Are stress headaches a thing?

If you’ve ever had a headache and felt it might have been caused by stress or made worse by it, you were probably right. Stress is a very common headache trigger. Both tension headaches and migraines can be triggered by stress, and stress may make them worse.

Migraine headaches are usually intense and can be debilitating. They may last for more than a day and are usually on only one side of the head. Normal activities like walking around, hearing certain sounds, or being in certain kinds of lighting may cause the pain to intensify with migraines. These headaches can even result in nausea and vomiting. Stress isn’t necessarily a source for migraines, but it can play a role in how a migraine headache unfolds. When stress is in play for someone with migraines, they may be more likely to experience a headache due to the inability to manage their typical migraine triggers. Stress may also distract someone from following their migraine care protocol.

Tension headaches are often called “stress headaches” and are very common. They may result in tightening around the head or neck and may also come with the pain that moves into the shoulders. While painful, these headaches aren’t usually a source of impairment like migraines may be. These headaches are thought to have stress as the main source.

Managing stress can be a key component of managing headache pain since tension headaches are common, and stress can influence migraine headaches. Relaxation techniques and routine self-care can help reduce stress and its symptoms, including headaches. To manage stress and improve your resilience to headaches, you can:

• Make time for activities you enjoy
• Practice relaxation like meditation or breathing exercises
• Prioritize tasks to make sure you include time in your day for rest; don’t add to your routine, move unnecessary things from it
• Get regular exercise
• Get quality sleep
• Eat well
• Cultivate humor and laughter
• Avoid caffeine

Your doctor should investigate headaches that disrupt your daily activities. Working with a therapist can help you with processing stress, learning coping skills specific to your situation, and give you a safe place to process your life’s stressors.