stress
i really dont know what to do anymore. i know i've said on other threads here a few times that i've been getting stress migraines a lot lately. it's been happening for months, but the last few weeks it's every day. now for the past couple days i've been waking up with jaw pain because i have been clenching my teeth at night, it hurts to eat, my jaw just hurts all day, even when i'm just laying down.
thursday at work i had an anxiety attack and passed out (after my boss yelling at me for an hour straight but thats a whole other issue)
i just REALLY have no ideas left on how to make it go away. i've been doing yoga atleast 3 times a day to try and help it, reading a book called Yoga Therapy but the wording is just so monotonous that its hard to follow..
all my doctor says is "til i see you tuesday, just try to avoid your stressors". yeah i can avoid work til wednesday, i can't avoid food, i can't avoid my boyfriend constantly wanting to do things when all i want is to relax and de-stress before i have to go back to work.
does ANYBODY have any ideas? it would be so much appreciated.. :-\
(((((Sariea))))) I'm so sorry things are so bad right now :( I also clench my teeth at night was having jaw pain and found that the "mouth guards" (not really mouth guard, but I'm not sure what to call it) that you buy at the grocery store or Walgreens helps alot. They are plastic and you boil them them and then bite down into it so that it shapes to your mouth. It was about $20-25 but was well worth the expense.
Hang in there!
Hi Sariea,
I would look into Bach Flower Remedies. They are very useful for both humans and non humans.
Here is their website: http://www.bachcentre.com/centre/firstpag.htm
You could look at the library for a book.
Here are a few: http://www.amazon.ca/Bach-Flower-Remedies-Step-Selecting/dp/0091906539/ref=sr_1_8/701-5065032-2402716?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1188084356&sr=1-8
http://www.amazon.ca/Illustrated-Handbook-Bach-Flower-Remedies/dp/0091906482/ref=sr_1_6/701-5065032-2402716?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1188084356&sr=1-6
This is the one I have for my pets (both this version and the older version): http://www.amazon.ca/Bach-Flower-Remedies-Animals-Howard/dp/0091906512/ref=sr_1_4/701-5065032-2402716?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1188084356&sr=1-4
Oh, I have this one too: http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/189917172X/701-5065032-2402716
Bach Flower Remedies are wonderful. I have to think there would be one, two or more that could be helpful to you.
Hope this helps! Good luck and feel better soon. Please keep us posted.
Di
P.S. I have used Rescue Remedy and Gorse. My critters have used several.
As I write this post, I think I will order a book for me. The animal one describes the feelings an animal has which can be different from our symptoms or feelings.
Can you go walking out in nature somewhere? It's very calming and de-stressing for me to see all the different little beautiful and amazing things created by nature and to get out where it's quiet and peaceful.
This may seem counterintuitive, but what about getting active like playing some kind of fun sport or activity for you? Just enough to take your mind off everyday worries for a bit and give your body an outlet for releasing pent up stress so when you're done you're a bit tired and can can relax easier.
And possibly volunteering somewhere with kids who are underprivileged so hopefully it's a win-win situation: they benefit from your positive attention and you benefit from being able to escape your own worries for a bit and know you are making a positive difference in others' lives. Or volunteering spending time giving attention to unwanted pets?
(((((( Sariea))))))
thanks, i will look into the mouth guard tomorrow, theres a walgreens right up the street
Di, i looked at the first page quick and wasnt sure what i was looking at but i will go back and look more into it and see if my library has any of the books (but i doubt it, my library sucks)
Firefightress, i like being outside in nature, i like to meditate on the pool deck at night. but one of the things stressing me out is my boyfriend asking me to go to a park near here to go hiking tomorrow. i'm agoraphobic so i get very panicky when i have to go a certain distance from my home. i get nervous just thinking about it, and i hate it cuz i really want to make him happy and go with him
literally the last time i was able to go out like that and not be anxious was the Lilac Festival a couple months ago and that was only because i was starting an anxiety medication and took too much ;) i was pretty much "drunk"
aauugh... i'm so tired..
