Staying Mindful When You Have Migraines

If you have migraines, you know it’s more than a headache that will go away in a bit. While there are treatment options, some people turn to mindfulness to try to manage the condition. It can take some work to develop the habit, but it can pay off in the long run. Even if it doesn’t reduce your headaches, it might reduce your stress levels. It begins by doing your research on the condition.

Learning about Migraines 

It’s a good idea to know what you’re up against when you first get a diagnosis. For example, you’ll want to know about your treatment options. One treatment that people are using more is CBD oil. You’ve probably heard about CBD and the fact that some people use it to try to relieve pain. But before you go out and stock up on the cannabinoid, you’ll want to do your research by reading a guide about the potential benefits of CBD oil for migraines. The information also explains how to manage the pain and how to determine whether you have a simple headache or a migraine. 

Mindfulness and Migraines 

Mindfulness doesn’t have any religious connections and is a technique of meditation. People who have chronic pain, anxiety, and depression often turn to the technique. The idea is to free yourself from negative thoughts and their accompanying emotions. Those might include regret, anger, or jealousy. It’s often hard to let these thoughts go – you might find yourself thinking that things would be different if you had only done a certain thing in the past. The problem with this kind of thinking is that it can cause you to not live fully in the present. Mindfulness can help you focus more on living in the moment. You’ll consider what thoughts you have and the emotions that go with them but not be too attached to them. Mindfulness also involves steering clear of judgements about your ideas or thoughts. 

How Does it Relate to Migraines?

If you have migraines, you may be more sensitive to changes. Those might include internal changes, such as hormone levels or hydration, or external ones, like the weather or extreme stress. If you practice mindfulness each day, you may be able to reduce the number of changes, making your mind calmer. This could have a beneficial effect on your daily life. And if you are having a severe headache, you could use the technique to reduce the amount of pain.

Tips for Practicing Mindfulness

Breathing exercises are an easy task that you can do anywhere. But if you have something on your mind, it can be hard to do them. As you focus on breathing, you’ll be able to reduce negative thoughts and stay in the present. People-watching is another way to stay in the moment. Instead of thinking about yourself, you’re watching other people and thinking about them instead of focusing on yourself. You’re observing them at that moment, and it can be a relaxing way to spend some time.