Migraine

I think I read that stress is not a migraine trigger. (is this true? is there someone that can explain the details?)

I started getting migraines at the age of 10, about twice a month. (this was the beginning of puberty for me , but also a time in my life with many upsetting and stressful family and school changes and issues). This frequency continued for about four years. After that, the attacks waned: I only had one attack per year, always on the first day of the school year. This happened 3 years in a row. I have always attributed this pattern to the high levels of stress, anxiety and nervousness that I always felt on the first day of school. Around the time that my migraine attacks lessened in frequency, I started to experience daily tension type headaches. (I suspect that maybe I have transformed migraine, but have yet to have that confirmed by a doctor) So during this 3 year period, I was still having tons of headaches, but I did not label them migraines.

So if stress is not a trigger, I'm wondering why I was experiencing classic migraine attacks only on a day where the main common denominators were my emotional stress, anxiety and nervousness. Anyone else experience something similar? Anyone know more about the role of stress in migraine attacks?

Nikki

We call stress an exacerbating trigger. You might have another trigger lurking around but all it takes is some stress to put you over the edge.

Think of your immune system. You may have been exposed to a cold or virus but not have the cold, and then stress comes along and bang! You've got the cold.

It works with migraine triggers to give them the kick they need to trigger a migraine.

You read correctly. Stress itself, is not a trigger. Although, some of the stress symptoms, can contribute to a migraine.

I get tension type headaches. Recently dx'd with transformed migraines. Tension type headaches for me, can be brought on by stress, anxiety, the way I sit at my computer, daily life - you name it.

The TTH (tension type headache) can trigger a migraine for me.

So you see, even though the stress itself did not trigger the migraine, it still can in a way contribute to the attack. Stress can bring on TTH for me by the way I tense up my neck/shoulder area - I tend to when I concentrate more wrinkle up my brow - which can cause tension across my forehead (and wrinkles! ).

I knew we had something about stress on the site! Just took me a few to find it!

Here is a migraine cast that Teri did explaining all about stress and if it is a trigger.

Nikki,

We have a podcast on this. You HERE or read the transcript HERE.

Hope this helps!

LOL! We were posting at the same time, Eileen!

quote:

Originally posted by EileenHOST:
I knew we had something about stress on the site! Just took me a few to find it!

Here is a migraine cast that Teri did explaining all about stress and if it is a trigger.

This is how it happens in my case too.

For example, I am nervous about an appt so my anxiety raises. Then I am sitting in the waiting area and it is too warm. The stress has set me on the edge (lowered my threshold) and when I encounter the trigger of heat, WHAM!!

Hey, I agree with you. They say stress does not cause but contributes but bottom line, if I have a real problem and a lot of stress about 2 hours later, I will have a massive headache in addition.

Headache or Migraine? While stress is absolutely proven as a trigger for tension-type headache, it is not a proven Migraine trigger.

quote:

Originally posted by Harold Gordon:
Hey, I agree with you. They say stress does not cause but contributes but bottom line, if I have a real problem and a lot of stress about 2 hours later, I will have a massive headache in addition.

I always found I got the migraine AFTER the stressful event. For example, I was able to get through the event or traums but when things settle down, or the next day, it would hit.

I have had migraines for about 30 yrs and of course it did not happen all the time but frequently enough to see a pattern. I think there was a term for this, anyone?

lisa

I think I've seen the term "letdown headache." That's what I call mine, anyway.

Gretchen

Hi guys,

I'd have to say I certainly relate to the whole "letdown migraine" thing...

My family and I have learned to expect that I am great in stressful times. When the kids are really sick, when Dh is out of town, when very serious, unexpected things happen in my life, they can ALWAYS count on me to take care of things. I'm pretty reliable that way.

BUT, when the stressful time is over, LOOK OUT! I get a super-charged whopper of a migraine! For me, a major contributing factor is my teeth clenching and jaw pain. I clench and grind my teeth a lot during stressful times, and the resulting jaw pain often shifts to migraine pain very quickly.

So I guess I can't really say that my stress causes my migraine, but the two are most certainly related!!!

jenny

I also get some of my worst Migraines at times of stress let-down. I know it's not proven, and of course I am just theorizing, but I wouldn't be surprised if a connection is found between stress hormones (adrenalin & cortisol) and Migraine. Lots of my stress let-down Migraines I can't identify any other triggers, and the Migraine comes on as soon as the stress is over, kaboom. Like leading a seminar, which I find very stressful and get really "up" for (probably lots of stress hormones present), and 80% of the time I have a Migraine within 1/2 an hour of the end of the seminar.

Jenny I also have that great in a crisis thing, and I seem to move faster, think more clearly, etc, (the way adrenalin is supposed to affect you) then as soon as it's over, Migraine.

Again, I'm just speculating, but I'll be interested to see if there's more research done on this.

- Megs

Let me join the team of stress let down migraine suffers. I'm like you all said-great in stressful situations and will do whatever it takes to get through the crises or event. However, when it's over and I've had time to sit down and catch my breath, WAMMO! I call them my "crash and burn" migraines.

I wonder if we just go at such a pace during a traumatic even to crises that we just don't slow down or think until it's over and then we're all totally exhausted and those stackable triggers seem to hit all at once. Either way, I'm in the same club with you guys!
Lynn

I get the let down migraines too. It seems during a very busy stressful time, I have a mild migraine but the minute it's over . . . WHAM . . . I'm down for a 3-dayer.