We all look forward to the holidays. Sometimes though, as migraneurs, it can also be a time of stress and headaches. Holidays are supposed to be a times to enjoy, but those of us with problem Migraines and headaches can find ourselves actually dreading the holiday season.
Don’t give up on the holidays though. It is still possible for you to look forward to them without the dread and anxiety often involved. Be encouraged – there are many things we can do for ourselves to reduce or avoid episodes. This will not only let us reduce our pain, it also gives us some control over our migraine patterns and restores some of the control over our lives – control which we are often robbed of due to those headache and migraine patterns. Let’s discussed just six of many way that can kick the pain to the curb!
Planning ahead = less stress = fewer migraines and headaches
Make lists, delegate, plan ahead! Repeat after me – “Lists are our friends.” In your word processor, type up a list of things that need to be done. Then delegate – split up what needs to be done and engage everyone’s help. We are not super heroes; we don’t have to do everything ourselves. Stress can bring on nasty tension-type headaches which, in turn, can trigger Migraines. So, give stress the boot by planning ahead!
Get Enough Sleep
Too much, too little, poor quality, or disrupted sleep is are very common migraine and headache triggers. Experts recommend that set a specific time to go to bed and get up and stick to those times, even on weekends, holidays and during vacation. It is also important that you get some quality sleep. If this just isn’t happening for you, there are some things you can do that can improve your sleep. We have discussed some in previous blogs, but I also have a chapter about that in my book, “The Ultimate Migraine Handbook: An Holistic Approach to Pain Relief.”
Avoid dehydration
For some people, even mild dehydration can trigger head pain, so drinking lots of fluids is essential. Take a bit of care with what you’re drinking as some fruit juices and caffeine can be triggers. Proper hydration is essential to good health in general, so you’ll be working on more than head pain prevention!
More: Dehydration – An Avoidable Migraine Trigger
Regular meal times, healthy snacks
Meal schedules can get really erratic at times, especially during busy holiday periods. Very often don’t even think of their being a correlation this and the migraines we might experience. Nevertheless, it can be a huge trigger. Make a special effort to have balanced meals on a regular schedule. Even those of us with the most hectic schedules or those of us who may be on vacations, can be successful with this one by keeping healthy snacks handy. Beware of fast food snacks though. They can do as much harm as good.
Keep on keeping track
Just because it’s the holiday season, don’t be tempted to ignore your Migraine Diary during holidays or other busy periods. It is very likely that you have some different triggers during such times, and if you can identify them, perhaps you can reduce your migraines. Remember that you may encounter a trigger up to 48 hours before a migraine begins. This is where a diary/journal comes in especially handy. Your diary may reveal patterns that you hadn’t noticed before.
Learn to let it go and enjoy yourself
Does it really matter is your house isn’t perfect, the gifts aren’t all perfectly wrapped, or the turkey is a bit dry? These aren’t the things you should be worrying about. Our family, friends and loved ones are more interested in us than the house, gifts, or a turkey. If everything isn’t quite perfect, be assured, the house isn’t going to fall down around you. You really can’t afford to let these little things bother you. Stress can trigger tension headaches and be an aggravator to migraine triggers. So, it’s important to learn to prioritize and do what you are able to do each day. Take it a day at a time, and life every moment to the fullest.
The holidays should be a time for family and friend – and joy and peace. What will you do to make sure you have plenty of fun this holiday season?
If you haven’t done so already, check out my migraine handbook which will show you:
- How to recognize migraine triggers in your life and the safeguards you can put in place to avoid future pain.
- Eliminate expensive medications by using proven natural and holistic pain relief remedies. Experience pain relief without taking prescription drugs.
- Discover the simple, natural strategies you can easily incorporate into your daily life that dramatically reduce your migraine symptoms. You are now in the driver’s seat of your pain management.
It’s available for download, on Amazon and in paperback. “The Ultimate Migraine Handbook: An Holistic Approach to Pain Relief.” GIVE IT AS A GIFT to someone you love this Christmas.