Do You Get Stress Headaches?

[Christine]

I do on occasion and I hate them. I didn't used to get them, but have started doing so in the past few years.

Yesterday, I had a really bad day at work. I won't go into details but it is definitely a "control" issue (me not having any ) and the situation really stressed me. We had our company luncheon at a very loud restaurant. Then I got stuck in a 2-hour commute home due to a tractor trailer accident. I was 15 minutes late to my hair appointment. The salon was JUMPING with people and playing very loud music. I then ran home, shoved Taco Bell down my throat, and then had a cake and ice cream for my son's birthday. I felt a headache starting last night but hoped it would go away with sleep.

I wake up this morning with that "icepick in the eye" feeling. Went to work, got EASILY stressed by the continuing situation. I left work and noon to pick up my son from school and the headache was bordering on migraine. Every noise bothered me, it was sunny, my carpool mate kept sucking loudly on some See's lollipop. I kept getting nauseous. Now that I'm home, it is lifting but I still feel it "lurking."

Am I the only one who has this happen? I don't consider myself a "migraine" person, but this has happened a handful of times now over the last few years. Always tension related.

 

[mickeyboat]

I do get them on occasion. I know if I wake up with a headache, it's bad news. Have you had any caffeine? That usually takes care of it for me, that and 3 Advil.

Hope you are doing better soon.

Denae

 

[Christine]

I do get them on occasion. I know if I wake up with a headache, it's bad news. Have you had any caffeine? That usually takes care of it for me, that and 3 Advil.

Hope you are doing better soon.

Denae

Thanks! I had a cup of tea this morning but the headache seemed to get worse as the day wore on. Finally right before I left work, I took 2 Advil. Probably and extra one would've been better. Maybe I'll go drink some more tea.

And, yes, when I woke up this morning with the pain behind my eye I thought "This is not a good thing!"

 

[krdisneybound]

what I don't understand is waking up in the morning with a headache - or even during the night with one.

In my early 20's until I was about 42 or so, I had migraines terribly. Was hospitalized many dozens of times and on multiple medications for prevention. They just stopped and I was never terrorized again by them to a big degree after. What a wonderful feeling that has been for years now

 

[Beth76]

Ooh, I'm sorry. Sounds like you've had a rough couple of days. I don't know anything about Migraines. But I do occasionally get tension headaches. It was really bad when we were remodeling our basement. Every afternoon I would get the same pain in my head and my neck/upper shoulders. It was a dull pain, not sharp though. I can tell you that excedrine tension headache worked wonders in about 20 minutes. But, I couldn't sleep that night at all from all the caffeine. Had no idea about all the caffeine in it. I only took it that one night and just stuck to advil after that. The advil didn't work nearly as well, but it did help a bit. I hope it gets better for you soon. Try to relax tonight, maybe take a hot bath or make DH give you a massage!

 

[Christine]

what I don't understand is waking up in the morning with a headache - or even during the night with one.

Yes, that is odd isn't it? I assume it is from some type of ongoing tension. I was so keyed up last night that I just *knew* I probably wasn't going to have any quality sleep. I did get to bed on time but I was conscious that I woke up a few times. I'm sure the tension was still there. Then when I get up and moving around I feel the light soreness behind my left eye. First I think "hmmm, maybe sinus" but I know it's not.

krdisneybound--do you think your migraines were hormonal? My mom's co-worker had severe migraines for years and years. She finally went through menopause and hasn't had one in 3 years!

