Anxiety Headache
Identifying and Treating an Anxiety Headache
An anxiety headache is an affliction that most people will experience on occasion, but for some it can be a constant presence in weekly or even daily life. This type of headache is most often referred to as an “anxiety tension headache”, and it’s no surprise why. Most people report the sensation that they have a very tight band around their forehead or all around their head. Does this sound familiar to you? It isn’t uncommon for people to experience tension headaches and never really understand what causes them, but anxiety is one of the most prominent causes behind a tension headache. We are going to talk about the symptoms of an anxiety headache and ways that you can treat the headache as well as any symptoms that develop as a result of the headache.
We already mentioned that a tension headache is comparable to having a tight band strapped to one’s head, but there are other symptoms that may help one discern the type of headache and thus the cause behind it. Although the pain is the main factor in indentifying a tension headache, the pain of a tension headache usually affects the upper portion of the head. Imagine that a band really is strapped from the center of your forehead all the way around to the back of your head. Everything above the band (including the temples) is the area most affected by an anxiety headache. Tension headaches may also be told apart from migraines and cluster headaches because tension headaches affect both sides of the head rather than just one portion.
You may also notice that the skin of your head (scalp) is much more sensitive than it used to be. Soreness or burning of the scalp is often reported in conjunction with this type of headache. The muscles and skin of your neck may also feel very tight and sore. Although sharp pains that shoot up or down the back of the head and neck are often reported, they are usually more prevalent with severe tension headaches. These headaches are generally quite persistent in nature and can last anywhere from half an hour to a week. It is not uncommon for these symptoms to bring on insomnia or alter one’s sleeping habits, therefore this may also be another sign that a tension headache is at work.
Luckily we live in time where medication directed towards the relief of headaches is bountiful. Acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Motrin), and Naproxin (Aleve) are great “all-arounders” that can relieve many of the symptoms of an anxiety headache, including the initial pain in the head as well as soreness of the muscles and skin. There are also “PM” varieties available to help aid with sleep deprivation issues so that you can at least snatch a decent rest at night.
The problem with over the counter medications is that they are really only meant to treat occasional pain. It can be very dangerous to rely upon this type of medication for long period of time. If your tension headaches seem to linger for weeks at a time, you may want to consider making healthful changes to your diet and getting more exercise. If these changes have no affect on your headaches, you should probably schedule an appointment with your doctor for a proper evaluation. There are many causes behind headaches and a proper diagnosis is vital to ensure that you aren’t trying to treat yourself for anxiety tension when in fact you might be dealing with an underlying illness.
If you suffer from an anxiety disorder, or believe that the potential for an anxiety disorder may be there, speak to your doctor about ways that you can ease your anxiety. Therapy as well as prescription medications have proven to be very successful in treating general anxiety disorders.