Suffering a breakup can lead to depression and anxiety. Changes in your routine can also cause anxiety that eventually leads to depression headaches and other health issues. Managing the pain of anxiety-induced headaches involves using the tools you have at your disposal and making the most of your new life.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy helps a patient identify potential behaviors that lead to headaches or other health issues. The therapy involves breaking old habits and replacing them with new patterns that are less stressful and produce less anxiety. For example, you could replace your tendency to text your ex-lover with reading eBooks. This will help you move on from the relationship and avoid chronic depression headaches.
Relaxation Techniques
Relaxation techniques like breathing exercises and meditation are proven to relieve stress and help your body regain its natural balance. As a result, learning to breathe through difficult situations like a breakup can prevent migraines and help you gain peace of mind. So any time you feel stressed or emotional about your recent breakup, stop and slowly take three deep breaths to overcome the situation and avoid triggering a headache.
Daily Affirmations
Daily affirmations are used to help re-establish patterns of positive thinking. For example, your daily affirmation might be, “I am strong and independent.” Once you choose your affirmation, remember and repeat it throughout the day. Write it on post-it notes and stick them where they are easily visible. Use them as screensavers on your computer and phone–any place where you will see them on a regular basis.
Regular Exercise
Exercise not only strengthens the body–it clears the mind and helps you to maintain focus. Regular exercise is also one of the best ways to relieve depression. It releases endorphins in the brain that elevate mood and encourage feelings of wellbeing. By developing an exercise routine and sticking to it, you can more successfully avoid chronic headaches.
Take Up a Hobby
Find an activity you enjoy and have fun with it. Let your creativity flow and find a way to express yourself. Draw, design, or build something useful that will remind you of what you are capable of when you put your mind to something. This will distract you from the breakup and boost your self-esteem, which will mitigate the potential for depression headaches to occur.
Maintain a Normal Routine
When you’re going through a painful life event like a breakup, it’s important to stick to your normal routine. Maintaining your daily routine will help you to stay on track and forget about the stress and anxiety associated with the breakup. It will also help to ensure that the breakup doesn’t hold you back from excelling in life by causing chronic depression or headaches.
Talk to Someone
When you start to feel depressed or anxious, don’t keep things bottled up inside. Talk to a friend or family member you know who has been through similar experiences. They can offer valuable insight and will make a solid foundation of support when you need them. It will also feel great to get everything off your chest, and doing so will certainly help you avoid headaches caused by stress or anxiety.
Get Professional Counseling
If you begin to struggle with your emotions and your headaches become more severe, you should consider professional counseling. A professional will help you work through your problems and offer medical recommendations for getting through the difficult times.
At the Headache Institute in Houston, we understand the difficulties that can arise after a breakup. Depression headaches can be debilitating and can hinder your quality of life, so we don’t take them lightly.
We offer our patients treatment options that help relieve the pain of depression and anxiety induced headaches. Visit our Houston office today to find out how we can help you get your headache pain under control.
