[SkyWhite]

I have Complex PTSD and have been having repressed memories come up and flashbacks for about 3 months. Around the time this started, I began getting headaches, some dull, some bad. I'm not a headachy person, so this took me off guard. I can't seem to get them to stop for long. Sometimes I wake up with them. They seem to come up with my triggers, although I can't always pinpoint what the trigger was.

I'm now starting to get worried that this may be something worse, like a physical brain problem. I'm seeing my doc in 2 weeks but I'm feeling anxious.

Has anyone else had headaches from trauma memories and flashbacks.

I'm afraid I don't have an answer for you SkyWhite. I don't think I have any repressed memories. All of my bad memories are right up front where I can see them every day. (Sometimes I wish I could repress a few of them.) I'm not a person who gets headaches much either, so I can see where you would be concerned. Have you been under any new stress while this has been developing? Perhaps it is more a reaction to something else going on in your life. My personal belief is stress will out one way or another. It tends to find the weakest chink in one's armor, so to speak, & digs its way out there. Perhaps this is what is happening with you... just a thought. Hopefully some other PC'ers can offer some more direct answers to your question.

[SnakeCharmer]

I'm not a headachey person either, but I did experience them about five years after a very severe trauma when people would (mostly unknowingly) do or say things that re-triggered the trauma. Like a railroad spike through my brain that would not go away. No medication helped. As soon as I withdrew from the situations that triggered memories of the trauma, the unbearable headache would stop, although my whole head remained sore and tender. If I re-engaged, the railroad spike plunged right into the same spot again. It's a long story, that doesn't really matter in this context, but that spot was an important part of the trauma. For me, it was all totally psychological and when I was able to understand and deal with the trigger, the headaches stopped. I did get it checked out with the doctor with tests and all that, and I hope you do, too.

But it wasn't physical or in my brain. The pain was really in my heart and soul. And I did get better, slowly, over time. Lots better. It's okay now. I hope it will get better for you, too.

[SkyWhite]

Originally Posted by SnakeCharmer

I'm not a headachey person either, but I did experience them about five years after a very severe trauma when people would (mostly unknowingly) do or say things that re-triggered the trauma. Like a railroad spike through my brain that would not go away. No medication helped. As soon as I withdrew from the situations that triggered memories of the trauma, the unbearable headache would stop, although my whole head remained sore and tender. If I re-engaged, the railroad spike plunged right into the same spot again. It's a long story, that doesn't really matter in this context, but that spot was an important part of the trauma. For me, it was all totally psychological and when I was able to understand and deal with the trigger, the headaches stopped. I did get it checked out with the doctor with tests and all that, and I hope you do, too.

But it wasn't physical or in my brain. The pain was really in my heart and soul. And I did get better, slowly, over time. Lots better. It's okay now. I hope it will get better for you, too.

I only had the railroad spike once and I thought I was going to die. I guess getting it all out is going to cause your body to react somehow. I tried massage therapy, but he did deep tissue and it hurt like hell. I now have an appointment for reflexology, which will be much more relaxing. I also thought that if I could just cry like a baby for awhile I'll release something, but I can't cry.

I'm definitely going to bring to the attention of my doc, who I'm seeing soon.

[FacingChains]

I have heard from professionals that headaches can be related to dissociative and ptsd related episodes of memories.