I consider myself to be a pretty healthy person and every time I go to the doctor they tell me just that.

But, like so many others, I suffer from headaches and migraines. Today I wanted to share some tips on how I deal with them. My doctor has prescribed me medication that I do take, but I also like to try and relieve or diminish my headaches naturally. So all the tips and tricks mentioned in this post are 100% medication free.

 

What is the difference between a headache and a migraine? 

For a long time I used these two nouns interchangeably; when really, they’re very different.

A headache is where you have pain in your head that lasts for a while. Your head could feel tight, pounding, hot, or even have a dull ache.

A migraine has all the symptoms above plus nausea, light sensitivity, sensitivity to certain smells, dizziness, extreme fatigue and much more.

 

Ok. Now that I’ve clarified a little bit on this topic. Let’s get into how I deal with them!

 

Back Away From All Screens

Being an online student, blogger, and internet junkie, it can be very hard to back away from the screen. I used to think I’d get off my computer, then two seconds later go onto reading an ebook on my Kindle. Hello? A Kindle is still a screen!

I know you’re probably thinking, what am I supposed to do – stare at a wall?

Trust me I thought the same thing at first. If I don’t feel like getting up and doing something super productive like cleaning or baking, I’ll go paint my nails, walk my dog, or just sit down and chat with a loved one. I find that just 20-30 minutes away from that bright screen can really help your head feel better.

 

Bye Bye, Pony Tail!

As much as it pains me to say this, it is so true.  Like so many others, I wear my hair up in a ponytail 90% of the time. I know it’s probably not the best, but sometimes I just don’t want to deal with my hair. Anyways, having your hair constantly pulled back in a tight ponytail (or bun) can put a strain on your cranial nerves. Thus, leading to head distress; especially if you’re prone to headaches and/or migraines.

 

 

Re-fuel

Believe it or not, headaches are often brought on by hunger. If it’s been a few hours since you had your last bite to eat, grab a snack. I find that nutrient dense snacks such as nuts, greek yogurt, cheese sticks, protein bars, and dark chocolate help me the most.

 

Hydrate

This goes hand in hand with the last one. Lack of water consumption can also lead to headaches – see a pattern here? You need to keep your body hydrated and nourished! I always try and keep both a healthy snack and bottled water with me at all times. A lot of times just taking a 10-minute snack break whilst chatting with a friend can make my head feel loads better!

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BQyiccThgIU/

 

ASMR Videos

ASMR is becoming more and more popular. At first, I was embarrassed to say I watched them, but they help me relax and why should I be embarrassed about that?

ASMR stands for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response. To put it in more understandable terms, you know the feeling when you get your hair brushed? That real relaxing, tingle-y feeling is ASMR. If you go on YouTube and type in “ASMR” you’ll find a wide variety of videos. Some of people whispering, typing, acting, coloring – you name it! We all have different things that trigger our ASMR so it may take a couple videos to find something that relaxes you. I find that tapping and soft-spoken “haul” videos help me relax and even make my head feel better on occasion.

 

Eliminate Stress

The most common headaches are brought on by stress! Stress is really not good for any of us, and it can lead to high blood pressure, sleepless nights, and (you guessed it) headaches! I know eliminating stress is easier said than done, but try and eliminate even the smallest amount each day. I plan on writing a post in the future about how I eliminate stress in my life. As for today’s post, I recommend asking yourself, “Will this be important in 5 years?” If the answer is no, then reevaluate the situation and attempt to see it from a different perspective. Odds are you’ll realize that big mountain is just a small ant hill.

 

 

 

I hope these tips and tricks helped you guys! I’m not a professional by any means but am speaking from my own experience. Feel free to share your tips on how you relieve/deal with your headaches in the comments below.

 

Question Time:

Do you get headaches? How do you deal?

Have you ever watched ASMR videos? 

 

 

Disclaimer: I am in no way a medical professional. Please seek a doctor and/or medical professional before making any changes in your migraine and/or headache treatment plan.