Can Stress Cause Migraines?

Migraine headaches are painful, distracting, and very hard to treat.  Because doctors don’t know exactly what causes them, they are difficult to diagnose and treat.  Research may not yet be as thorough as we’d like, but one thing is for certain – stress can absolutely bring on or at least exacerbate migraine headaches.

Emotional stress is a very common trigger or migraine headaches.  In fact, extreme stress can cause headaches even in people who have never had a history of migraines.  Headaches due to stress are especially common in individuals with a known history of migraines.  Migraine sufferers often find that their headaches are stronger and occur more often during the most stressful periods of their lives.

Whenever an individual is under stress, the brain releases various chemicals to help the body respond to the stress.  This “fight or flight” response is meant to help creatures flee from predators and handle other life-threatening situations, but it can’t distinguish between being attacked by a lion and being yelled at by your boss.  When these chemicals are released often and no extreme “fight or flight” situation occurs, a chronic situation can develop.

Chronic stress can cause all kinds of issues, including tension headaches and migraines.  While these headaches can be triggered by a single stressful even, especially in someone who is tired or ill, it is usually caused by a build-up of stress or stress that is experienced on a regular basis.

Treatment for these headaches generally requires treatment of the root issue – the stress.  Stress management, counseling, and sometimes the use of antidepressants and anxiety medications can often help.  Once the root is treated, the symtoms usually disappear or ease up significantly.