[innocentjoy]

I've been reading in different places about the relationship between dissociation and headaches. The most recent place is a book written about EMDR for people with dissociative disorders, for both practitioners and clients. It states that frequent headaches is a red flag for dissociative disorders. But nowhere have I found anywhere talking about the reason for this.

I can imagine that the stress of living with a dissociative disorder could cause headaches, but is that it? Or is there something more to it?

I've had major headaches my entire life, migraines started at age 8. Lately, my migraines have gotten much worse, including tension headaches, and sometimes sinus issues into the mix as well. My current migraine has lasted 3 weeks. I've seen drs and neurologists, had CTs, MRIs, xrays done, (all normal results) been on many meds (none worked), preventative supplements, meds, stretching, exercise, etc. My dr finally told me I'd have to just learn to live with the pain, which I don't buy.

So, if someone knew of somewhere I could get information on this idea, I'd be very grateful.

Thanks!!!
IJ


Note for anyone focused on forum limitations: I'm not looking for a diagnosis, or to be told what constitutes a certain kind of headache, I know all of that. I'm looking for personal experiences with dissociation and headaches, or informational links to where I could find information on this relationship.

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by innocentjoy

I've been reading in different places about the relationship between dissociation and headaches. The most recent place is a book written about EMDR for people with dissociative disorders, for both practitioners and clients. It states that frequent headaches is a red flag for dissociative disorders. But nowhere have I found anywhere talking about the reason for this.

I can imagine that the stress of living with a dissociative disorder could cause headaches, but is that it? Or is there something more to it?

I've had major headaches my entire life, migraines started at age 8. Lately, my migraines have gotten much worse, including tension headaches, and sometimes sinus issues into the mix as well. My current migraine has lasted 3 weeks. I've seen drs and neurologists, had CTs, MRIs, xrays done, (all normal results) been on many meds (none worked), preventative supplements, meds, stretching, exercise, etc. My dr finally told me I'd have to just learn to live with the pain, which I don't buy.

So, if someone knew of somewhere I could get information on this idea, I'd be very grateful.

Thanks!!!
IJ


Note for anyone focused on forum limitations: I'm not looking for a diagnosis, or to be told what constitutes a certain kind of headache, I know all of that. I'm looking for personal experiences with dissociation and headaches, or informational links to where I could find information on this relationship.

if you do a google search using the words....relationship between dissociation and headaches....you will find many research papers about how the brain works, how the brain reacts to stress, trauma, dissociation and much more useful information about the relationship between dissociation and headaches (and other common symptoms of dissociation and headaches.) when I did this a few years ago I ended up with well over one million research papers, trials .... on this topic.

[avlady]

I feel for you, i suffered from migrains for over 40 years, until i was put on propanolol. i think that is what helped my headaches, havn't had a full blown on in over 2 years now. The reaoson i was put on it was because i kept going to the emergency room for imetrix which took the headaches away for awhile in one day, but the doctor said this time he would try propanolol because studies showed it takes migrains away. Boy was he ever right in my case, i feel alot better now after my primary doc also prescribed one a day for me too.

[innocentjoy]

Thanks for the responses! I will try a google search when I have time to go through and save links to papers, studies.
avlady, I'm so glad you found something to get rid of your migraines! I haven't tried that particular med, but seeing as it's a beta blocker, it might not be a good choice for me. However, I will see what my dr thinks about other options. I've started seeing a chiropractor, who is not surprised i have so many headaches after seeing my most recent xrays, so I'm hoping that this works out!
xo
IJ

[Lexi232]

yeah, i get severe headaches that throb and hurt and dont feel better even trying to sleep them off. my localized sezures also act up even with my meds that normally stops the localized sezures (ive had docs call it sezuries and epilepsy so i dont know which to call it anymore). i also never enter the REM cycle sleep stage. even in a prolonged extra day of testing. the headaches and sezures are instensified by what has taken place. like if multiple little ones are fighting for full and complete control of our body, or something requires a lot of alertness and attention from both the inside and whats going on on the outside all at the same time, or a big mental stress is put on the body then thats when they get the most severe... for me anyways.. i rarely ever talk indepth over this with anyone. though when it happens, its a big topic of discussion in our head. and a lot of times when the body is in pain, i dont hear from those that i would normally hear from. kinda like my knee and sores on my feet pain from all the walking lately caused many to go into hiding far away from the surface. and today is more like normal because the thing the doctor has on the knee is keeping the sharp pains away. and the sores are just super itchy now.

i had my first bad headache when i was about 4 or 5. i thought back then it was my punishment for eating marshmellows when they were against my families religion. i wouldnt touch another marshmellow until i was 15 or older lol! i bolted anytime someone brought out marshmellows or the jars of marshmellow puff stuff lol
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[innocentjoy]

What you say, Lexi, makes sense with me. I was 8 when I got my first bad headaches, and it was during those few months that I developed my 9 year old, to be the protector and angry. So it makes sense that the stress causes my body to be super alert. Muscle tension is always an issue with me, and it is usually during very stressful periods that the migraines get bad. First when I was in grade 4, then when I was doing okay, I barely had any. Then when I started to bring all the memories into a more conscious awareness did they get really bad.

Thank you very much for sharing, I know it is difficult to talk about some things. I appreciate all the support of everyone!

[Lexi232]

thanks for sharing too!

i actually never thought of the relevence to that headache i had when i was young. (that too is about how old the youngest one is). but as i was typing it out, pieces of the puzzle starting fitting in. i had just recently told my friend before she went on vacation about this headache when i was younger. and up until yesterday i hadnt even put the two together. but it adds the answer i was trying to find out about what caused that headache. lol...

but i wouldnt accept the answer about just having to learn how to live with the pain. would they say the same thing if you were puking for weeks straight? i think thats a way of a doctor saying he or she has no other causes that he can think of. doctors of all experiences are out there. (and sometimes its the interns that end up being the best, because they often dont have the extreme belief that they are the ones and only, and can never be wrong. also they are still currently learning, along with things that might not have been in around when the doctor got his or her degree. and all of it is still pretty fresh in interns. )

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[innocentjoy]

Yes, I am still trying to find solutions. My current doctor wants me to take a lot of vitamins for it, and they do help, but there are soo many to take, it gets me frustrated. One of them would be 8 doses a day. I am hoping some of the things I am doing now will help. I think because my posture and muscle tension change so much with my switching, it affects it too.

IJ