
What gives you a Headache?
(take the Headache Survey at the bottom of the page!)
Headaches are often tied to stress, leading to muscle tension, followed by a headache. Who wants a headache? No one, I hope. But can you dare to call your headache your friend? If your “friend,” the headache, could talk what would she (or he) be trying to tell you? What would you say back to her (or him)?
For me, I think back on the different kinds of headaches I’ve suffered and I try to connect with the messages they wish to convey (easier to do in hindsight, but if you can catch it in the moment, it can be revelatory). And then I ask myself, What's my gratitude to this headache, as a message from my body?
Do you relate to any of these common causes of headaches?
Headache #1: Ice Cream Headache
What’s my Gratitude to this headache?
Not all headaches are "bad". I LOVE ice cream! Totally worth it
Headache #2: Pregnancy and Post-Partum Headache
What’s my Gratitude to this headache?
Pregnancy was a rough road, but it doesn't last forever. Now, three years later, I love my beautiful children, even when they’re screaming, fighting, biting, drawing on the walls, climbing up the walls, etc.
Headache #3: Teeth-grinding and clenching Headache
What’s my Gratitude to this headache?
Learning life lessons - It can take a person a long time to realize they are grinding or clenching their teeth - it did for me - as often us clenchers do a lot of it at night in our sleep. But when you do become conscious of it, you can think of it as an aspect of your self-expression that you are not expressing, and this is a cause of stress and tension.
Headache #4: The ghost of shingles (neuritis) Headache
What’s my Gratitude to this headache?
My spiritual indicator. I get shingles when it's time for me to pay attention to the big picture.
Headache #5: Concussion Headache
What’s my Gratitude to this headache?
1) I'm glad the squirrel made it out alive, and 2) this is a a story for another day.
Headache #6: Dental Work Headache
What’s my Gratitude to this headache?
My teeth are (mostly) healthy again, and I'm grateful for that.
Headache #7: Fumes & Perfumes Headache
What’s my Gratitude to this headache?
I'm sensitive to chemicals and that has a bad side and a good side. The good side it essential oils and aromatherapy can work wonders for me when I'm needing an extra boost, like when I have a headache.
Headache #8: Wet (heavy) Hair Headache
What’s my Gratitude to this headache?
Time for a haircut, and that’s always fun.
Headache #9: Too much Sun Headache
What’s my Gratitude to this headache?
See “Ice Cream” above - I just can't get enough.
Headache #10: Too little Sun/Cold
What’s my Gratitude to this headache?
Life Lesson: East Coast winters are not for me.
Headache #11: Migraine Headache
What’s my Gratitude to this headache?
Learning self compassion.
Headache #12: Too much computer time Headache
What’s my Gratitude to this headache?
Get up and move your body! And don’t forget to breathe!
When I suffer a headache, it’s a really big deal (for me, anyway) and my whole world stops. That’s why it only took three minutes to come up with this personal list of 12 different headaches, because I experience headaches as a big friggin’ deal.
So get to know yourself a little better by naming your headaches and what triggers them. Send a little love to yourself and be curious about why your head hurts. . . there may be a helpful message amongst the throbbing, pounding and turning of the vice grips. Then let's move on and talk about solutions.
Next Blog: “What works to relieve Headaches and what doesn’t”
(take the Headache Survey at the bottom of the page!)
Headaches are often tied to stress, leading to muscle tension, followed by a headache. Who wants a headache? No one, I hope. But can you dare to call your headache your friend? If your “friend,” the headache, could talk what would she (or he) be trying to tell you? What would you say back to her (or him)?
For me, I think back on the different kinds of headaches I’ve suffered and I try to connect with the messages they wish to convey (easier to do in hindsight, but if you can catch it in the moment, it can be revelatory). And then I ask myself, What's my gratitude to this headache, as a message from my body?
Do you relate to any of these common causes of headaches?
Headache #1: Ice Cream Headache
What’s my Gratitude to this headache?
Not all headaches are "bad". I LOVE ice cream! Totally worth it
Headache #2: Pregnancy and Post-Partum Headache
What’s my Gratitude to this headache?
Pregnancy was a rough road, but it doesn't last forever. Now, three years later, I love my beautiful children, even when they’re screaming, fighting, biting, drawing on the walls, climbing up the walls, etc.
Headache #3: Teeth-grinding and clenching Headache
What’s my Gratitude to this headache?
Learning life lessons - It can take a person a long time to realize they are grinding or clenching their teeth - it did for me - as often us clenchers do a lot of it at night in our sleep. But when you do become conscious of it, you can think of it as an aspect of your self-expression that you are not expressing, and this is a cause of stress and tension.
Headache #4: The ghost of shingles (neuritis) Headache
What’s my Gratitude to this headache?
My spiritual indicator. I get shingles when it's time for me to pay attention to the big picture.
Headache #5: Concussion Headache
What’s my Gratitude to this headache?
1) I'm glad the squirrel made it out alive, and 2) this is a a story for another day.
Headache #6: Dental Work Headache
What’s my Gratitude to this headache?
My teeth are (mostly) healthy again, and I'm grateful for that.
Headache #7: Fumes & Perfumes Headache
What’s my Gratitude to this headache?
I'm sensitive to chemicals and that has a bad side and a good side. The good side it essential oils and aromatherapy can work wonders for me when I'm needing an extra boost, like when I have a headache.
Headache #8: Wet (heavy) Hair Headache
What’s my Gratitude to this headache?
Time for a haircut, and that’s always fun.
Headache #9: Too much Sun Headache
What’s my Gratitude to this headache?
See “Ice Cream” above - I just can't get enough.
Headache #10: Too little Sun/Cold
What’s my Gratitude to this headache?
Life Lesson: East Coast winters are not for me.
Headache #11: Migraine Headache
What’s my Gratitude to this headache?
Learning self compassion.
Headache #12: Too much computer time Headache
What’s my Gratitude to this headache?
Get up and move your body! And don’t forget to breathe!
When I suffer a headache, it’s a really big deal (for me, anyway) and my whole world stops. That’s why it only took three minutes to come up with this personal list of 12 different headaches, because I experience headaches as a big friggin’ deal.
So get to know yourself a little better by naming your headaches and what triggers them. Send a little love to yourself and be curious about why your head hurts. . . there may be a helpful message amongst the throbbing, pounding and turning of the vice grips. Then let's move on and talk about solutions.
Next Blog: “What works to relieve Headaches and what doesn’t”