How Therapy for Migraines Can Help
Your road with migraines has been a long one. You have seen the specialists. You have tried the medications. You have done the research online for supposed “miracle fixes” only to be let down and disappointed by the results. Should you keep repeating the same patterns hoping for different results? Should you give up altogether and resign yourself to a life with migraines that seemingly intensify as time goes on?
Your answer to both questions is “no”. In your situation, there might not be anything wrong with the treatments you are prescribed, or the professionals who are prescribing them. The problem could be a missing piece to your treatment plan puzzle: mental health treatment.
Mental health therapy is more effective and durable than you might think. Therapy and counseling are extremely useful for those with primary mental health issues like depression, anxiety and bipolar, but it is appropriate in many other situations as well:
- People dealing with a new or chronic medical issue.
- People struggling with issues in their life that cannot be resolved.
- People who have mental health issues like depression and anxiety, that have been triggered by physical health issues.
- People wanting to change bad habits into good ones.
- People interested in finding ways to be happier, have better relationships and improve their overall well-being.
Seeking mental health treatment does not mean that suddenly you are "crazy", “insane” or a danger to anyone. It only means that you are looking to improve the quality of your life. If you are still not convinced, think about the people around you. Think about how improving your life can make their lives better; they likely want to help and support you but they may not know what to do for someone with a migraine. When you start mental health counseling, everyone wins.
What Can Therapy Do?
Depending on your situation, the impact of migraines and other factors in your life, mental health treatment can accomplish a lot. Consider these potential benefits of treatment on your mental health and your physical health.
Gain Psychoeducation
Psychoeducation is another way of saying helpful information related to your mental health, and there is no better source than a therapist. A therapist can help you to understand the common association between migraines and the mental health concerns triggered by the diagnosis.
A therapist can also inform you about the strong connection between bipolar disorder and migraines to assess if the relationship is something you are experiencing. Information, even if it seems negative or scary at the time, is always a good thing.
Move Towards Acceptance
Having migraines is a loss. It is a loss of your carefree youth, your freedom and your health. Some people with migraines are forced to quit their job or change their lifestyle because of their condition, which signify more losses. All losses need to be grieved and mourned. If these tasks are not accomplished, the loss will impact your life in more negative ways.
Therapists are experts at moving people through the loss process from shock and denial all the way to acceptance and finding new directions. Finding acceptance does not mean that you have to like your condition, it just means that you understand the role it will play in your life.