 

[barkley]

i had "stress headaches" for several years, and as the stress at my job increased so did the headaches, evolving into migranes (i had them when i was younger but then the hormonal change of haveing children stopped them for several years). i tried using several medications the doctor suggested but they did'nt much help, and as my stress increased so did the frequency, duration and intensity of the headaches.

i failed to address the issues of what was causing the headaches (overwhelming stress at work). i had a couple of t..i.a.'s a few years ago (mini strokes that mimic stroke symptoms but have short duration effects-around 24 hours). i started to address the stressors but it was too late-my body was telling me 'STOP NOW'. i ended up having 2 strokes over the course of 6 months (my blood pressure was/is fine, i showed none of the other risk factors).

i'm not writing this to scare anyone-just to say, if you have stressors in your life that are causing you to have headaches you must address the stressors. your body is telling you that something is wrong-please don't ignore these symptoms and think they will just go away-unless the stressors completly stop it is unlikely to happen.

p.s. try a glass of cranberry juice at the first sign of the headache, for some reason it realy seems to help reduce the severity.

 

[Christine]

i'm not writing this to scare anyone-just to say, if you have stressors in your life that are causing you to have headaches you must address the stressors. your body is telling you that something is wrong-please don't ignore these symptoms and think they will just go away-unless the stressors completly stop it is unlikely to happen.

p.s. try a glass of cranberry juice at the first sign of the headache, for some reason it realy seems to help reduce the severity.

Thanks. No you're not scaring me. In fact, this was going through my mind today--this job is making me sick and what am I going to do about it? Can't quit, virtually can't change much. But part of the issue is me and my response to it. I am unhappy with they way my job is being handled and I cannot do much about it. I used to be in a position where I had a lot of responsibility, autonomy, and creativity. Now, while I'm being paid VERY well, I'm being given very little responsibility or work for that matter and it's just BURNING ME UP!!!! Then when something blows up like yesterday, I have to fix it, yet I have NONE of the information or tools to do so. Not quite sure what I can do about this but I think I need to learn how to not let this bother me.

 

[dturner]

I wake up with a headache so bad I can't open my eyes or see straight at least twice a year - happened again last Friday, I called in sick and layed down and slept all day - then I was fine.

I keep thinking it's because I run myself ragged and I'm always stressed out about something - lots of sleep usually cures it though and they don't happen that often luckily.

Hope you get to feeling better.

 

[missypie]

I get stress induced headaches, hormonally induced headaches, bouncing induced headaches, wake up in the middle of the night headaches. I live on Exedrine Migraine.

 

[Disney Ontario]

Hi. I just got off the phone with our DD16. She said that shes trying to sleep off another headache now, before work at 5:00. Shes being getting alot lately. Hopefully its just tension or stress. Maybe just me,

 

[barkley]

Thanks. No you're not scaring me. In fact, this was going through my mind today--this job is making me sick and what am I going to do about it? Can't quit, virtually can't change much. But part of the issue is me and my response to it. I am unhappy with they way my job is being handled and I cannot do much about it. I used to be in a position where I had a lot of responsibility, autonomy, and creativity. Now, while I'm being paid VERY well, I'm being given very little responsibility or work for that matter and it's just BURNING ME UP!!!! Then when something blows up like yesterday, I have to fix it, yet I have NONE of the information or tools to do so. Not quite sure what I can do about this but I think I need to learn how to not let this bother me.

i was stuck in the same situation (always accountable for the problems but no real authority to address them). i would just share what i did-as i saw my doctor about the headaches i shared with him what was going on in my personal and professional lives so that we were able to identify the "triggers" that were causing the headaches. ultimatly it becames very clear to him that it was work. when the first tia hit and i HAD to be off work, the doctor had the documentation that supported my employer's workman's compensation having to cover the expenses and lost wages. share with your doctor what is going on, they may be able to direct you to some ways to handle it (for some counseling, for some bio-feedback, breathing exercises). your doctor can be your best resource at this point.

hope you can have a relaxed, stress free holiday!

 

[Sparx]

I get very very bad headaches. To the point where I can't function. They are like migranes, almost. We recently found out they were stress related. I take Ibprofun (I know I didn't spell that correctly). Mine are usually control related, as in me having none. If things pile up too quickly I will get headaches. I've figured out how to deal with them. I just need an outlet to let my anger and stress out in. I usually use music or art, sometimes writing helps. But alot of times I will just talk to people on Instant messengers (they are quieter than phone conversations) Its true. If you have stress problems, you need to identify what is stressing you out and if you can't change it, you need to be able to vent stress off somewhere. Modern Medicine will make the headache stop hurting, but it wont' make the stress go away. Thats up for you to do.

