MANAGING MENTAL HEALTH IN MIGRAINES

It has been estimated that about 30 to 50% of individuals who suffer from chronic migraines deal with anxiety or another form of mental illness. Migraineurs tend to experience a life of hardship due to the nature of their migraines. The pain, the symptoms, and the judgment of others can all have an influence on creating a stressful life. There are methods and ways to manage your migraines in order to avoid high levels of stress and this is important because good stress management can help prevent mental illness episodes in the present and in the future.

First, we must remember that migraines are a form of neurological condition, which means it is not a simple headache. There are many forms of medications that can aid the pain and symptoms of migraines; therefore, it is important to have a primary care practitioner, neurologist, or other healthcare professionals that can follow your case. Create a good relationship with your doctor and always explore the safest and most effective forms of medications for your specific migraine. Migraines can change over time, so keep track of your symptoms in order to report them to your doctor then he/she can reevaluate and possibly introduce new types of medication.

Second, develop a mindfulness practice. This can be in the form of sitting meditation, movement meditation, or speech meditation. Meditation allows you to take charge of your breath by controlling it for different practices. Though it may take time to develop breath control and body awareness, the effort and time that you put in will definitely pay off in the long run. The deeper and slower you learn to breathe, the more likely you are to dissociate from the body, the mind, and consequently the pain that the body experiences. The best way to create a meditation schedule is to meditate once a day at the same time. Whether you are experiencing a migraine or not, stick to a schedule to the best of your ability.

Lastly, eat a well-balanced diet. You may wonder how is healthy eating going to manage mental health or migraines. The simple answer falls under the relationship between the brain and the gut. Recent research shows humans have learned that the neurons in the brain and the gut have a connection, known as the gut-brain axis (GBA), and it is

influenced heavily by what we eat. A healthy diet of fruits, vegetables, and homemade meals can help improve the gut, which case will also provide relief to the brain chemistry. Consequently, this can improve the severity and intensity of migraine attacks. If you would like to adapt to some changes today, begin by lowering your intake of sugar and processed foods because packaged goods could have preservatives that might trigger migraine attacks, so it is best to be safe than sorry.

In conclusion, it is important to prevent mental ailments, which can be common in migraineurs especially if they experience chronic episodes. I believe the most important step is to have your medications ready, so you can carry them at all times in case a migraine attack takes place. Nonetheless, in the long term consider working on your diet and your breathing, the tips here are to help you get started. Forms of meditation such as sitting, yoga, and biofeedback can help you build a tolerance to pain, which can be a great relief in a migraine attack.

Become a survivor by being proactive about your health, so your story can also inspire millions of people suffering from this debilitating condition.