Almost everyone, doctors and sufferers alike, agrees that stress is strongly connected to migraine. Most people with migraine notice that their attacks become more frequent or more severe when they are under pressure. And a few find that, having coped successfully with a stressful situation, they have an attack when they are at last able to relax. Sometimes the link between stress and migraine becomes a vicious circle when the disappointments and frustrations of having to live with the condition contribute to the stress.


Is there a cure?

There is no once and for all cure for migraine. There are however, a number of drug treatments that can help stop an attack or prevent attacks occurring in the first place. Your doctor will be able to advise which of the treatments is likely to best for you. Some people find these treatments very effective but, unfortunately, they don’t work for everyone. And some people, understandably enough, don’t like the idea of taking tablets.

While it’s only sensible to get medical advice about your migraine, you can make a big difference yourself. One thing to do is to ask yourself some questions about how you lead your life. Are you coping with the stress or are the migraine attacks a sign that you are letting it get on top of you? Try to identify ‘triggers’ – some foods, overwork, the environment – and avoid them.

How can R for L help?

The most basic and important step is to learn to relax properly.
If you feel yourself becoming over-anxious, use the WASP technique
Check for tension in your body throughout the day, try to avoid pressure building up – see Standing Posture and Sitting Posture
Practise the relaxation exercises and try to build them into your daily routine
Check out your Mental Attitudes - how realistic are your worries?