mg otherwise the tylenol kills your liver and your buzz before the hydrocodone can do any good.'i use this method and can't feel my head at all.

Answer 10

Believe it or not, thats up to you.

Massage your feet.

2 types of headaches....depending on which one will decipher which foot will help. Its like massaging the inside of your temples.