 

[can'twait]

I've figured out that mine are sinus related, and sometimes caused by skipping meals or not drinking enough water on a busy day. Sometimes a salty meal, like McDonald's or Chinese food will trigger it. I'm not sure why, but Tylenol and a glass of OJ does the trick, while milk or ice cream make it worse. I sometimes have to take Tylenol every 4 hours for several days in a row before it goes away. Just after I take the Tylenol, the pain goes away but I still feel weird, and sometimes nauseous. It really affects my whole body. Then when the Tylenol wears off the pain comes back, sometimes in the middle of the night and it is just unbearable! I don't think they are migranes, but definitely weird.

 

[Christine]

I get very very bad headaches. To the point where I can't function. They are like migranes, almost. We recently found out they were stress related. I take Ibprofun (I know I didn't spell that correctly). Mine are usually control related, as in me having none. If things pile up too quickly I will get headaches. I've figured out how to deal with them. I just need an outlet to let my anger and stress out in. I usually use music or art, sometimes writing helps. But alot of times I will just talk to people on Instant messengers (they are quieter than phone conversations) Its true. If you have stress problems, you need to identify what is stressing you out and if you can't change it, you need to be able to vent stress off somewhere. Modern Medicine will make the headache stop hurting, but it wont' make the stress go away. Thats up for you to do.

Sparx--this sounds like what I've got going on. Last night I just had a *dull* headache and I was just so spun up I truly felt like going outside and running around my block six times!! But I couldn't do that for various reasons--one, I'm horribly out of shape! Anyway, I could actually FEEL that I needed some sort of physical release from the stress hormones that must have been coarsing through my veins. I guess just a little bit of stress today put me over the again and I will use the same term as you--it's an "almost migraine". I could not function, I could barely drive home, I felt totally exhausted, and sick to my stomach.

Now, the headache is 95% gone but my muscles still feel very sluggish and I was feeling queasy as I made dinner.

 

[Christine]

I've figured out that mine are sinus related, and sometimes caused by skipping meals or not drinking enough water on a busy day. Sometimes a salty meal, like McDonald's or Chinese food will trigger it. I'm not sure why, but Tylenol and a glass of OJ does the trick, while milk or ice cream make it worse. I sometimes have to take Tylenol every 4 hours for several days in a row before it goes away. Just after I take the Tylenol, the pain goes away but I still feel weird, and sometimes nauseous. It really affects my whole body. Then when the Tylenol wears off the pain comes back, sometimes in the middle of the night and it is just unbearable! I don't think they are migranes, but definitely weird.

They sure sound like migraines. I think I recently read something that said that 97% of what people think are "sinus" headaches are truly migraine headaches. That there are far fewer sinus headaches then we think. Your trigger certainly sound like migraine triggers.

 

[can'twait]

They sure sound like migraines. I think I recently read something that said that 97% of what people think are "sinus" headaches are truly migraine headaches. That there are far fewer sinus headaches then we think. Your trigger certainly sound like migraine triggers.

But I can function, it's never been totally debilitating and I've never had "visions" or whatever they are called. I can feel relief in as little as 20 minutes if I take the Tylenol on an empty stomach. As long as I take it early on I can stop it from getting bad. Eventually it will go away if I keep taking enough of it. I'm more worried about the Tylenol chewing up my stomach! And no, I don't work for Tylenol!

Also, sometimes the pain is behind my nose or cheeks or eyes. It was so bad once that I put ice cubes under my eyes (initially to stop the swelling and pain) and my nose started to run immediately. Once my sinuses drained I felt much better.

And of course I had one of these for 3 days when we were at WDW. I think I ate a whole bottle of Tylenol that week!