Posted by Dave (64.12.103.22) on February 28, 2001 at 12:46:40:
Dear All
Haven’t been on for a while, but am going through a cluster cycle at the moment, and I was wondering whether I could throw a question out to fellow sufferers. Yesterday, whilst experiencing a cluster headache, I realised that due to a rise in my anxiety levels, the pain worsened considerably. My anxiety arose because I detected that my partner was getting distressed by my condition. This was the first time I consciously recognised that my levels of anxiety were significant and could influence the degree of pain I felt. Has anyone else had similar experiences?
My partner is planning to start her PhD in counselling psychology and is interested in answering the following research questions. Your comments, opinions and details of any experiences you have would be very greatly appreciated (to: psychotiquette@aol.com ).
The role of emotion and anxiety in Cluster Headache Syndrome – do psychotherapeutic techniques to relieve anxiety and emotional distress reduce the severity of pain experienced during Cluster Headache attacks? Does counselling psychology have anything to offer the cluster headache sufferer?
Best wishes to all ... Dave