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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> Stress
        
(Message started by: stubborn on Jun 6^th, 2006, 2:30pm)

Title: Stress
Post by stubborn on Jun 6^th, 2006, 2:30pm

I have read here to stay stressed. That is NOT the case for me, stress makes it worse for me. Is anyone else like that? If I am shadowing hard, for sure hard stress will sent me into clusterville?

Title: Re: Stress
Post by Charlotte on Jun 6^th, 2006, 3:07pm

Welcome aboard.

We are all different. It is good to know ourselves. I'm one who does better stressed.

Wishing you stress free and pf time.

Charlotte

Title: Re: Stress
Post by Gator on Jun 6^th, 2006, 3:16pm

Stress and activity can sometimes keep an impending attack at bay for a while for me, but as soon as I let my guard down and relax a little - BAM!

As has been said, we are all different. It is good to be aware of you react to different situations.

Title: Re: Stress
Post by Redd715 on Jun 6^th, 2006, 6:03pm

Different? Yup Yup...

I cannot get "too" relaxed, nor "too" stressed. Need to keep a happy medium, sort of like a kiddie rollercoaster.

(Lets also not talk about roller-coasters, it just dawned on me now that I haven't been able to go on a carnival ride since I was in my early 20's due to the HA's.)

Pegg

Title: Re: Stress
Post by Jasmyn on Jun 8^th, 2006, 9:11am

on 06/06/06 at 15:16:47, Gator wrote:

For me the motto: never, ever relax, stress is my friend!

Title: Re: Stress
Post by BobG on Jun 8^th, 2006, 9:34am

Yep. Stay stressed. It's good for what ails you.

Title: Re: Stress
Post by Guiseppi on Jun 8^th, 2006, 10:09am

Welcome aboard stubborn, and it's true we're all different! I'm like you, when on cycle I avoid high stress situations as they are a big time trigger. For many others, staying stressed keeps the beast at bay. You learn to pay close attention to yourself when you deal with the beast. Wishing you luck.

Guiseppi

Title: Re: Stress
Post by maffumatt on Jun 9^th, 2006, 8:43pm

Stress is good.......relaxation is bad.......

Title: Re: Stress
Post by Radha on Jun 10^th, 2006, 11:51pm

yesterday when i was having a bad headache, i had cried hard about some family problem, and i was very surprised to notice headache had gotten better immediately after! not that i am happy that i was upset and had cried, but it was a surprise, wonder why pain got better!!
radha

Title: Re: Stress
Post by vze2n4nj on Jun 11^th, 2006, 11:20pm

100%.

Stress is a definite trigger for a cluster. I wake up in the middle of the night with a cluster and all I think about is the stresses in my life.

You need to take it easy. Stress must be eliminated in your life, as much as possible. Tell everyone around you about your illness, no matter how embarassing it is. I have been doing it, and I can tell who really cares about my sresses and who doesn't. Also take Kudzu, it has worked for me.

Title: Re: Stress
Post by BobG on Jun 12^th, 2006, 1:24pm

on 06/11/06 at 23:20:08, vze2n4nj wrote:

Stress is a definite trigger for a cluster. I wake up in the middle of the night with a cluster and all I think about is the stresses in my life.

Wake up in the middle of the night? Clusters that wake you usually come on during REM sleep mode. Is that a stressful time for you? For me it is about the most stressfree and relaxed that I can be.

You need to take it easy. Stress must be eliminated in your life, as much as possible..

In all my years of suffering clusters the attacks have come AFTER the stress. At the end of a stressful day or during a good, restful sleep. It's after the stress is reduced and the relaxing period is going on that the attacks happen.

But we're all different.

Title: Re: Stress
Post by chewy on Jun 13^th, 2006, 7:14am

Quote:

Stress is a definite trigger for a cluster.

I'll bet that 100 to 1 CH sufferers would prove that statement wrong.

Title: Re: Stress
Post by pattik on Jun 13^th, 2006, 8:04am

I'm adding my vote to the stress-is-good side. This is especially true in between cycles when the random hits almost always show up during down time, like weekends (with no other provocation than being more relaxed).

Title: Re: Stress
Post by kcopelin on Jun 13^th, 2006, 11:44am

Stress-good, relaxation-bad, distress (major catastrophies, anxiety, panic...)-bad
my 2 cents worth.
kathy
I never nap, no longer crochet or do relaxing crafts, read during the day, or even sit longer than 15 minutes.
Haven't watched an entire movie in over a year. On the positive side-my house is fairly clean ::)

Title: Re: Stress
Post by StressFree on Jun 23^rd, 2006, 3:52pm

I have to side with the "stress is bad" minority. I have found that unusually stressful periods in my life coinciding with allergy seasons usually occurs at time of a cycle. Although often it is immediately after a stressful period (wedding, loosing job, lost close family member, etc). As for during a cycle that has already started, also bad - bad - bad. StressFree is how I have to be!

Prayers for all, Rich

Edited to note: Many of our treatments consist of constricting blood vessels to stop an attack or ease a cycle (Prednisone, Triptans/Trex's, Caffein, Ergotamine). Often when these wear off, we get hit again - or the cycle continues. There is a drug I haven't tried (bad for lungs) called Methesergide. It does the opposite. Sometimes successful for Clusters. It causes blood vessel to stay expanded or relaxed. It is a maintenance type med. If blood vessels stay relaxed, no chance to suddenly dilate causing cluster attack. I couldn't help but throw that in as an analagy. I guess for a few it is very effective, as is staying unstressed!

Title: Re: Stress
Post by pingu1981 on Jun 25^th, 2006, 2:59pm

I get more headaches when I'm stressed. I've found that a long hot bath with lavender is the only thing that helps!!