Migraines - Causes, Prevention, Treatment

What are migraines?

Migraines, as I know them are terrible headaches. I used to suffer migraines periodically for many years. At the time I did not even know the kind of headache I suffered from was called a migraine. I just thought it was a terrible headache caused by acidity (it was the nausea that comes with the migraine that made me think the nausea caused the headache and that the acidity caused the nausea and it was a vicious circle). Usually my headaches were in the right side of my head, a terrible throbbing behind the right eye and temple with the pain radiating down up to my neck. It took over a day to clear up, and left me drained with no energy when it subsided. Sometimes the headache lasted about three days and sleep did not seem to help. Sometimes I'd wake up in the morning from my sleep with a headache- so it most certainly had nothing to do with the sun!

Possible Trigger factors?

For many years I could not figure out these headaches, and why they happened to me. What brought on these terrible headaches? Why didn't painkillers help? I studied them, tried to find links to what triggered them, I thought about what I ate, or had I been out in the sun far too long, or was it after seeing a movie, that is to say was it caused by eye-strain etc.

My common sense told me- the causes are too varied, there has GOT to be a common trigger factor for these headaches, and that was what I could not find for a long time. Till recently I came across a book that explained to me- what the cause of my migraines was. I treated that cause, and my migraine attacks are a thing of the past now.

The Real Cause of migraines and headaches-

Let me share with you what I found. I came across a book YOU CAN HEAL YOUR LIFE, written by LOUISE HAY. This lady quite rightly says that we create everything in our lives by the thinking the thoughts we think. Every dis-ease in our body is created by thoughts that we think habitually. She has said in her book that migraines are caused by self criticism, by invalidating the self, by a dislike of being driven, by fearing the flow of life.

Bingo! Here was me- a perfectionist to the hilt. I had to be perfect, I had to have everything perfect, I had very high standards for everything and most of all, I was my own worst critic! I worried endlessly about everything, about not being good enough. That lead to levels of dangerously low self-esteem. I was a worry-holic- there were times I worried because I had nothing to worry about! I created a lot of stress and pressure for myself. I hated making silly mistakes, and I would double check the simplest of things. There were times I really disliked myself and I was not even aware of it at a conscious level. And truly enough I suffered a migraine each time I mentally whipped myself over not being "up to the mark".

Treating migraines successfully

I started studying my thought patterns as suggested in the book.

Look at it- if I went for a movie and enjoyed myself, my thoughts would be those of- how could you waste so much time laughing, there is so much to be done. Result - headache. If I went to a party and ate too much - my thoughts would be- look at all those extra calories you've had! Now you have to work harder to lose those extra pounds! Result -Headache. The list continues. I found that I was creating my own headaches! It was not the food I ate nor was it the sun or eyestrain but my own thoughts. So no doctor or medication was going to help. I had to work on my thoughts and get into approval mode instead of criticizing mode.

I worked on Louise's lesson number 1- I love and approve of myself. I told myself that over and over again, especially when I went in to self criticism mode. I had to re-program my inner voice to send me messages of love and support. I have mastered my migraines by simply mastering my thoughts of criticism. Now there are times when I can catch the thought that creates the headache- instantly! I think- how could I have done such a stupid thing? And I have, in an instant, brought on feelings of queasiness- and feel the dizzy spell coming on- that's the moment I catch my traitor thoughts. I have to over-ride that one thought with ten thoughts of love and approval that I send to myself, and in the process the headache dissolves.

Today I can say I am free of migraines- it did take a lot of work in the head to get rid of them though!