Taking on more than you can handle is a sure-fire way to raise your stress levels. Especially as people with migraine, we feel the stress of letting people down when we have to cancel because of an episode.
So we might feel the need to do too much when having a migraine-free day. We need to set firm boundaries and stick to them. If we don't take care of ourselves, how will we care for others?
Anxiety and stress can be significant factors in migraine attacks, but please don't insult or trigger someone by implying their migraine results from anxiety. Many migraine warriors will tell you their migraine causes their stress, not the other way around.
I was in denial about the impact of my stress and anxiety levels on my attacks for years since I'm rarely sick outside of migraine episodes. It caused unnecessary grief. Don't be me.
Are you clenching your jaw while you read this? I find it helps to be constantly aware of the muscle tension in my jaw, neck, and shoulders. I carry a lot, underscore, a lot of stress in my shoulders, and if I stay aware of the muscles in these parts of my body, I can preempt stress and anxiety as a trigger.
Stop. Breathe. Focus. Calm is one of my favorite guided meditation apps. It helps reduce my stress and anxiety by focusing on where I am right now. And yes, you get a lot of offerings with the free version.
Although yoga is excellent for managing stress and anxiety, it's not for everyone. I've found a few alternatives to help if yoga isn't for you. They include taking an Epsom salt bath (check with your doctor if you have high blood pressure) and acupressure mats.
All acupressure mats are not equal. Some acupressure mats are seriously like medieval torture, so remember, if it's too painful to lie on the mat, there's a problem. They should apply pressure, not gut-wrenching pain.
I know there are mixed views on what I'm about to say next, but I also use peppermint essential oils to manage my stress and anxiety. I am aware that some essential oils have caused flare-ups for some people with migraine. But for me, the peppermint oil blend from Plant Therapy is sent from up above. I dilute it with a carrier oil (jojoba or coconut) and apply it to the back of my neck and temples.
Riddle me this: Are you breathing correctly? Just taking a few minutes to close your eyes and focus on your breathing can do wonders for your stress level.
Breathing is beneficial to everything we do, but we don't often think about it since it's a reflex (for most of us).