Guest Author - Joyce N. Eldridge, M.Ed.

If you have ever used the term, “stressed out” chances are you have also suffered a headache to go along with that stress. Stress is one of, if not the most common headache trigger. In fact, stress not only causes headaches, it affects every part of the body. Many professionals argue that in order to alleviate the headaches, a large step would be to get rid of the stress in your life. That is certainly easier said than done. Sometimes part of the battle is identifying what events are actually stressful. Many people actually underestimate which events/ activities cause stress. Of all the headache treatments out there, wouldn’t it be nice to try something that does not involve expensive medications and trips to hospital specialists?

Along with the usual advice of eating healthy and exercising, here are four more things that you can do to relieve stress and the headaches that go along with it:

1-Journal your symptoms to identify personal stressors and create an attack plan
Exactly what activities trigger a headache? Doctors suggest keeping a headache journal to track headache patterns and triggers. Do you get a headache every morning even before you get out of the door? Do you get stressed out when it is your turn to pick up the kids, cook dinner and help the kids with homework? Before moving on to the next steps, it is a good idea to identify which events/ activities elevate your stress levels. Once you know, you can create a plan to tackle the situation and avoid the headache.

2-Be prepared and have a plan
So, you have identified the stressors. Maybe it is the full schedule for the entire family, maybe it is the last minute cupcakes for your child’s bake sale, or maybe it is the three-hour roundtrip commute to and from work. Whatever it is, think of some alternatives. If you are used to doing something in a certain way, how can it be done different? More importantly, how can you make these events less stressful?

3-Know when to say when, do not overbook yourself and your family
You are only one person. You only have twenty-four hours in a day and seven days in a week. Stop overbooking the lives of you and your family and you will see a decrease in the stress factor. You must know when to say “when”. Not only will you de-stress but you will teach your family how to eliminate stress as well. Our children learn by watching us, do we really want to teach our children to overload themselves and suffer physical ailments such as headaches.

4-Build relaxation into your schedule
Take the time to unwind! A body that is rejuvenated is like a car that has had a tune-up. In today’s fast-paced world, people are so wound up that a good night’s sleep isn’t enough. It is harder than ever to just sit down and relax. Sometimes people need to seek professional help just to learn how to relax. If you fall into that category, don’t be ashamed, get the help you need. Most counseling professionals are trained in relaxation techniques and believe it or not, many medical professionals are recommending psychological interventions over prescribing medication.