5. What are the best treatment options for migraine attacks triggered by stress?
Common Questions About Stress Migraine
4. What causes "stress migraine" attacks?
3. What are the signs and symptoms of a "stress migraine"?
2. Do I need to see a healthcare provider if I have "stress migraine"?
1. What is "stress migraine"?
6. What are some tips for living with migraine attacks triggered by stress?
5. Can outdoor allergens or weather trigger a migraine attack?
1. What are common symptoms of the prodrome phase, and how long does it last?
Next Question
"Stress migraine" is not an official name of a type of migraine as stress is not the cause of someone’s migraine. Rather, stress is one of the most common triggers of attacks in people with migraine. Genetics and physiology are the cause of migraine.
2. What are common symptoms of the aura phase, and how long does it last?
“Stress migraine” attack is no different from a typical migraine attack. A healthcare provider can make a diagnosis of migraine with or without aura, and they can work with you to come up with a treatment plan. Most people with migraine have attacks where stress is a trigger.
The symptoms of a migraine attack triggered by stress are the same as any other migraine attack a person experiences. Pain, nausea, and sensitivity to light and/or sound are the most common symptoms experienced during a migraine attack, regardless of whether or not that attack was triggered by stress.
Stressful situations can increase the frequency of migraine attacks, and continuous stress may be involved if people transition from episodic to chronic migraine. Stress causes changes in hormones, electrical activity, and the anatomy of the brain that may influence the frequency of migraine attacks. But remember: Stress is not the cause of a migraine attack, but rather, a trigger.
4. What does the prodrome phase, or “migraine hangover,” feel like?
Non-medication treatments like breathing, mindfulness exercises, and cognitive behavioral therapy can help change the body’s response to stress. There are also certain medications, like beta blockers, which might be used preventively in people with a consistent pattern of migraine attacks triggered by stress.
3. What does the headache phase of a migraine attack feel like, and how long does it last?
All Questions
It is impossible to eliminate stress in your life. And having migraine is stressful — you are not responsible for your migraine attacks. There is evidence that combining behavioral modifications, like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and medication therapies can help manage migraine. Exercise, CBT, yoga, breathing techniques, and mindfulness approaches can all help manage stress as a trigger for migraine.
