I was a regular Migraine sufferer throughout my teens and into my late 20’s and in the beginning, I was desperate to find Ways to relieve Migraine pain. I would very quickly have the most excruciating banging headache and find myself vomiting for at least 4 hours. I would have to lie down in a very dark room with a cold compress on my head, and sick bucket very close by! As you can imagine this was very debilitating when studying at school and into my working life.
After suffering regularly for a while, I sought advice from my GP and was prescribed Migraine painkillers with anti-emetics. As soon as I could feel the onset of the Migraine, I would take the tablet and lie down in the dark. Sometimes it worked, but sometimes not and then it would take several days to recover. Fortunately, I rarely get a Migraine now, but when I do, I have my coping strategies in place to relieve the length of the attack.
What causes Migraines?
The exact cause of Migraines remains unknown. They are a chronic debilitating neurological disease, meaning abnormal brain activity affecting the temporary change of chemicals in our brain, nerves, and blood vessels. They are so much more than a headache and can take several days to recover from.
There are several types of Migraine, including:
- Migraine with aura – visual disturbances start before the headache, such as flashing lights.
- Migraine without aura – the most common type and the throbbing pain starts with no warning.
- Migraine aura without headache – silent migraine – this is where the visual disturbance and nausea symptoms are experienced but with no headache.
The list is vast of what factors trigger Migraines, including: hormonal, emotional, physical, dietary, environmental, and medicinal factors. My main triggers are chocolate, caffeine, dehydration, and stress! If you suffer with Migraines, it is worth making notes to try to identify yours.
Ways to relieve Migraine pain
There is no cure, but there are ways to relieve Migraine pain.
- You should always seek advice from a GP if you have frequent or severe Migraine symptoms.
- Over the counter painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, can be effective for Migraine. But “Try not to use the maximum dosage of painkillers on a regular or frequent basis as this could make it harder to treat headaches over time.” Extract from the NHS website. I was a victim of this. I was taking ibuprofen and sometimes paracetamol to its maximum daily dose. Because I woke with a headache, I took them to prevent it from turning into a Migraine. I weaned myself off and my daily headaches stopped!
- A more hands-on way to relieve Migraine pain, especially if they are exacerbated from tension in your head, neck, and shoulders, consider having a regular massage or holistic treatment. Because this will release the tightness, bringing relaxation and reduce stress.
- Having Solution Focused Hypnotherapy is another way to relieve Migraine symptoms. Not only do the sessions help reduce your stress and help you sleep better, but we also go through lots of coping techniques which can be used so you recover quickly from a Migraine.
When I get a Migraine now, I take painkillers, drink plenty of water, lie down in a darkened room, do relaxation techniques, and listen my relaxation recording. I have a regular massage to help prevent the tension building in my neck and shoulders. Here is my latest relaxation recording on YouTube, or I can send you the audio version.
To find out more on how Hypnotherapy can help relieve Migraine pain, book a free initial consultation. You can find my details through my booking page or via the National Council for Hypnotherapy. Sessions are either in person in Great Addington or over Zoom.