The term “It’s giving me a headache” is more than a flowery expression: do you know there is some truth to that? If you’ve ever undergone a headache that just wouldn’t go away no matter how many pills you’ve taken, and yet brain scans show nothing wrong, chances are, you’ve suffered from tension headaches.
What exactly are tension headaches? Some people might call them migraines, but the term “tension headache” gives it a much clearer explanation. Technically, these are headaches that are caused by worrying or thinking too much. As such, they are not as easily solved by simply popping an analgesic. This makes them all the more irritating and debilitating: you can hardly think straight, much less work efficiently when these little nuisances strike you.
So how do you deal with a tension headache?
1. Sleep it off. Sleep is a great antidote to stress or any anxiety you might be facing. Unfortunately, if it is too much worry that caused that headache, chances are, that same worry is also keeping you from falling asleep easily. This means you might have to make a more conscious effort of nodding off: it could mean turning on some light, soothing music, listening to comforting words, or sometimes even taking a sleeping pill. Some people report finding relief from their bothersome thoughts by listening to comforting preaching on CDs, the keyword being “comforting.”
2. Listen to soothing music. You can listen to music whether or not you intend to fall asleep. For some reason, soothing music is scientifically proven to have a positive effect on a person’s brain cells. Interestingly, there have been experiments done on plants that have been exposed to different kinds of music: the results showed that the plants exposed to classical music grew up well while those that were fed a daily diet of rock music shrivelled up and died. It is likely that music would have a similar effect on the human brain as well.
3. Although analgesics may sometimes not work on tension headaches, it’s still worth a shot. Just make sure you do not overdo it. Taking one pill per day should be enough to show you whether or not it is truly caused by tension or by something physiological.
4. Deal with what is causing the tension. If you are anxious about money or the future, you need to find a way to be assured about it. This does not mean you run to the local fortune teller to tell you your future is going to be good. But some people have found solace in knowing that someone is looking out for their good, be it a family member, a loved one, or for Christians, a God who is not so distant but rather actively involved in their lives. Dealing with the root will get rid of the fruit, or as they say in medicine, prevention is better than cure.
5. Consult professionals. While doctors are at the top of the list, when they finally rule it out as a tension headache, they may wind up referring you to psychologists or psychiatrists in order to find what is bothering you. While these may be helpful, sometimes you might not find lasting solace, as the thoughts may just recur again and again, and without the expert to help you control your thoughts, you will still be stuck. On the other hand, people who go to church find counselling with pastors or church leaders to be helpful, as they get assured of their identity as believers and what blessings they are entitled to because of what their God has done for them. This kind of mindset does not require the presence of another person to help them overcome the difficult thoughts, which result in a longer lasting relief.
As you can see, dealing with tension headaches may not be as straightforward as getting a prescription, which makes them more complicated to deal with. But once you identify that there are certain thoughts that are bugging you incessantly, you will find that there are ways in which you can find solutions for those worries and anxieties. When that happens, you can be sure you can kiss your tension headaches goodbye, never to see them again!
What exactly are tension headaches? Some people might call them migraines, but the term “tension headache” gives it a much clearer explanation. Technically, these are headaches that are caused by worrying or thinking too much. As such, they are not as easily solved by simply popping an analgesic. This makes them all the more irritating and debilitating: you can hardly think straight, much less work efficiently when these little nuisances strike you.
So how do you deal with a tension headache?
1. Sleep it off. Sleep is a great antidote to stress or any anxiety you might be facing. Unfortunately, if it is too much worry that caused that headache, chances are, that same worry is also keeping you from falling asleep easily. This means you might have to make a more conscious effort of nodding off: it could mean turning on some light, soothing music, listening to comforting words, or sometimes even taking a sleeping pill. Some people report finding relief from their bothersome thoughts by listening to comforting preaching on CDs, the keyword being “comforting.”
2. Listen to soothing music. You can listen to music whether or not you intend to fall asleep. For some reason, soothing music is scientifically proven to have a positive effect on a person’s brain cells. Interestingly, there have been experiments done on plants that have been exposed to different kinds of music: the results showed that the plants exposed to classical music grew up well while those that were fed a daily diet of rock music shrivelled up and died. It is likely that music would have a similar effect on the human brain as well.
3. Although analgesics may sometimes not work on tension headaches, it’s still worth a shot. Just make sure you do not overdo it. Taking one pill per day should be enough to show you whether or not it is truly caused by tension or by something physiological.
4. Deal with what is causing the tension. If you are anxious about money or the future, you need to find a way to be assured about it. This does not mean you run to the local fortune teller to tell you your future is going to be good. But some people have found solace in knowing that someone is looking out for their good, be it a family member, a loved one, or for Christians, a God who is not so distant but rather actively involved in their lives. Dealing with the root will get rid of the fruit, or as they say in medicine, prevention is better than cure.
5. Consult professionals. While doctors are at the top of the list, when they finally rule it out as a tension headache, they may wind up referring you to psychologists or psychiatrists in order to find what is bothering you. While these may be helpful, sometimes you might not find lasting solace, as the thoughts may just recur again and again, and without the expert to help you control your thoughts, you will still be stuck. On the other hand, people who go to church find counselling with pastors or church leaders to be helpful, as they get assured of their identity as believers and what blessings they are entitled to because of what their God has done for them. This kind of mindset does not require the presence of another person to help them overcome the difficult thoughts, which result in a longer lasting relief.
As you can see, dealing with tension headaches may not be as straightforward as getting a prescription, which makes them more complicated to deal with. But once you identify that there are certain thoughts that are bugging you incessantly, you will find that there are ways in which you can find solutions for those worries and anxieties. When that happens, you can be sure you can kiss your tension headaches goodbye, never to see them again!
