No wonder you have a headache with a busy day with family visiting and grandma dying.
Get yourself through it as best you can. If possible take a few minutes for deep breathing somewhere by yourself.
If you can't get away from the crowd, try deep breathing while you're working on meals. Maybe just go to the bathroom and breathe deeply. Slow and deep from the tummy inflated like a balloon... hold the breath a few moments, then let it out with a "whoosh," and think peace... "I am relaxed. I am at peace."
I am working on a new thread for the forum about headaches from this article below that might be of help to you.
Headache Center
Types of Headaches and Causes
While there are many different kinds of headaches, tension-type and migraine headaches are most common. Since these two headache types may be treated differently, determining which type you have is a critical step in relieving the pain.
Tension-type headaches are sometimes called muscle contraction headaches. The pain is usually a dull ache on both sides of the head and has been described as feeling like a tight band across the front of the head. It is also associated with stiffness of the neck/shoulder and frequent pain.
Migraine-type headaches produce moderate to severe pounding or throbbing pain, common on one side of the head. Migraine pain is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and sensitivity to light and/or sounds. To answer your questions about migraines, visit the
Migraine section of this site.
Other types of headaches you may have heard of include:
Cluster headaches are relatively uncommon, but cause excruciating, sharp-as-knife pain around one eye. Attacks occur daily in clusters of weeks or months, then disappear completely for months or years. They are four times more common in men than women, and typically start before age 30. See your doctor if you think you have a cluster headache.
Rebound headaches occur in less than 2% of patients whose persistent headache pain causes them to overuse headache medication. These headaches may worsen with physical or mental exertion. Talk to your doctor if you feel that you may be experiencing these headaches.
Sinus headaches are headaches with a deep and constant pain in the cheekbones, forehead, or bridge of the nose. This pain usually intensifies with sudden head movement or straining and is usually accompanied by symptoms such as fever, runny nose, and clogged ears.
Causes of Headaches
The cause: brain chemistry
Medical researchers understand the mechanisms of headache better than ever before. In fact, the latest theory about the underlying cause of headache has to do with brain chemistry. While research to the underlying causes of headache is ongoing, common factors that can trigger headache today are well documented. This understanding can greatly help headache sufferers like you. By avoiding the factors that trigger your headaches, you can help prevent their onset.
Headache Triggers
Triggers and patterns
Foods very often trigger migraine headaches. Below is a list of the most common food triggers. Keep them in mind the next time you suffer a headache. Does eating or drinking any of these coincide with your headaches?...
Red wine or white wine bananas other alcohol citrus fruits chocolate monosodium glutamate (MSG); cheese freshly baked bread (yeast) pickled foods coffee, tea, cola nuts aspartame (food or drink)
Think back to a previous headache. Was it a particularly stressful day or was there a sudden change in the weather? Using the following chart, check off some of the factors that could be involved in the onset of your headaches. You may see a pattern.
Identify your triggers
Stressful or hectic days, including long hours, intense deadlines Other emotions, such as depression, anxiety, let down, frustration — and even pleasant excitement Poor posture and tense jaws Foods (see list above) Alcoholic beverages Odors Skipping meals Irregular sleep patterns.
Headache Prevention & Management
Understanding headache prevention and treatment techniques can help you manage your headache pain. This section will help you quickly assess your headaches and evaluate your success in managing them. It provides tools for charting important factors involved in your headaches, guidance on recording the characteristics of your headaches, discussing them with your doctor, and tips for your pain.
