[monarch_butterfly]

Does anyone else get a headache when you switch back to "you"? Sometimes I do and sometimes not. Haven't figured out why yet. I mean it's obviously related to switching but why does it happen only sometimes?

[UnhingedHick]

Originally Posted by monarch_butterfly

Does anyone else get a headache when you switch back to "you"? Sometimes I do and sometimes not. Haven't figured out why yet. I mean it's obviously related to switching but why does it happen only sometimes?

I get that every time, i especially get them when switching from my angry or my protector, i don't know why. We normally wake up with one, but today i woke as "me" and i have no headache at all. I'm not to sure what it's about... Or if theres a reason or it.

[Claritytoo]

Yes I get headaches also when I switch but it depends on the situation. If I switch and I'm having a difficult time with it than I get a headache. But I also switch all the time and as long as I am not having a difficult with the switch I usually don't get a headache.

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by monarch_butterfly

Does anyone else get a headache when you switch back to "you"? Sometimes I do and sometimes not. Haven't figured out why yet. I mean it's obviously related to switching but why does it happen only sometimes?

I got headaches before and after switching and many other times too. I got them from not getting enough sleep, when I was manic, when I was depressed, when I was happy, excited about something.... theres no limit of what makes me have headaches.. even some foods with caffeine give me headaches.

when I talked with my treatment providers they explained to me in general a headache is stress or medically related. stress and medically related as in any one DID or not can get headaches when they are under stress, anxious, nervous, depressed, happy, sad, just about any emotion can create a headache. even completely normal people have headaches, some when they dont get enough sleep, are not eating right, or are just plain excited about something. which is why some people with DID get headaches and others dont, and its not one of the diagnostic criteria nor a sure fire symptom for having DID...

Headaches can even come as a symptom/side effect of many medications...look up any psychotropic medication (antidepressants, anti anxiety, anti psychotics, sleep meds what ever) every medication I have ever been on and are presently on have headaches listed as a side effect...even head ache medication can contribute to some people having headaches.

if you are having headaches the best thing to do is contact your treatment providers they can explain how and why you are having headaches whether or not its because of DID there are ways to discover why a person is having headaches and it is correctable.

my treatment providers discovered through EEG, MRI and other tests that when I got headaches related to switching it was because of a chemical called serotonin was not the right level and my hippocampus wasnt working correctly. I was placed on medication and the headaches from DID switching went away.

[Meisjes]

I used to get a kind of brain freeze or numbness/tingling when switching back, don't notice it as much now. My T said as we get better at switching, it happens more smoothly and can be unnoticed by other people. Said its best not to force insiders to come forward as this can cause issues. They'll come forward when they're ready. I haven't connected switching with headaches before but my insiders have been quite active inside but not switching so much lately and I've been having migraines alot lately. Interesting.

Switching is very exhausting especially in the early stages. T also said that people who have insiders need to take lots of breaks (have to acess your own needs) and get lots of sleep to help have the energy with all those living inside of us. Its been a huge change in life style for me. My world is definitely smaller - no large groups of people in social settings, more 1 on 1 relationships and only a few relationships as I have my children and gkids as well. The people on the outside and those on the inside is pretty much all I can do. Also need time before bed to be alone and wind down longer so I turn off my phone early.

[monarch_butterfly]

Well I've already had tests for headaches as I have been diagnosed with a seizure disorder, migranes, and I've experienced blood preassure related headaches and stress ones. I am already on an SSRI and the headaches I am talking about are connected with the switching (in my case) sometimes. I'm going to start seeing if there is a pattern like tiredness or longer then usual switching or something...

[monarch_butterfly]

Wow yeah! Me too. Switching makrs me fatigued too. I have migranes and am preventitive meds for that. Never associated any kind of headaches with switching. When i was a kid they attributed any headaches to my glasses and eye sight. Intetesting indeed. I wonder if anyone has done a study on headaches in people with DID. Of course we're going to have the same types of headaches as the average person does but I wonder if we get a "special" type?

[WePow]

switching gives me headaches. Before I knew I was DID, I would lose time and have a bad headache afterwards. For years I thought I had a brain tumor!

[monarch_butterfly]

Oh scary!! I have headaches after seizures too but the switching ones are different. I can usually tell I've lost time because of the cpnversation or the tv. I hate it when i go to tell someone something and they say we had a whole conversation about that! Don't you remember?? Me nope musta been an alter...

[Luce]

Switching very frequently gave me headaches, too, and the less connected I was to the alter the worse the headache was. As time went on I began to experience less headaches as I became more coconscious with various alters.
Many, many times when I left a therapy session I had a *really* bad headache and was in a daze for hours.

[Kendyll]

My husband gets headaches after switching. Usually when the switching was hard, when they had to wrestle for control. When the switching is easy and they just pass back and forth, he doesn't get the headaches as bad or as often.

[Meisjes]

Originally Posted by Kendyll

My husband gets headaches after switching. Usually when the switching was hard, when they had to wrestle for control. When the switching is easy and they just pass back and forth, he doesn't get the headaches as bad or as often.

That describes it very well for me too.