Manage Stress

Stress is everywhere in our lives today. It can be caused by difficult situations and difficult emotions. Here are some things you can do to lower your stress level.

• Change your mind, change your life. If a situation like job stress keeps recurring, try—even though it might be risky—to change your job or at least your attitude about your job.
• Laugh. Laughter is the best medicine for many ailments. It's good for your brain's anti-pain centers.
• Relax. Relaxation (as well as massage) can decrease the tension in muscles and blood vessels that often cause headaches. You can learn to relax.
• Counseling. Consider short- or long-term counseling. A trained professional can teach you how to express anger or how to cope with stress and negative thoughts and feelings.
• Speak up. Let your family know what kinds of stress and emotion trigger your headaches and ask them to help you prevent them.
• Write it down. Try writing down what makes you angry in a private journal or in a letter to someone who has made you angry. You don't have to mail the letter. Just letting your feelings out could relieve your stress.
• Find out more about stress management in the Health Encyclopedia.
• Call or email your doctor if your headaches are not getting better.