Five Ways To Beat The Migraine Trigger of Stress

Do you ever feel like life is a never-ending race?  You run and you run – often against your own will – longing for that moment when you can take a small breather to catch your breath.  When that moment finally does come, you do your best to catch your breath and then it’s off to the races again.

As amazing as life can be, it can be equally exhausting.  The rigors and responsibilities of daily life can take their toll on both your physical and emotional health.  If you don’t take advantage of the “breathers” life gives you (no matter how short they may be) – the stress will eventually reach a breaking point.  For migraineurs, keeping that stress in check is even more important as it can trigger attacks.

Here are five scientifically proven ways to unwind and reduce stress:

1.  Self-hypnosis

This technique helps relax both body and mind.  Additionally, it can be used to change bad habits and improve negative outlooks or perceptions that have become programmed into your mind.  Self-hypnosis involves guiding yourself through relaxation promoting imagery and reinforcing positive messages.  You can find various self-hypnosis guides and techniques online.

2.  Progressive Relaxation

This exercise helps relax the muscles within the body and will promote a sense of calm.  Starting at the head and working your way down through your toes, tense up each muscle group individually and then release.  As you release each muscle group, imagine the stress and tension from that muscles being released from your body.

3.  Makeout 

Unlike the first two exercises, this one requires a partner – but its results can be just as effective and infinitely more fun!  Kissing releases a number of mood enhancing chemicals such as serotonin, dopamine and oxytocin – all of which inhibit stress hormones in the body.

As if that weren’t reason enough for a little smooch – researchers also believe that kissing can even help alleviate headaches by dilating the blood vessels.  Two birds, one stone.

4.  Unplug

Many of us (myself included) spend our “breathers” transfixed in front of a screen.  Be it a cell phone, tablet, laptop or t.v. – Americans spend way too much time in front of screens.  One report by the Council for Research Excellence suggests we spend an average of 8.5 hours a day in front of screens.

While there is a certain therapeutic quality to sitting down to watch a good show or scrolling mindlessly through our Facebook feed – too much screen time can have an adverse effect on our minds.  This constant stimulation inhibits the mind’s ability to rest and decompress.  Additionally, online social interactions can often add an extra level of stress in our life’s without us evening knowing it.

If you’re not willing to unplug for long periods of time, you should at least do it before bedtime.  Disconnecting at least an hour before bedtime allows your body’s natural sleep cycles to kick in – helping you to get the rest you need.

5.  Socialize

Healthy relationships build self-esteem and increase your sense of fulfillment – both of which reduce stress and enhance your overall well-being.  To be clear, we’re not talking about social media relationships.  We’re talking about real, face-to-face interactions with friends.  These interactions promote our sense of belonging and can reduce feelings of depression and anxiety.

No matter how you unwind – it’s important to take advantage of every chance you get to take a “breather” in this race we call life.  Your physical, mental and emotional health all depend on it – and as a migraineur, it can be beneficial in preventing attacks.

How do you unwind after a long week?  Share your advice with us below or post a comment on our Facebook Page.