Make sure is everything is okay in your head ask thev doctor for a catscan. It doesn't hurt in making sure everything is okay since you said you've been getting stress migraines for a couple of months now.
And also the only thng else I can think of is make sure it's not a earache.
Make sure is everything is okay in your head ask thev doctor for a catscan. It doesn't hurt in making sure everything is okay since you said you've been getting stress migraines for a couple of months now.
And also the only thng else I can think of is make sure it's not a earache.
well its a headache that starts in my sinus area, goes to my ears, then goes to my jaw (which already hurts, so it makes it worse, like throbbing). but it always starts as a regular headache. i would say its a sinus infection but its not constant, it comes and goes. but it does have the tenderness--like if i touch the bridge of my nose, it hurts.
Hi Sariea,
Click on this: http://www.bachcentre.com/centre/remedies.htm
Explains what the remedies are for. A book will explain them better.
Maybe order one of the books from Amazon.com. I posted link for Amazon.ca so they should be cheaper in the States.
Good luck and let us know how you are doing.
Hugs
Di
Make sure is everything is okay in your head ask thev doctor for a catscan. It doesn't hurt in making sure everything is okay since you said you've been getting stress migraines for a couple of months now.
And also the only thng else I can think of is make sure it's not a earache.
well its a headache that starts in my sinus area, goes to my ears, then goes to my jaw (which already hurts, so it makes it worse, like throbbing). but it always starts as a regular headache. i would say its a sinus infection but its not constant, it comes and goes. but it does have the tenderness--like if i touch the bridge of my nose, it hurts.
I agree that you should see a doctor. A catscan may be advisable. What you describe doesn't sound like migraines. It could be stress, but there could also be something physical causing headaches.
What works for me is to take a walk, It has to be like an hour before I get the angst out of me.
all my doctor says is "til i see you tuesday, just try to avoid your stressors". yeah i can avoid work til wednesday, i can't avoid food, i can't avoid my boyfriend constantly wanting to do things when all i want is to relax and de-stress before i have to go back to work.
Have you asked him exactly those questions?
I'd say to him, "How am I supposed to avoid those things?"
I'd go back with this post exactly (just print it out) and say I am stressed! and the things that make me stressed are unavoidable... maybe he will have some different methods for you to work through them that way? If not he doesn't sound like a very good therapist. But you do have to be sure you're sharing things with him for him to be able to help.
I was having bad headaches, exactly like you described but with throbbing and it was a combo of lack of iron, caffeine and stress. It was like stress triggered the weakness left from the poor iron and too much caffeine. NOTHIng made them go away! I had to write down everything I ate for 4 days to be sure I was getting enough iron start taking my iron pills again and stop drinking coffee. Oh and I drank a ton of water. It took 4 days but they went away.
Sariea - I really feel for you.. I also suffer anxiety and I know how scary it can be.
I also tend to avoid Doctors if I can. I remember back to the first time I suffered a really bad anxiety attack, 8 years ago (shortness of breath, heart palpitations, adrenalin, thought I was going to die) and I was convinced someone had "drugged" me. I got dressed, packed an overnight bag and demanded my Mum take me to hospital. I was pacing the room and wringing my hands. My mum tried to calm me down with a cuppa (tea) and just chatting about "stuff" and it helped.
When I went to the Doctors I felt stupid, like what's come over me? I also had really bad headaches and neck pain.
My advice is to try and deal with the mental/emotional stuff first. My doctor's advice was to realise what was happening (as far as panic attacks) and tell yourself this is not a rational response to whatever is happening and to find whatever it is to calm yourself first ie sit down, have a cup of tea, write a letter (even if it's to nobody in particular), try and control your breathing, take a walk.... and know that - nothing bad is going to happen to you, you are safe and this will eventually pass.
