Migraines. May you never get one, but know how to relieve them if you ever do. In the past few years, my struggle with migraines has become increasingly frustrating.
Initially I got them when the weather changed from cold to warm.
And then I got them when the weather changed from warm to cold.
Now I get them if I sleep wrong. Or if I am stressed.
Or if I missed a meal. Or if I am even slightly dehydrated.
Knowing my migraines were triggered by general life made it difficult for me to find a cure.
Pain is defined as the physical suffering or discomfort caused by illness or injury.
As my migraines became chronic, I realized that pain can be accompanied by mental misery.
I spent weeks in the beginning of my fight with migraines mentally and emotionally exhausted.
Losing my calm demeanor and replacing it with ball of anxious energy at the pit of my stomach.
Wondering: When would the next migraine hit? Would I lose my vision this time?
Would I have to miss another day of work? Would I lose my job?
My friends? My life?
I was unable to eat. Unable to sleep. Unable to function as a normal human.
Knowing that the agenda of my migraines was out of my control made the anxiety worse.
The thought and anxiety of possibly getting a migraine triggered them.
Medication Was Not Effective
My doctor gave me a concoction of toxic and debilitating drugs that worked but left me comatose.
I tried almost every medication available in a matter of months — often abusing the painkillers I was given
because feeling numb was better than feeling a firework show going off in my head.
I was never alone in my abuse; 12.5 million strangers were abusing pain medication.
We were together, but we were not treating the problem of our own chronic pain.
I tried alcohol. Knowing full well that a night of drinking usually left me with a headache, but hoping it
would be counterintuitive in this case and bring some relief.
Pain is one of the top ten reasons people abuse drugs or alcohol.
So again, I was not alone in my thinking.
Eventually I gave up substances to cure my chronic pain.
They left me in more pain, with a weight of withdrawal symptoms stacked against me.
The reason they didn’t work? They weren’t treating the underlying problem.
Holistic Options Worked
Ultimately I turned to what I know to be true: holistic treatments worked for me, so I focused on them.
I honed in on the cause of the pain instead of trying to treat the symptoms of the problem.
Now, I’m not a doctor, so please consult a medical professional before choosing to end using certain medications or treatments.
Yoga
Instead of investing my time, money, and energy in destructive and debilitating drugs, I downward dogged my way out of my depression and anxiety.
Thanks to many people working as one, the awareness of mental health is expanding. I focused on the benefits of yoga practice, pressing my forehead into the ground with a pranayama force. Breathing into the parts of my face, neck, and back that seized under the pressures of life. Working to relax the parts of me that were working against me.
Aromatherapy
I integrated aromatherapy into my yoga sessions. The blending of peppermint, frankincense, and lavender in my diffuser to soothe my soul and my skull.
I always keep a bottle of peppermint handy on days when I feel my upper body muscles tightening to cool any pressure I am feeling. I apply a drop to each of my temples and behind my ears for some relief.
Distractions
Focusing on anything other than the pain brought me a sense of relief as well. On days where nothing worked, I would imagine beaches, snowy ski hills, adventures with my family. Anything to keep my focus off the pain helped dull it a little.
Chiropractic Therapy
When I finally gave into the idea of chiropractic therapy, my ailments and symptoms seemed to alleviate significantly. For years, I knew my pain always started at the base of my neck but normally chalked it up to being a kink, a weird sleeping position, or one of the (many) above triggers.
In looking at the x-rays the chiropractor took, it was clear as day what was causing my increased migraines: my neck was a mess.
The doctor informed me that I had a case of cervical degenerative discs. The vertebrae in my neck were supposed to support one another at a 90-degree angle but were instead at about a 10-degree angle, stacking one directly on top of another and pinching many nerves in the process.
As a part of my treatment, I was adjusted 3-4 times a week for a matter of a couple months. I was asked to change my pillow to correct the lack of curve in my neck. After every adjustment came a day or two of relief. Sweet, sweet relief.
Massage Therapy
Anytime I can justify forking over my hard-earned money on a massage, I do.
In the case of my chronic migraine pain, though, they became essential to my relief.
As I have learned my anxiety manifests itself in my shoulders and neck, causing massive knots of muscles and pressure and pain — so much pain. My massage therapist helped me get the knots to loosen up over time, and through continual manipulation of my muscles, has given me a full month of relief as of today.
Bonus: my massage therapist swears by aromatherapy in her sessions, so I get a double dose of holistic health care at one time!
Chronic pain takes on many different forms for many different people.
It can range from physical to mental ailments that affect your everyday life.
It is not anyone’s place to judge the severity of that pain. Only you know your body and your threshold.
Using holistic treatment approaches can help to alleviate the root problem of the pain.
Remember, you are never alone in your search for relief.
Chronic pain is a common, debilitating, invisible disability.
Find what works for you and stick to it.
Chronic pain can be overcome!
Need A Massage? Learn How To Give One To Yourself And Your Loved Ones
Receiving a massage, whether it’s given by someone else or self-administered, can help loosen your muscles and establish a better connection not only with your body but also with the people you love.
