Stress Management Tools to Help With Migraines

Stress has shown to be a migraine trigger, though it is a migraine trigger in and of itself those who suffer from chronic migraines find that their migraines causes stresses thus prolonging the migraine cycle. So how does one relive his or her stress? Stress management tools can be used to treat migraines and do so effectively thus reducing the amount of migraines one experiences, the frequency of his or her migraines as well and the durations of the migraine.

Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic care regularly falls within the category of alternative treatment; however it is becoming much more accepted by both the mainstream medical community as well as an acceptable form of migraine treatment. The main determination behind the concept of chiropractic care is to aid in lessening symptoms of pain and other issues by correcting any imbalances in the skeletal configuration. The forms of adjustment of the skeletal structure are made through techniques such as stretches, adjustments, as well as manipulations where the imbalance can be restored and results in lessening of symptoms. Chiropractic care as used for migraine treatment has become increasingly more popular because of the ability for chiropractic care to benefit the migraine sufferer and offer pain and stress relief that is so often related to migraine.

Biofeedback

The stressors of migraine pain can be eased using biofeedback. Biofeedback is a mind and body relaxation technique that helps migraine sufferers learn about their body’s natural internal process to control relaxation.

Biofeedback uses an electronic device to measure stress-related responses in the body. After much research biofeedback is able to help relieve many types of chronic pain, including migraine.

The electronic device is connected so that it can inform the migraine patient and the therapist when the patient is physically relaxing his or her body. Sensors are able to report muscle tension, heart rate, breathing patter, the amount sweat produced and body temperature. Some therapists are able to use a single one of these sensors, although it may be helpful to use all, to see if a migraine patient is learning to relax.

The design of biofeedback is to first teach the body how to react to stressors in a controlled environment. Once the fibromyalgia patient is able to react properly inside of a controlled environment, then he or she should be able to start reacting properly in daily life. There are many different types of biofeedback devices: Elecromyograph, Peripheral Skin Temperature, and Elecroderm Response will be discussed below.

EMG (Electromyograph) – The most common biofeedback therapy is the EMG. Because the EMG is used to help correct muscle pain and stiffness it can be the most useful for migraine patients. The device that is used is called an electromyograph which is able to measure the electricity given off by the patient’s muscles.

PST (Peripheral Skin Temperature) – A less common form of biofeedback is the PST. The PST is able to measure electrical impulses given off by the flow of a patient’s blood. By doing so, it is able to give information about skin temperature.

EDR (Elecroderm Response) – An EDR is considered sweating biofeedback. It is able to monitor electricity produced by a patient’s sweating reflexes. This form is usually used to help with anxiety and depression. While some therapists just use one devise and type of biofeedback devices, it is most common for them to use a combination of biofeedback devices.

Massage Therapy

The two main symptoms that are presented by the condition of migraine are fatigue and pain. Massage therapy can aid in lessening both of these symptoms by helping the migraine suffer to be able to experience less pain, obtain more sleep, and also to help relax some of the tightened and stiff muscles that can contribute too much of the pain. Research has proven that the use of massage therapy as a form of migraine treatment can help migraine sufferers experience deeper levels of sleep and lessen levels of pain and fatigue. The way that massage therapy accomplishes this is by using the different forms of massage to help oxygenate the body as a whole which can decrease the severity of symptoms that a migraine sufferer will experience. Massage therapy can help migraine sufferers find relief from their symptoms specifically by:

1. Improving Sleep
2. Decreasing Anxiety & Stress
3. Increasing Blood Circulation

Tags: Biofeedback, EDR (Elecroderm Response), EMG (Electromyograph), natural treatment, PST (Peripheral Skin Temperature), sensors, sweating biofeedback