Even watch something silly on tv, it may momentarily distract you from the intense feelings. Sometimes I will just go outside and get some fresh air when I feel the anxiety coming on and I find this really helps.
About 6 years ago I actually had x-rays on my neck thinking there was something terribly wrong due to all the pain and it turned out there was nothing wrong physically that wasn't due to stress and anxiety.
I really hope you feel better soon, and as someone who has/does suffer anxiety/depression and it's effects, please feel free to message me anytime.
I just saw this in the newspaper.
If you suffer migraine headaches-they might be caused by your bite. The pain you have in your head and neck could be due to the fact that your jaw is not resting where it wants to be.
When it's not, your jaw muscles are in a state of chronic contraction. And it is the muscles of the temple area of the forehead that play an important part in the posturing and closing of the jaw.
When your bite (occlusion) is not right, it can lead to abnormal tension one of several possible causes of tension type headaches.
Get a second opinion--ie, see a different doctor!! If youi're in the States, remember YOU are PAYING for the visit, so if you're a dissatisfied customer you are in your rights to take your business elsewhere! A rude brush-off is not helpful.
Can you write your boyfriend a note and explain that you need some Sariea-centred time? That you appreciate his in put but you really need to REST. You don't need "managing" at this point--you know what you need, and you know enough to get it. Sounds like you like him and all, but he's being a bit of a pain. If he thinks you're dumping him, it may indicate that he has control issues, but that's not your problem right now.
I went to a nutritionist to talk about my stress problems, she gave me bach remedies, but it did not help at all. I needed more. I tried yoga, I would leave class constantly to do simple positions in the bathroom, that helped a little bit, but I missed important things in class. It is hard to stay away from your stressors when they are everywhere, music that reminds you of a bad time, work, home, living in a cramped apartment with your boyfriend, your past, your future... everything kind of builds up. ugh. I have been contemplating going to acupuncture. Not sure if this would work, but I've heard its helpful. Yoga really only seems to help me while I'm doing it and for a short time afterwards until I get a couple stressors in a row and then I'm back to my usual. Luckily I dont have debilitating migranes, but I have IBS, I pull my hair, destroy my fingers and bite my lip occasionally. I tried fixing these problems, but it really didnt solve the root of the problem... stress... UGH! its horrible.
Wow, that really sucks. And I think I can understand (at least in part) what you're going through. I'm was born stressed out. In 2005 it got so bad during some exams that my hair started falling out. I would comb it and I would actually feel many many strands go "plunk" out of my scalp. As you can imagine, that only adds to the stress you already have. Anyway, somewhere during the ordeal and when it was finally over(about 6 weeks after it started and a much "lighter" head) I decided that I must chill. So everytime I feel anxiety coming up, I tell myself to chill out because "you're alive, you have a house over your head and you still have your sense of taste". I go for very basic things to be appreciative about. In addition I sometimes take a time-out, have a cup of something, listen to music, tune out people that may be yelling at me, I just chill. It's sort of like a switch that found during that stressful time to "zone out" a bit for a while. This is all I know to do and it helps me out. :-)
I used to get a lot of stress headaches and migraines from a job I used to have. I ended up being put on 4 different meds - 2 preventatives (Lyrica and Topamax) and two for when I had them (Midrin and Zanaflex). What helped me the most though is quitting the job (best decision I made) and laying down in a darkened room with an ice pack with a fan pointed on me. The ice pack constricts the flaring nerve so it helps to lessen the pain.
Three herbs that can help if made into a tea: lavendar, horsetail fern and water trefoil. Yes, they taste disgusting, esp. lavendar, but they do help migraines.
When I was first married I had terrible migraines partly due to culture shock, partly due to the wrong spectacles. I found this herbal blend (Aquilea brand) and it helped a LOT. After choking it down (it is revolting) I could actually feel the veins in my head easing.
Tell me about it. Without my daughter around for the summer I've fallen into my natural tendencies to be a hermit. ;)
I hope you feel better :)