What To Do During A Migraine
Migraines can affect your everyday life, making it almost impossible to get anything done or function properly if you have them often. When your migraine has already started, all you can think about is how to get rid of the pain as quickly as possible. There are a few methods you can try to stop a migraine or lessen the pain once it hits.
What To Try For Immediate Relief
- Try meditation. Migraines are often triggered by stress, so meditating, refocusing the mind, and doing some breathing exercises can reduce the pressure at the moment and ease some of the pain it has caused. Meditating whenever you get a migraine will train your mind to relax more quickly the next time and speed up the process.
- Rest in a quiet, darkroom. It’s common to experience sensitivity to light and sound when you’re in the middle of a migraine, so cutting off those senses and resting for some time can help reduce the pain of your migraine.
- Stay hydrated. Dehydration can cause headaches and make migraines worse. It would be best if you sipped on fluids slowly, not drink a lot of water at once.
- Place a cold or hot compress on your head to soothe the pain.
- Try a quick-fix medication. If nothing is working, you can always try over-the-counter migraine medication to relieve your pain.
Long-Term Methods to Deal With Migraines
- Exercising regularly can prevent many of the things that make migraines worse, such as obesity, depression, anxiety, etc. There’s no need to work out too vigorously — even walking regularly can help.
- Eat well, meaning eat consistently and don’t skip meals so you don’t trigger hunger headaches and make your migraines worse. Avoiding foods that you know cause you migraines can help as well.
- Talk to your doctor about medication. If your migraines are too intense and too frequent, your doctor may be able to recommend a medication to regulate them.
- Manage stress with neurofeedback. Pressure can be a significant cause of migraines and can make them worse. Using neurofeedback, a form of Neurotherapy that rewires the brain, you can learn how to manage your stress and prevent migraines more sustainably.
Dr. Trish Leigh offers courses and live workshops on neurofeedback to help you deal with stress and bring peace and optimal performance to your life.
