Do you suffer from intense, throbbing pain on one side of your head? This pain could be a sign of having a cluster headache. Also known as ‘suicide headaches’, cluster headaches are severe in nature and some of the most painful headaches a person can experience. However, there are methods and tools that can help in the prevention and treatment of these headaches; and one such method is mindfulness meditation for cluster headache relief. To see some of what mindfulness and meditation have to offer for cluster headaches, I have invited an expert on the subject – the esteemed Dr. Mingus.
What Are Cluster Headaches?
Before we dive further into how mindfulness and meditation can help manage and prevent cluster headache episodes, let’s take a quick look at what cluster headaches are. These types of headaches are characterised by sudden severe pain on either side of the head, typically occurring around the eye. The pain is often described as sharp, stabbing, or drilling, and it can affect one’s sinuses, eyes, or side of the face. Also, the frequency of cluster headaches can vary. Some people may get them multiple times a day, while others end up with them a few times a year.
Mindfulness for Cluster Headache Relief
Mindfulness refers to being aware of the present moment without trying to judge it or change it. It is the means of becoming attuned to what is happening inside and around you. Dr. Mingus explains that the practice of mindfulness can actually be very beneficial in helping people cope with the chronic pain of a cluster headache. Mindfulness helps to transform the way one thinks and feels about pain, providing a method of alleviating the frequency of cluster headaches as well as their intensity.
One of the important tools that mindfulness can provide for the management of cluster headaches is the use of breathwork. Dr. Mingus explains that controlling the breath can help one keep calm and control the release of tension in the muscles of the face, head, and neck. Breathing calmly and with purpose can also help reduce intensity, duration, and frequency of cluster headache episodes.
Another way that mindfulness can help is with the monitoring of emotions and feelings that may be triggers for cluster headache episodes. Mindfulness practices can help the individual notice when they are feeling stressed, anxious, worried, or fearful – any of these emotional states can potentially trigger a cluster headache episode. Once these emotions are identified and brought into the light, individuals can work to stop these feelings from getting out of control.
Meditation for Cluster Headache Relief
Another tool for managing and preventing cluster headaches is meditation. Meditation involves stilling the mind through focused awareness and letting go of thoughts that arise. Dr. Mingus explains that incorporating meditation practices into a person’s daily life can help an individual break free from the cycle of stress, which can contribute to a cluster headache episode.
One of the benefits of meditation is that it helps to shift the brain from the sympathetic nervous system – responsible for inducing a stress response – to the parasympathetic nervous system – responsible for relaxation. This shift can help individuals experience less stress and tension in their body, which can be beneficial for cluster headache prevention.
Meditation practices can also increase the individual’s self-awareness and ability to cope with painful experiences. This increased awareness of the body explains Dr. Mingus, can help the individual quickly notice the early warning signs of a cluster headache, such as muscle tension and shallow breathing. This heightened self-awareness can help an individual adjust their thoughts, related emotions, and physical responses to prevent or reduce the intensity and duration of cluster headaches.
Conclusion
Cluster headaches can be incredibly painful and difficult to deal with. However, the methods of mindfulness and meditation can provide individuals with useful tools for dealing with pain and potentially preventing cluster headache episodes. Dr. Mingus explains that maintaining a daily practice of mindfulness and meditation can help individuals gain more control over their thoughts, feelings, and physical responses. This in turn can help increase the tolerance of pain and reduce the occurrence of cluster headaches. So why not give it a try? Mindfulness and meditation practices can be done in the comfort and privacy of one’s own home and they are a way to invest in one’s own wellbeing!