Stress headaches. Does anyone have a miracle cure?

[LadyFlumpalot]

As the title suggests - I get nasty, nagging, sucky headaches when I get stressed. Normally I manage them by taking a couple of Nurofen and going to sleep as early as I can.

However, I'm getting married soon and I just know I'm going to have a headache by the time the ceremony rolls around - and I would like to be awake and have at least one glass of champagne so my usual plan won't be any good!

Can anyone give me any tips for managing these headaches without resorting to painkillers and sleep?

Sicky, not sucky! DYAC!

Where is your headache exactly? You're not grinding your teeth, are you?

Yes where is the headache?

It's usually behind my eyes, one sided, but not bad enough to be a migraine and no aura. Sometimes it's in the back of my head and sometimes it feels like a tight metal band around the top of my head.

This might sound a bit extreme but I suffer from them badly so do understand. Could you ask your doctor to prescribe a couple of diazepam and just take half or one on the day to keep you calm? I had to appear in court once and knew I would have a horrendous stress headache so I did just this - he only prescribed about 5 tablets in all and I took half in the morning and half in the afternoon. If you do then try it before the day so that you are not zonked out!

I know you say no painkillers or sleep but sometimes medicating is the only answer sadly (well in my case nothing else works).

Congratulations btw and hope you have a wonderful day!

I don't think I'm grinding my teeth but it's just occurred to me that I am tightening my jaw and clenching it. Would that cause a sicky headache?

It may sound simple but a hot water bottle can work wonders.
I suffer from sinus issues and migraines and when it gets really bad I use a hot water bottle and it offers a lot of relief.

I'm not usually one who goes for alternative therapies, but I have a friend who does cranio sacral therapy.

I used to get dreadful stress headaches that would build up and up. I went for a treatment with her and had no headaches for several months - I have no idea how it works or what she did! Then gradually they started returning so I saw her again and they went. Now I have a treatment every 6 months or so to keep them at bay.

If you're in SE Wales I can pass on her details.

Is your headache sicky or sucky? I'm not being an arse pedant, honest ! Do you have nausea with them or was it typo?

I was super stressed a while ago, and I was clenching my jaw, awake and asleep something horrid. I had the worst headaches, at my jaw, sort of in a line to my shoulder and in a band across the top. Bloody everywhere basically!

Is this more a dealing with stress thing than a headache thing, I wonder?

Arsey pedant, not arse pedant

Yes clenching your jaw certainly causes these headaches. Ask your dentist about a mouth guard for night time but it won't help you in the day time.

They are sicky! Nausea is a major symptom. I do clench my jaw and my teeth together so that could be worth looking into definitely.

Thanks for all the advice, sorry for not name checking - my phone won't allow me to go back.

I'll give the hot water bottle idea a go for sure! I do like a hot water bottle.

I'm not in SE Wales (although not too far from) but thanks for the suggestion - something to look into - I'd heard of cranial massage before, but only for babies!