Finding the Cause of Migraines

A migraine is a debilitating and reoccurring headache that often effects one side of the head and is usually accompanied by nausea and blurred vision. Although the experience of a migraine is a very physical one the cause seldom is. However this does not make a migraine any less painful or distressing nor does it make the sufferer any less deserving of a high quality therapy. Migraines are often thought of as severe headaches but this approach has not only lead to the condition being minimised by health professionals but has created a barrier to treatment as people are frequently given little or no advice outside of taking over the counter pain medication.

The main cause of migraines is stress, a form of anxiety. It is unclear exactly why stress/anxiety leads to a migraine but it is thought that the elevated levels of adrenalin experienced during periods of high stress coupled with an increased tension in the muscle of the body, principally in the face (especially the jaw) and the shoulders, contributes the occurrence of a this often debilitating condition.

The most effective type of therapy for migraine is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), this is a counselling approach which teaches practical techniques to eliminate the triggers of migraines, helps the sufferer to manage the pain when migraines do occur and most importantly to resolve the underlying cause i.e. the factors that have lead to the development and maintenance of the stress/anxiety problem.

At The British CBT & Counselling Service our clinical and counselling psychologist are experts in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and skilled in using this therapy to treat migraines. With clinics in Richmond (Surrey), Fulham (London), Clapham (London), Marylebone (London), West Bridgford (Nottingham), Cambridge and Stamford (Lincolnshire), help for the migraine sufferer is close by.